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Saving Lives for 20 Cents | Manu Prakash | TEDxStanford


[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Music]

[Music] mom urges scope if photographs could

mom urges scope if photographs could

mom urges scope if photographs could talk this picture that you see above

talk this picture that you see above

talk this picture that you see above would same emerges scope memoria means

would same emerges scope memoria means

would same emerges scope memoria means folding in Malagasy and scope is for

folding in Malagasy and scope is for

folding in Malagasy and scope is for microscope a few colleagues of mine with

microscope a few colleagues of mine with

microscope a few colleagues of mine with NGOs and friends and my students found

NGOs and friends and my students found

NGOs and friends and my students found ourselves in Madagascar a couple months

ourselves in Madagascar a couple months

ourselves in Madagascar a couple months ago we’re trying to tackle the idea that

ago we’re trying to tackle the idea that

ago we’re trying to tackle the idea that health education biodiversity loss

health education biodiversity loss

health education biodiversity loss environmental loss all have roots that

environmental loss all have roots that

environmental loss all have roots that are joined together and you have to

are joined together and you have to

are joined together and you have to tackle them together this is in

tackle them together this is in

tackle them together this is in Madagascar in a place called ranima fajn

Madagascar in a place called ranima fajn

Madagascar in a place called ranima fajn which is a fairly remote place this is

which is a fairly remote place this is

which is a fairly remote place this is one of the poorest countries in the

one of the poorest countries in the

one of the poorest countries in the world and we are trying to teach this

world and we are trying to teach this

world and we are trying to teach this idea that you could try connecting germ

idea that you could try connecting germ

idea that you could try connecting germ theory the fact that there is invisible

theory the fact that there is invisible

theory the fact that there is invisible life forms on this planet that actually

life forms on this planet that actually

life forms on this planet that actually make us sick the fact that there are

make us sick the fact that there are

make us sick the fact that there are microscopic diversity that you don’t

microscopic diversity that you don’t

microscopic diversity that you don’t even appreciate and understand in

even appreciate and understand in

even appreciate and understand in ecology and we do that

ecology and we do that

ecology and we do that with a tool called a full scope this is

with a tool called a full scope this is

with a tool called a full scope this is a very very simple microscope this is

a very very simple microscope this is

a very very simple microscope this is not the first microscope that I made in

not the first microscope that I made in

not the first microscope that I made in my life my very first microscope I

my life my very first microscope I

my life my very first microscope I remember when I was a kid was built by

remember when I was a kid was built by

remember when I was a kid was built by stealing my brother’s eyeglasses I

stealing my brother’s eyeglasses I

stealing my brother’s eyeglasses I thought I could get away with it

thought I could get away with it

thought I could get away with it don’t do that but one of the contexts

don’t do that but one of the contexts

don’t do that but one of the contexts that ends up happening is when you start

that ends up happening is when you start

that ends up happening is when you start bring a new tool to a community that has

bring a new tool to a community that has

bring a new tool to a community that has never been exposed to this idea that

never been exposed to this idea that

never been exposed to this idea that there could possibly be life that you

there could possibly be life that you

there could possibly be life that you cannot experience

cannot experience

cannot experience you see these shy kids starting to put

you see these shy kids starting to put

you see these shy kids starting to put together their very first microscopes

together their very first microscopes

together their very first microscopes very soon something really remarkable

very soon something really remarkable

very soon something really remarkable happens people self-assemble these are

happens people self-assemble these are

happens people self-assemble these are teachers in training that are training

teachers in training that are training

teachers in training that are training to be high school students all gathering

to be high school students all gathering

to be high school students all gathering together around this idea of exploring

together around this idea of exploring

together around this idea of exploring the new world one of the things that the

the new world one of the things that the

the new world one of the things that the students do in this process is learn how

