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Haves and have nots must find a better way: The case for open scientific hardware

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  • André Maia Chagas

Abstract

Many efforts are making science more open and accessible; they are mostly concentrated on issues that appear before and after experiments are performed: open access journals, open databases, and many other tools to increase reproducibility of science and access to information. However, these initiatives do not promote access to scientific equipment necessary for experiments. Mostly due to monetary constraints, equipment availability has always been uneven around the globe, affecting predominantly low-income countries and institutions. Here, a case is made for the use of free open source hardware in research and education, including countries and institutions where funds were never the biggest problem.In 2013 Eve Marder raised concerns about research equipment availability and the divide between well-funded and poorly-funded labs. Five years later, with the issue still present, this Perspective article discusses a possible solution: the wide adoption of Open Source Hardware, not only to reduce the divide, but also to make research and education more robust, reliable and widespread.

Suggested Citation

  • André Maia Chagas, 2018. "Haves and have nots must find a better way: The case for open scientific hardware," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pbio00:3000014
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. J. M. Pearce, 2016. "Return on investment for open source scientific hardware development," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 43(2), pages 192-195.
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    Cited by:

    1. Benjamin D Knapp & Lillian Zhu & Kerwyn Casey Huang, 2020. "SiCTeC: An inexpensive, easily assembled Peltier device for rapid temperature shifting during single-cell imaging," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(11), pages 1-17, November.

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