This Fresh Grad's Microscope Keychain Addresses STEM Laboratory Shortage in the Philippines

(SPOT.ph) Ever wished for laboratory on the go when your curiosity gets the better of you? The first microscope keychain is here—and it’s made by a Filipino fresh graduate who wanted to help STEM students have instant access to working laboratories. Enter the Make-roscope by Filipino inventor Jeremy De Leon.

The Make-roscope is a portable microscope keychain that can magnify organisms up to 400 times. The best part? You can buy the Make-roscope on Shopee and Lazada. It’s originally priced at P599, but is currently at a P50 off at P549.

There is a clear lack of science resources in the Philippines. Over 4,500 high schools have no access to a working science laboratory, which contributes to the low student performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Now over 3,000 Filipino teachers and students are using the Make-roscope as per De Leon.

“Usually, in a school laboratory, a microscope is shared by around 10 students. With Make-roscope, it's possible to have one for each student. The child has the freedom to explore and to be curious both inside and outside the classroom,” De Leon said.

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Introducing the Make-roscope, the first microscope keychain in the Philippines

Millions of Filipino students might not have access to laboratories, but De Leon realized most of them have smartphones which is essential in turning this keychain into a light compound microscope's low-cost alternative.

Take note that the keychain isn’t the microscope itself. Instead, it converts any smartphone or tablet into a microscope using the front camera with the tools in the kit. You can view wet and dry specimens like cells, fungi, blood, and microorganisms with it. No need for adhesives either—the Make-roscope will lock into place on top of the front camera.

The kit comes with specimen slides, pipettes, tweezers, tubes, and a cleaning cloth to maintain it. 

“The Make-roscope is designed to be friendly and simple, so it's easy to use. It's not like a fancy microscope with lots of complicated parts. It's more like a keychain, so kids can try it out without worrying about breaking it,” it said in the James Dyson Award website.

De Leon has since produced over thousand of Make-roscopes, a bulk of which was donated to public high schools all over the country. Profits from international sales will also be used as extra funding for this initiative.

“As our vision to provide Make-roscope to every Filipino student, part of the proceeds from international orders is used to donate Make-roscopes to public schools,” De Leon said in a Facebook post.

The Make-roscope also won the James Dyson Award in the Philippines, which will inject P330,000 to the project for further product development. His entry is set to progress to the international stage of the competition.

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