students do in this process is learn how

students do in this process is learn how to do peer to

to do peer to

to do peer to the fact that they are outdoors we had

the fact that they are outdoors we had

the fact that they are outdoors we had to fight the principal to make sure that

to fight the principal to make sure that

to fight the principal to make sure that we can still learn outside a classroom

we can still learn outside a classroom

we can still learn outside a classroom that concept somehow didn’t manage to

that concept somehow didn’t manage to

that concept somehow didn’t manage to percolate but one of the fascinating

percolate but one of the fascinating

percolate but one of the fascinating thing that happens is the surprises so

thing that happens is the surprises so

thing that happens is the surprises so this is a true unpredictable moment that

this is a true unpredictable moment that

this is a true unpredictable moment that you’re going to see where certain kids

you’re going to see where certain kids

you’re going to see where certain kids realized we’re going to watch parasites

realized we’re going to watch parasites

realized we’re going to watch parasites this is not staged and of course they

this is not staged and of course they

this is not staged and of course they find how how in Malagasy means life

find how how in Malagasy means life

find how how in Malagasy means life that’s a live life that this kid is

that’s a live life that this kid is

that’s a live life that this kid is watching that is plucked on her own head

watching that is plucked on her own head

watching that is plucked on her own head and you start realizing that’s raka raka

and you start realizing that’s raka raka

and you start realizing that’s raka raka means blood this is the first moment

means blood this is the first moment

means blood this is the first moment that you start to connect that aha

that you start to connect that aha

that you start to connect that aha this is a parasite that was feeding on

this is a parasite that was feeding on

this is a parasite that was feeding on me and that was coming from an idea that

me and that was coming from an idea that

me and that was coming from an idea that this kid came up with his six years old

this kid came up with his six years old

this kid came up with his six years old and you start thinking about this of

and you start thinking about this of

and you start thinking about this of what happens when you land with the tool

what happens when you land with the tool

what happens when you land with the tool in a community and start sharing and

in a community and start sharing and

in a community and start sharing and this is a concept of thinking about not

this is a concept of thinking about not

this is a concept of thinking about not just dictating what they’re doing but

just dictating what they’re doing but

just dictating what they’re doing but just letting sitting and watching now if

just letting sitting and watching now if

just letting sitting and watching now if I had given this tool to all of you this

I had given this tool to all of you this

I had given this tool to all of you this is what you would be seeing this

is what you would be seeing this

is what you would be seeing this incredible biodiversity that exists on

incredible biodiversity that exists on

incredible biodiversity that exists on the planet and the microscopic life can

the planet and the microscopic life can

the planet and the microscopic life can anybody guess what that is that you see

that’s correct but you see these

that’s correct but you see these incredibly arrow-like thinks these are

incredibly arrow-like thinks these are

incredibly arrow-like thinks these are diatoms diatoms are actually alive when

diatoms diatoms are actually alive when

diatoms diatoms are actually alive when you catch them they glide in fact no

you catch them they glide in fact no

you catch them they glide in fact no scientists can actually tell you how

scientists can actually tell you how

scientists can actually tell you how they do that and the fact that you can

they do that and the fact that you can

they do that and the fact that you can just look and stumble upon open problems

just look and stumble upon open problems

just look and stumble upon open problems clearly creates this notion of exploring

