Workshops on Foldscope organised
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 28 2018:
A series of workshops on Foldscope were conducted at different places of Manipur from September 24 to 28.The workshops were headed by Dr Soumitra Banerjee, Assistant Professor, from CIIRC- Jyothy Institute of Technology Bangalore (Karnataka).
His training programme was assisted and supervised by ErLaishramKanta Singh, ACTO (SWCE) from KVK-Imphal West, Dr Sougrakpam Roma Devi, ACTO (Home Science) from KVK-Churachandpur and Dr Arati Ningombam, Scientist, ICAR Research Complex-NEH Region, Manipur.
This project on 'Foldscope' as a research and education tool was funded by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India in partnership with Foldscope Instruments Inc and Prakash Lab (Stanford, USA), where Manipur was selected as North-East twinning partner for exchange of ideas, collaborative research and conducting workshops, said a statement of Er Laishram Kanta Singh, ACTO (SWCE), KVK Imphal West, ICAR Manipur Centre.
Foldscope is a frugal microscope invented by Dr Manu Prakash and his PhD student Jim Cybulski, from Stanford University, USA.
It is an inexpensive paper based microscope having magnification of 140X and 2 micron resolution.
This foldscope can be a wonderful alternate of traditional microscopes, which are expensive, bulky and fragile in nature.
Foldscope on the other hand are light weight, low cost, portable sized devises which can be very conveniently carried to the field for studying the microscopic world, said the statement.
More than ten workshops were conducted in different places of Manipur, which includes a number of educational institutes, KVK-Churachandpur, KVK-Imphal West, KVK-Thoubal and different farmers clubs/SHG located at Khabam Bamdiar, Sagoltongba and Lamsang.
Workshops were attended and appreciated by students, faculties, farmers, ICAR scientists and others.
During the workshop, the attendees were trained to use foldscope for viewing micro-structure of diseased leaves, flowers, pests, insects, foods, microorganisms present in foods, water etc.