Make-roscope™: a tiny microscope with big potential

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In the realm of scientific innovation, the quest for accessible and affordable technology often leads to groundbreaking solutions that transform traditional practices.

The Make-roscope™ is a revolutionary device developed by Engr. Jeremy C. De Leon that is set to change the way we approach microscopy. Combining ingenuity with practicality, the Make-roscope™ represents a significant leap in making scientific observation more accessible to students, researchers, and the general public.

With its compact and efficient nature, the Make-roscope™ acts as an attachment for mobile phone cameras to create a digital microscope that can fit in your pocket. The Make-roscope™ can also be carried around as a keychain for quick and easy use.

Driven by a vision to democratize scientific observation, De Leon came up with the Make-roscope™ as a solution for inaccessible microscopy equipment. This innovation serves as a nifty alternative for traditional compound light microscopes that are prohibitively much more expensive and bulky.

A vision for accessible microscopy

Recognizing a gap in accessible microscopy tools for research and educational purposes, De Leon formulated a product that utilizes the processing power of the modern handheld devices as a tool for aiding science education. The resulting output ist he Make-roscope™, a compact, affordable alternative to traditional microscopes

This innovative device is designed to be easily attached to the camera of a smartphone or tablet, converting it into a powerful magnifying tool capable of examining organisms and materials with magnifications ranging from 125x to 400x.

Without any need for additional softwares or hardwares, the Make-roscope™ effectively transforms phones and tablets into working microscopes.

In an effort to maximize its potential, the Technology Application and Promotion Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI) provided funding for its pilot production. This support covered the acquisition of raw materials, assembly and packaging, distribution, and testing by relevant regulatory bodies.

Through the Eyepiece of Make-roscope™

Designed as a compact attachment, the Make-roscope™ is made with a high-quality lens system encased in a durable, user-friendly frame that can be secured

near the actual camera lens of the devices. This modular approach allows users to quickly transform their mobile devices into a functional microscope without the need for complex setup or calibration.

By leveraging existing smartphone technology, and using cost effective materials, De Leon created a bridge to accessibility by creating an affordable microscope for students, institutions, and people seeking more knowledge in microscopy.

The Make-roscope™ 's technology allows the magnification of camera lenses into the world of microscopy where users are enabled to view fine details of specimens up to the cells, bacteria, and small organisms. Its price and size makes it an ideal tool for allowing individuals to engage in hands-on experimentation and observation without the constraints of traditional microscopy equipment.

Magnifying Make-roscope™’s ingenuity

The Make-roscope™ garnered much attention not only for its innovation, but for its potential to contribute to the global pool of scientific knowledge. The device represents a significant step towards making scientific tools more accessible for educational and general use.

Recognizing its ingenuity, DOST-TAPI includes the Make-roscope™ in its final roster of participants for the NSTF-Thailand as part of its internationalization campaign.

“The Institute’s comprehensive programs are vital to starting inventors and innovators because we don’t have much reputation in the industry yet DOST-TAPI puts a lot of trust in our innovations that slowly through that trust we gain credit in the field.”

- Engr. Jeremy C. De Leon

On the impact of DOST services to Make-roscope

Currently, the Make-roscope™’s catalog includes a laboratory kit, a keychain version, and a 2024 version which is priced for only Php 549.00 ($ 9.73). These versions offer the updated 125x-400x magnification, with available sample slides for Php 199.00 ($ 3.53).

Looking Ahead: The Future of VLAS and International Collaboration

With its current trajectory, Make-roscope™ is set to locally become more widespread as it gains more popularity. Being a market-driven innovation, the product gains full-support from the government in its journey towards globalization.

De Leon, together with his team at JereMake aims to produce and distribute units, as well as establish more partnerships, and secure potential investment networks for Make-roscope™ internationally.

** This article is part of the "SPICE: Science and Technology Promotion for International Contest and Exhibits" campaign for the National Science and Technology (NST) Fair Thailand 2024. For more information and event updates, visit the DOST-TAPI

website at www.tapi.dost.gov.ph.

From Classroom to NSTF - Thailand: The Global Journey of DOST-SEI’s Virtual Laboratory Application in Science (VLAS)

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

As the country continues to recover from the pandemic, the Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) sustains its efforts to improve their remote learning facilities. One of their projects was the Virtual Laboratory Application in Science (VLAS), which is an immersive 360° 3D biology lab simulator providing users with virtual experiments and theoretical knowledge.

DOST-SEI developed VLAS as a way for students to familiarize themselves with a laboratory environment through virtual means. This project aims to build competencies in students who lack access to physical laboratories due to geographical or logistical challenges.

VLAS is currently on its final stretch in development. They plan on releasing for Microsoft Operating Systems and other Virtual Reality platforms by 2025. The project aims to address further the resource integration of ICT in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), the team, under the leadership of Josephine Feliciano, believes that their online educational materials can be effectively used as supplementary to classroom teaching as well as in self-learning situations.

A Revolutionary Tool in Science Education

Similar to the motivation for the development of the DOST coursewares, VLAS was developed as a means of mitigating the consistent below average educational score of the country in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). It was in this assessment that the Philippines placed 77th out of 81 participating countries.

VLAS has been designed to revolutionize the way students and educators engage with biology experiments. The application offers an immersive virtual environment where users can conduct experiments and gain theoretical knowledge, all within the confines of a digital space.

By offering modules that simulate real-life lab experiences, VLAS bridges the gap between theoretical science education and hands-on laboratory work. Its accessibility, especially for schools with limited resources, positions VLAS as a vital tool in enhancingscience education across the Philippines and beyond.

