Tools for Public Participation in Science: Design and Dissemination of Open-Science Hardware

Abstract

The Open Science Hardware (OSH) movement has been gaining momentum to make scientific instruments widely accessible through open-source blueprints or DIY kits which can be built for a fraction of the cost of their commercial counterparts. Even though the designs of OSH are freely and openly available over the internet, in most cases, building or assembling science equipment from online designs require knowledge and skills in areas such as digital fabrication and basic electronics. Due to this, some open science practitioners face a multitude of challenges when replicating or customizing those designs to be used in their science experiments.To this end, through ethnographic field work and participatory design, my doctoral research explores such practical challenges faced by open science practitioners and tries to create new mediums and workflows to support efficient and inclusive dissemination of OSH.