clearly creates this notion of exploring

clearly creates this notion of exploring science with a sense of wonder a lot of

science with a sense of wonder a lot of

science with a sense of wonder a lot of people ask me why I do this and I tell

people ask me why I do this and I tell

people ask me why I do this and I tell them I just want to make people curious

them I just want to make people curious

them I just want to make people curious you know the sense of wonder is so

you know the sense of wonder is so

you know the sense of wonder is so powerful we have often joked that we put

powerful we have often joked that we put

powerful we have often joked that we put together a sensor in the tool to make

together a sensor in the tool to make

together a sensor in the tool to make sure it’s working it’s the smile that a

sure it’s working it’s the smile that a

sure it’s working it’s the smile that a person gives out and curiosity is the

person gives out and curiosity is the

person gives out and curiosity is the mother of innovation when you really

mother of innovation when you really

mother of innovation when you really could engage with science science turns

could engage with science science turns

could engage with science science turns curiosity into questions questions

curiosity into questions questions

curiosity into questions questions anyone can ask questions anyone

anyone can ask questions anyone

anyone can ask questions anyone can answer and with critical thinking

can answer and with critical thinking

can answer and with critical thinking and scientific tools maybe even

and scientific tools maybe even

and scientific tools maybe even distinguish fact from fiction one of the

distinguish fact from fiction one of the

distinguish fact from fiction one of the aspects of this work that I love the

aspects of this work that I love the

aspects of this work that I love the most is the community the community has

most is the community the community has

most is the community the community has been growing all the way from slums in

been growing all the way from slums in

been growing all the way from slums in Mumbai to slums in Kenya to Nepal we

Mumbai to slums in Kenya to Nepal we

Mumbai to slums in Kenya to Nepal we have people who are passionate about

have people who are passionate about

have people who are passionate about saving bees – people who just love

saving bees – people who just love

saving bees – people who just love mosquitos or love to hate mosquitoes

mosquitos or love to hate mosquitoes

mosquitos or love to hate mosquitoes we have sixth graders and we have 96

we have sixth graders and we have 96

we have sixth graders and we have 96 year old biology teachers and the

year old biology teachers and the

year old biology teachers and the passion of this community is really

passion of this community is really

passion of this community is really where the peer learning lies a couple

where the peer learning lies a couple

where the peer learning lies a couple years ago when we wrote the paper

years ago when we wrote the paper

years ago when we wrote the paper we thought that okay the problem is

we thought that okay the problem is

we thought that okay the problem is solved but it’s not so easy this is one

solved but it’s not so easy this is one

solved but it’s not so easy this is one of the challenges of making frugal tools

of the challenges of making frugal tools

of the challenges of making frugal tools is you have to share them so for the

is you have to share them so for the

is you have to share them so for the last four years we’ve been building and

last four years we’ve been building and

last four years we’ve been building and building and last two years ago we

building and last two years ago we

building and last two years ago we shared fifty thousand of these tools to

shared fifty thousand of these tools to

shared fifty thousand of these tools to 130 countries around the world and we’re

130 countries around the world and we’re

130 countries around the world and we’re not stopping because we can’t stop you

not stopping because we can’t stop you

not stopping because we can’t stop you see this map is not completely filled as

see this map is not completely filled as

see this map is not completely filled as yet so there are billions of kids that

yet so there are billions of kids that

yet so there are billions of kids that still don’t have access to these tools

still don’t have access to these tools

still don’t have access to these tools and this has created a community a

and this has created a community a

and this has created a community a grassroot of questions that people

grassroot of questions that people

grassroot of questions that people answer and so you can go on the site and

answer and so you can go on the site and

answer and so you can go on the site and check what work people do all the way

check what work people do all the way

check what work people do all the way from a few of my favorites are detecting

from a few of my favorites are detecting

from a few of my favorites are detecting fake currency from a kid in Nigeria to a

fake currency from a kid in Nigeria to a

fake currency from a kid in Nigeria to a kid in Namibia actually studying some of

kid in Namibia actually studying some of

kid in Namibia actually studying some of the largest bacteria that are only found

the largest bacteria that are only found

the largest bacteria that are only found in Namibia and this list goes on and on

in Namibia and this list goes on and on

in Namibia and this list goes on and on and on I wanted to mention this why we

and on I wanted to mention this why we

and on I wanted to mention this why we do this at the first place the world is

do this at the first place the world is

do this at the first place the world is not divided in developing countries and

not divided in developing countries and

not divided in developing countries and developed countries the world is divided

developed countries the world is divided

developed countries the world is divided in haves and have-nots this is the same

in haves and have-nots this is the same

in haves and have-nots this is the same thing that shows up in health care and

thing that shows up in health care and

thing that shows up in health care and that shows up in education we have more

that shows up in education we have more

that shows up in education we have more than a billion people on this planet who

than a billion people on this planet who

than a billion people on this planet who have absolutely no access to health care