The Role of DOST-TAPI’s Internationalization Campaign

DOST-TAPI’s internationalization campaign has been instrumental in taking VLAS from a local educational tool to an innovation recognized on the global stage.

Understanding the potential impact of VLAS, DOST-TAPI worked closely with DOST-SEI to refine the application’s positioning, ensuring that it meets international standards and appealed to a broader audience. This collaboration involved rigorous testing, enhancement of the user experience, and strategic marketing that aligned with global educational trends.

The campaign’s strategic focus on showcasing Filipino innovations in prominent international forums like NSTF-Thailand has provided VLAS with an unparalleled platform to demonstrate its capabilities. Through DOST-TAPI’s efforts, VLAS has gained visibility among educators, policymakers, and industry leaders from various countries, paving the way for potential collaborations and adoptions.

VLAS at NSTF-Thailand: A Milestone for Filipino Innovation

The participation of VLAS at NSTF-Thailand marks a significant milestone for Filipino innovation. The event, known for its high-profile participants and cutting-edge technological displays, is an ideal venue for VLAS to gain international attention.

Feliciano and her team aims to impress at the event by showcasing the application’s ability to simulate real-life lab environments, providing an engaging and effective learning tool that is both practical and scalable.

She added that they are hoping to achieve greater international recognition, and a strong international network. Aside from these, she said that her team hopes to win international awards as well.

“ I hope to win an award… [establish] Collaboration and networking with international partners from the producers of technologies and the education sector.”

- Josephine Feliciano

On their expectations for VLAS at NSTF

By participating in NSTF-Thailand, VLAS is not only gaining recognition but alsocontributing to the dialogue on how digital tools can enhance science education globally. This exposure has the potential to open doors for partnerships with educational institutions and technology companies from around the world, further expanding the reach of this innovative application.

Looking Ahead: The Future of VLAS and International Collaboration

As VLAS continues to garner attention on the international stage, DOST-SEI and DOST-TAPI are looking toward the future with optimism. The success of VLAS at NSTF-Thailand will be a clear indication that Filipino-developed educational technologies can compete and excel globally.

With further support and collaboration, VLAS has the potential to become a standard tool in science education worldwide, transforming how students interact with biology and other scientific disciplines. The success of this initiative underscores the importance of internationalization in showcasing the Philippines' innovative spirit and technical expertise, ensuring that the country remains a key player in the global science and technology landscape.

** This article is part of the "SPICE: Science and Technology Promotion for International Contest and Exhibits" campaign for the National Science and Technology (NST) Fair Thailand 2024. For more information and event updates, visit the DOST-TAPI website at www.tapi.dost.gov.ph.

DOST’s Coursewares: Curbing National STEM Struggles

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

With the Philippines' decade-long struggle with low academic performance in math and science, it is crucial to implement strategies to improve these outcomes. It has been a consistent and observed trend for the country to score poorly on the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), placing the Philippines below the global academic average.

The Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) developed Coursewares designed to integrate inside the curriculum and classroom settings established by the Department of Education in order to curb the continuous academic decline. These supplementary materials aim to bridge the gap of accessibility to quality materials in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Eliminating academic challenges

In the 2022 PISA assessment, the Philippines placed 77th out of 81 participating countries. The country recorded an average score of 356 points in science and 355 points in mathematics, both way below the global average. Despite minor improvements from previous years, these results highlight ongoing significant challenges in the education system's ability to meet international standards in these critical areas.

PISA 2022 Worldwide Ranking: https://factsmaps.com/pisa-2022-worldwide-ranking-average-score-of-mathematics-science-and-reading-2/

The courseware underwent multiple validations and revisions to ensure utmost quality of the materials before implementation, creating a more viable mitigating tool for the below average academic ranking. The DOST-SEI courseware team, under the leadership of Josephine Feliciano, highlighted the level of content quality their courseware has to offer.

“Our education technologies follow the Software Development Cycle where Quality Control and Assurance is conducted through reviews of the modules from Alpha to Charlie Version before deployment.”

- Josephine Feliciano

On the quality assurance of DOST coursewares

This project is not only designed as a supplementary, but also as a stand-alone offline educational tool that allow the users to operate the software independently and gain mastery of the lessons. In its current stage, the software is nearing completion of

its online package for distribution to off-grid areas and schools.

Stirring the future: What’s next for DOST’s coursewares

Despite being an online learning platform, the project still faces challenges in logistics and distribution of their innovations and softwares to particular stakeholders.

Feliciano said that partnerships with providers, institutions, government, and non-government organizations would help bolster their distribution to help reach even more people.

Opening the doors for potential international linkages, DOST-SEI’s courseware is one of the country’s representatives at the National Science and Technology Fair in Thailand.

Feliciano expressed excitement for the upcoming opportunity to collaborate and benchmark their innovation on the international stage. She added that their team aims to leverage this showcase by contributing to the global educational pool in the STEM fields.

“DOST’s goal is [to] have our technologies reach not just the last mile beneficiaries in the country but to be at par with international quality standards.”

- Josephine Feliciano

On the continuous development of DOST coursewares

DOST’s courseware aims to implement multilingual features for the Philippines for a more universal local application, ensuring efficiency in information dissemination with the future possibility of trans-language features to cater to other countries as well.

** This article is part of the "SPICE: Science and Technology Promotion for International Contest and Exhibits" campaign for the National Science and Technology (NST) Fair Thailand 2024. For more information and event updates, visit the DOST-TAPI website at www.tapi.dost.gov.ph.

The courseware is a readily-available interactive classroom software application designed for both K-12 students and teachers. The software contains interactive multimedia materials aiding to deepen the understanding of complex mathematical and scientific concepts.