Foldscope

We are the makers of Foldscope, the original paper microscope! Working to globally expand access to microscopy & the wonder of science.

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

🔬 Free microscopes + teacher training!

This fall we’re relaunching our Fast & Curious tour — bringing free Foldscopes (paper microscopes), workshops, and lesson plans to educators across the United States.

Each educator will receive free training, a Foldscope to keep, plus extra Foldscopes for their students and communities, FOR FREE 🌎✨

📅 Applications are now open. To apply, visit https://t.co/YCTndJ6ep2 or scan the QR code in the video.

⚡ This program is a partnership between the Prakash Lab (Stanford University) and Foldscope Instruments, with coordination led by Paola Moreno-Roman, and is open only to schools and organizations in the US.

✉️ Any questions? Email us at [email protected]

#foldscope #fastandcurious #stem #education #science #teachers #training #free #microscopy #scienceeducation #educators #professionaldevelopment #microscope #scienceforall #school

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

Our Fast & Curious tour has brought free Foldscopes (paper microscopes), workshops, and lesson plans to educators across the United States! These photos are from recent stops in NC and SC. 🙌🔬

Each educator received training, a Foldscope to keep, plus extra Foldscopes for their students and communities, all for FREE!

To apply, go to this link: https://t.co/wOq0QqVA1f

✨ This program is a partnership between the Prakash Lab (Stanford University) and Foldscope Instruments, and is open only to schools and organizations in the US.

Any questions? Go to https://t.co/bx9bHAcRjb for more info or email [email protected]

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

🥳 Our August Foldscoper of the Month, Avani Kaur, is a Richmond Scholar at the University of Richmond studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Health Studies on the pre-medical track.

🔬 Avani’s fascination with microscopy began in 6th grade during the COVID-19 pandemic. Curious about the unseen biological processes behind life and disease, she received her first microscope from her parents and began exploring histological slides, cells, and tissues.

🧬 Her research journey began in 9th grade with a project on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), followed by research on oxidative stress, Alzheimer’s disease, and, most recently, cancer.

✨ Avani first used a Foldscope during a Fast and Curious training session, where she was impressed by how such a simple, portable tool could make microscopy more accessible. The experience inspired her to incorporate Foldscope into Osmosis STEM, an initiative she co-founded to bring hands-on science experiences to young learners.

🧑‍🔬 Today, Avani uses Foldscopes in her Cellular Magic: Human Systems Under the Microscope series, where students learn about human body systems before observing real tissue and cell samples themselves. Through her work, she hopes to bridge the gap between learning science in a textbook and experiencing it firsthand.

📸 Follow Avani's work!
Instagram: @osmosis.stem
Facebook: @osmosis.stem
LinkedIn: @osmosis.stem

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

💳 $200 in Foldscope gift cards for your classroom!

The Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh and the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh Foldscope Grant gives K–12 educators in the U.S. and Canada the chance to bring the microscopic world to life. Use the gift card to get Foldscopes and classroom materials that turn textbook lessons into hands-on, interactive exploration. 🦠🔬

Open to any educator teaching science, even if you’re not officially designated as a science teacher, this grant is about more access, more curiosity, and more students discovering science up close.

Learn more and apply here: https://t.co/wJzd5l3FM0

Discover Foldscope products and resources: https://t.co/JbrJGkMfRU 🌱

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

If the Foldscope 2.0 Explorer Kit has been on your wish list, now’s the time to grab one! 🔬

For a limited time, get FREE SHIPPING on the Foldscope 2.0 Explorer Kit!

Discover what’s hiding beyond the naked eye with a portable paper microscope featuring 50X, 140X, and 340X magnification. The Explorer Kit comes ready for hands-on exploration, with everything you need to prepare your own samples and even capture your discoveries with your phone.

Start exploring today at https://t.co/bx9bHAcRjb!

Free shipping available to the 48 contiguous U.S. states only. Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories are excluded. Limited-time offer.

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

🥳 Our July Foldscoper of the Month, Arnold Abakah, is a Biochemistry graduate from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana and is currently pursuing an MSc in Bioinformatics at the University of Ghana.

🦠 As a Pandemic Fund trainee, his work focuses on strengthening Ghana's pandemic preparedness and response, while his research interests include microbial infection, genomics, and interactions between the immune system and infections.

📚 Arnold's interest in microscopy began in high school, where he served as a Laboratory Supervisor and helped prepare practical chemistry and biology lessons. He still remembers the excitement of seeing cells in an onion slice under a microscope, but with limited equipment, as many as 10 students would often wait in line for a chance to look.

🔬 Years later, Arnold had his first experience with Foldscope during a Foldscope Ghana facilitator training. Looking at pond water, he watched a live nematode twisting and turning in real time, an experience he still remembers fondly.

✨ Today, Arnold uses the Foldscope to share his passion for science with the next generation. Through the Foldscope Ghana Initiative, he focuses on bringing science experiences to students in low-resource communities in Ghana.

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

🔬For a limited time, get FREE SHIPPING on the Foldscope 2.0 Explorer Kit!

Your own microscopy lab, right in the box!🦠

🔗Shop now at https://t.co/jXGF7h8UnL

This kit gives you everything you need to start exploring the microscopic world, including a portable paper microscope with up to 340X magnification.

Discover the incredible details hidden in plants, insects, microorganisms, water, and more. Collect specimens, prepare slides, and uncover an entirely new world wherever curiosity takes you.

Free shipping available to the 48 contiguous U.S. states only. Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories are excluded. Limited-time offer.

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

🔬 Foldscope at the ECU STEM Symposium!