have absolutely no access to health care

have absolutely no access to health care and we have around a billion kids that

and we have around a billion kids that

and we have around a billion kids that live in poverty one of the contexts that

live in poverty one of the contexts that

live in poverty one of the contexts that you start thinking about this when you

you start thinking about this when you

you start thinking about this when you connect these dots is what role do

connect these dots is what role do

connect these dots is what role do scientific tools play in both these

scientific tools play in both these

scientific tools play in both these endevours this is what it looks like

endevours this is what it looks like

endevours this is what it looks like like if you were to show up at a

like if you were to show up at a

like if you were to show up at a healthcare clinic out in the field my

healthcare clinic out in the field my

healthcare clinic out in the field my lab is when working for the last five

lab is when working for the last five

lab is when working for the last five years out in the field and this is where

years out in the field and this is where

years out in the field and this is where we get our inspiration for many of the

we get our inspiration for many of the

we get our inspiration for many of the projects but at that same time this is

projects but at that same time this is

projects but at that same time this is also where the rubber meets the road

also where the rubber meets the road

also where the rubber meets the road where health care workers that we work

where health care workers that we work

where health care workers that we work with are the ones that provide us the

with are the ones that provide us the

with are the ones that provide us the key insights that we need to really

key insights that we need to really

key insights that we need to really build in design tools maybe I’ll share

build in design tools maybe I’ll share

build in design tools maybe I’ll share one or two with you this is a older

one or two with you this is a older

one or two with you this is a older brother of full-scope that we just

brother of full-scope that we just

brother of full-scope that we just tested in Kenya for diagnosis for

tested in Kenya for diagnosis for

tested in Kenya for diagnosis for schistosomiasis which is primarily

schistosomiasis which is primarily

schistosomiasis which is primarily designed around the idea that health

designed around the idea that health

designed around the idea that health care workers get an ignition amount of

care workers get an ignition amount of

care workers get an ignition amount of ice strain if you’re going to be imaging

ice strain if you’re going to be imaging

ice strain if you’re going to be imaging for 10 hours so this is another tool

for 10 hours so this is another tool

for 10 hours so this is another tool that we’re trying to bring molecular

that we’re trying to bring molecular

that we’re trying to bring molecular diagnostics now to be able to diagnose

diagnostics now to be able to diagnose

diagnostics now to be able to diagnose all kinds of diseases in a modular

all kinds of diseases in a modular

all kinds of diseases in a modular fashion but inspired by the very old

fashion but inspired by the very old

fashion but inspired by the very old punch-card tapes how many of you

punch-card tapes how many of you

punch-card tapes how many of you programmed or know what I’m talking

programmed or know what I’m talking

programmed or know what I’m talking about with punch card tapes wow this is

about with punch card tapes wow this is

about with punch card tapes wow this is Stanford so that’s good that’s very good

Stanford so that’s good that’s very good

Stanford so that’s good that’s very good we realized that we could actually

we realized that we could actually

we realized that we could actually utilize the precision that’s embedded in

utilize the precision that’s embedded in

utilize the precision that’s embedded in these punch papers to really drive

these punch papers to really drive

these punch papers to really drive chemistry and I have a student heading

chemistry and I have a student heading

chemistry and I have a student heading out in Kenya to test this for malaria

out in Kenya to test this for malaria

out in Kenya to test this for malaria one of the other tools that was just

one of the other tools that was just

one of the other tools that was just described is a new tool that we came up

described is a new tool that we came up

described is a new tool that we came up with which is called a paper fuge now

with which is called a paper fuge now

with which is called a paper fuge now diagnosis is like searching for a needle

diagnosis is like searching for a needle

diagnosis is like searching for a needle in a haystack it takes a long time

in a haystack it takes a long time

in a haystack it takes a long time because probably you have only few

because probably you have only few

because probably you have only few parasites and we made a realization that

