UC Scholar’s Essay Featured In PLOS Biology Magazine
In his post on this global trend of access to technological solutions from laboratories, the bioengineer analyzed the use of open source hardware to develop scientific equipment.
The term “do it yourself”, abbreviated in English as DIY (Do It Yourself), is part of the title highlighted by the professor of the Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering of the UC, Tobias Wenzel , in his essay on the global trend of access to technological solutions for laboratories.
The analysis of the bioengineer who studies human and environmental microbiomes was published by the American medium PLOS Biology, a journal that highlights significant advances in the biological sciences and articles by renowned researchers in this field.
“The use of DIY technology has spread throughout the world, especially in countries with limited access to resources, and is driving the development of open source solutions ,” said researcher Tobias Wenzel in his analysis.
The professor from the UC Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering added that beyond project financing, open hardware can transform access to laboratory equipment by reducing dependence on import logistics and allowing direct knowledge transfer.
“This fast-growth strategy is not intended to break with commercial and ownership approaches. On the contrary, it can lead to a transformative increase in access to technology and local development, especially in environments that face great challenges” , said the bioengineer.
Among the conclusions of the analysis, the academic pointed out that this new open, fast and user-centered approach promises a place at the global research table for low-resource laboratories and more general access to research technologies.
“Every user and builder of open hardware means a local gain of good examples, technological knowledge and infrastructure enablers, in a way that users of closed and proprietary technology can never achieve”, the researcher stated in his essay .
For the UC professor, future changes in relevant institutional guidelines and policies of funding bodies around the world should aim to recognize, encourage, and enable an open technology approach.