parasites and we made a realization that

parasites and we made a realization that one of the world’s oldest toys first of

one of the world’s oldest toys first of

one of the world’s oldest toys first of all nobody knew how it worked but once

all nobody knew how it worked but once

all nobody knew how it worked but once we figured that out I’m as any of you

we figured that out I’m as any of you

we figured that out I’m as any of you played with this toy before it’s called

played with this toy before it’s called

played with this toy before it’s called a whirligig or a rune rune and now I’m

a whirligig or a rune rune and now I’m

a whirligig or a rune rune and now I’m ramping it up I’m going to load it that

ramping it up I’m going to load it that

ramping it up I’m going to load it that acts as the the torsion in these strings

acts as the the torsion in these strings

acts as the the torsion in these strings and once I get this started

and once I get this started

and once I get this started I load the sample in the center disc and

I load the sample in the center disc and

I load the sample in the center disc and now I don’t know if some of you can hear

now I don’t know if some of you can hear

now I don’t know if some of you can hear that and one of the context of this is a

that and one of the context of this is a

that and one of the context of this is a very simple toy that I could pass to

very simple toy that I could pass to

very simple toy that I could pass to this

this

this implement that sitting right here and

implement that sitting right here and

implement that sitting right here and he’ll be able to learn in five minutes

he’ll be able to learn in five minutes

he’ll be able to learn in five minutes and start driving this but do you want

and start driving this but do you want

and start driving this but do you want to guess how fast this is spinning this

to guess how fast this is spinning this

to guess how fast this is spinning this is not spinning around 5,000 rpm 10,000

is not spinning around 5,000 rpm 10,000

is not spinning around 5,000 rpm 10,000 rpm we can get these tools to spin

rpm we can get these tools to spin

rpm we can get these tools to spin around a hundred thousand rpm and that’s

around a hundred thousand rpm and that’s

around a hundred thousand rpm and that’s enough to separate blood in 30 seconds

enough to separate blood in 30 seconds

enough to separate blood in 30 seconds or malaria parasites in a few minutes

or malaria parasites in a few minutes

or malaria parasites in a few minutes and one of the contexts that we can do

and one of the contexts that we can do

and one of the contexts that we can do so this is live fillery Isis all

so this is live fillery Isis all

so this is live fillery Isis all components of blood can be separated out

components of blood can be separated out

components of blood can be separated out anywhere and then once you want to

anywhere and then once you want to

anywhere and then once you want to detect them you take the tool like this

detect them you take the tool like this

detect them you take the tool like this the capillary and put it in a full scope

the capillary and put it in a full scope

the capillary and put it in a full scope to watch maybe I’ll share one last tool

to watch maybe I’ll share one last tool

to watch maybe I’ll share one last tool which is also a recent project that we

which is also a recent project that we

which is also a recent project that we announced its called a buzz idea that

announced its called a buzz idea that

announced its called a buzz idea that you can take a regular cell phone I

you can take a regular cell phone I

you can take a regular cell phone I couldn’t find my flip phone so I brought

couldn’t find my flip phone so I brought

couldn’t find my flip phone so I brought a smartphone that was that I use but a

a smartphone that was that I use but a

a smartphone that was that I use but a regular flip phone or a dumb phone it’s

regular flip phone or a dumb phone it’s

regular flip phone or a dumb phone it’s called has the capacity to be able to

called has the capacity to be able to

called has the capacity to be able to record acoustic signatures from

record acoustic signatures from

record acoustic signatures from mosquitoes and that allows us to

mosquitoes and that allows us to

mosquitoes and that allows us to speciate mosquitoes so if you have never

speciate mosquitoes so if you have never

speciate mosquitoes so if you have never heard this before

heard this before

heard this before I’ll irritate you with the buzz of a

I’ll irritate you with the buzz of a

I’ll irritate you with the buzz of a mosquito although that sounds irritating

mosquito although that sounds irritating

mosquito although that sounds irritating that has all the information we need to

that has all the information we need to

that has all the information we need to speciate what exact mosquitoes there are

speciate what exact mosquitoes there are

speciate what exact mosquitoes there are 3500 species of mosquitoes but only 2025

3500 species of mosquitoes but only 2025

3500 species of mosquitoes but only 2025 actually carry pathogens that are

actually carry pathogens that are

actually carry pathogens that are infectious to humans so you can have a

infectious to humans so you can have a

infectious to humans so you can have a mosquito that’s a nuisance or you might

mosquito that’s a nuisance or you might

mosquito that’s a nuisance or you might have something that’s going to carry

have something that’s going to carry

have something that’s going to carry Zika dengue chikungunya or all of them

Zika dengue chikungunya or all of them

Zika dengue chikungunya or all of them so one of the context we built the very

so one of the context we built the very

so one of the context we built the very first and largest acoustic database all

first and largest acoustic database all

first and largest acoustic database all recorded from that $10 flip phone that

recorded from that $10 flip phone that

recorded from that $10 flip phone that you see up there to be able to speciate

you see up there to be able to speciate

you see up there to be able to speciate and differentiate all these species and

and differentiate all these species and

and differentiate all these species and one of the power of this is to really

one of the power of this is to really

one of the power of this is to really give this back to the community

give this back to the community

give this back to the community all of you could now engage in this

all of you could now engage in this

all of you could now engage in this project and essentially build real-time

project and essentially build real-time

project and essentially build real-time maps of mosquito acoustics around the

maps of mosquito acoustics around the

maps of mosquito acoustics around the world okay so in my closing words again

world okay so in my closing words again

world okay so in my closing words again if photographs could talk this one will

if photographs could talk this one will

if photographs could talk this one will set tell you hey dad give me my

set tell you hey dad give me my

set tell you hey dad give me my microscope back

but in more seriousness I had come back

but in more seriousness I had come back and three months four months had passed

and three months four months had passed

and three months four months had passed I’d forgotten a little bit about

I’d forgotten a little bit about

I’d forgotten a little bit about Madagascar I mean those memories that

Madagascar I mean those memories that

Madagascar I mean those memories that are alive and suddenly I received this

are alive and suddenly I received this

are alive and suddenly I received this packet of thirty paintings made by those

packet of thirty paintings made by those

packet of thirty paintings made by those very same kids describing the natural

very same kids describing the natural

very same kids describing the natural wonder that they see and one of the

wonder that they see and one of the

wonder that they see and one of the contexts that I want to do just because

contexts that I want to do just because

contexts that I want to do just because I call back from March for science and

I call back from March for science and

I call back from March for science and it was an incredible experience is the

it was an incredible experience is the

it was an incredible experience is the fact that we need to make a promise as

fact that we need to make a promise as

fact that we need to make a promise as we stand for science we need to make a

we stand for science we need to make a

we stand for science we need to make a promise to make science accessible to

promise to make science accessible to

promise to make science accessible to everyone not just the people who can

everyone not just the people who can

everyone not just the people who can afford it but the billion kids who can’t

afford it but the billion kids who can’t

afford it but the billion kids who can’t science and scientific literacy should

science and scientific literacy should

science and scientific literacy should almost be a human right once you pass

almost be a human right once you pass

almost be a human right once you pass this tickling feeling of being able to

this tickling feeling of being able to

this tickling feeling of being able to discover something to the next

discover something to the next

discover something to the next generation they are the ones that have

generation they are the ones that have

generation they are the ones that have to tackle a large number of problems

to tackle a large number of problems

to tackle a large number of problems that are leaving that we are leaving

that are leaving that we are leaving

that are leaving that we are leaving behind so I hope you join in that

behind so I hope you join in that

behind so I hope you join in that promise and thank you

promise and thank you

promise and thank you [Applause]

”

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