On July 29, our Educational Specialist, Holly Stuart, attended the East Carolina University STEM Symposium! She led a hands-on Foldscope workshop where educators had the opportunity to explore the microscopic world using our paper microscopes. 🔍🦠

Holly also spent the day at our vendor booth, connecting with educators, sharing resources, and chatting about all things STEM. 💡

It was a fun day filled with learning, connecting, and sharing our passion for hands-on science! ✨

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

Our Educational Specialist Holly Stuart represented Foldscope at the 2026 National Arts Integration & STEAM Conference in St. Louis, where she presented "Light, Microscopy, and Perspective" to more than 60+ attendees! Her presentation explored how accessible, affordable, hands-on microscopy can enrich arts-integrated and STEAM learning by encouraging students to observe the world from new perspectives. 🙌🔬👀

In addition to her presentation, Holly managed the Foldscope vendor booth throughout the conference, connecting with hundreds of educators interested in bringing hands-on science to their schools.

The response was overwhelmingly positive, with Foldscope products selling out before the conference concluded. The conference was a tremendous success, highlighting the growing excitement for accessible microscopy and curiosity-driven learning in classrooms.

[Boyce Thompson Inst @BTIscience]

This weekend, members of Dr. Maria Harrison's lab and some of our undergraduate summer researchers through our REU program visited the Ithaca Farmers Market to share details about the exciting research underway at BTI. The booth demonstrated the @TeamFoldscope, an inexpensive, portable microscope that allowed the public to view and photograph beneficial fungi on plant roots.

The group also discussed the symbiotic relationship between fungi and roots, the basics of phosphate cycling, and how current research in this field contributes to improved soil health and reduced fertilizer use. Everyone who visited the booth was able to use the Foldscopes to take a closer look at this interesting symbiotic relationship and learn more about the impacts of algal blooms on waterways, including Cayuga Lake.

Thank you to Natalie Hoffmann and Elizabeth Trost for organizing this activity!

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

✨ Our June Foldscoper of the Month, Mathew Tony, has embraced scientific exploration through his participation in the Lodha Genius–Ashoka University Program, a prestigious initiative designed to nurture India's brightest young minds and future changemakers. Through the program, this student has had the opportunity to explore the microscopic world using Foldscope and share his discoveries on Microcosmos.

🔬 Working alongside educator, researcher, and Foldscope expert Anupma Harshal, he examined a wide variety of specimens, including pollen, insects, and many other fascinating samples.

📚 The Lodha Genius–Ashoka University Program provides students with immersive experiences in science and mathematics, mentorship opportunities, and access to leading experts from around the world. Mathew's enthusiasm for microscopy and his active participation in Foldscope-based investigations exemplify the spirit of discovery and innovation that the program encourages.

🥳 We are excited to recognize Mathew for his dedication to exploring the unseen world and for sharing his findings with the global Foldscope community!

[Dr. Anupma Harshal W @dranuharshal]

@TeamFoldscope @PrakashLab sample form Joey got us exploring, we hav these lovely creatures right there gobbling up the green stuff in the water. Mighty, cute, slow moving bt wht gait can't get over it can't get around them, video by Ziva @lodhafoundation #LGP26 @GlobalAshoka

[sameerUNO @SameerUno]

#Foldscope
Been doing street science again this week, and it feels so good. The reactions never get old. It's amazing to see kids still using their Foldscopes and searching for interesting things to observe.
@TeamFoldscope @PrakashLab @Edurafi

[ICGEB Cape Town @ICGEBCapeTown]

#ScienceforAll 🌍 @ICGEB @TeamFoldscope bring the magic of the paper microscope to the launch of National Science Month in South Africa 🇿🇦

[Holly Stuart @hollyastuart]

It is Day 2 of the The Institute for Arts Integration & STEAM Conference! Only a few more @TeamFoldscope items remain… Stop by the table and I’ll see you at the 1:00 session on Light, Microscopy, and Perspective!

#ArtsIntegration #CreativityConnected26

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

Congrats to our May 2026 Foldscoper of the Month, Akshaj! 🥳

He has embraced scientific exploration through his participation in the Lodha Genius–Ashoka University Program, a prestigious initiative designed to nurture India's brightest young minds and future changemakers. Through the program, Akshaj has had the opportunity to explore the microscopic world using Foldscope and share his discoveries on Microcosmos.

Working alongside educator, researcher, and Foldscope expert Anupma Harshal, Akshaj examined a wide variety of specimens, including pollen, insects, and many other fascinating samples.

The Lodha Genius–Ashoka University Programme provides students with immersive experiences in science and mathematics, mentorship opportunities, and access to leading experts from around the world. Akshaj's enthusiasm for microscopy and his active participation in Foldscope-based investigations exemplify the spirit of discovery and innovation that the program encourages.

We are excited to recognize Akshaj for his dedication to exploring the unseen world and for sharing his findings with the global Foldscope community!

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

Think microscopes are too expensive or complicated for your classroom? Think again. 🔬✨

Last week at SOAR Into STEM at UNCW, educators joined us for a hands-on Foldscope workshop where they learned how to prepare and examine a hair sample, explore the microscopic world, and discover new ways to encourage curiosity in their classrooms.

Foldscope is an ultra-affordable, portable paper microscope that makes science more accessible for learners of all ages. Designed to fit in a pocket but powerful enough to reveal details invisible to the naked eye, Foldscope empowers students to become scientists through observation, exploration, and discovery.

Interested in bringing Foldscope to your classroom, school, or organization? Visit https://t.co/bx9bHAcRjb to learn more, or send us a message to learn about upcoming Fast & Curious Tour opportunities where you can receive FREE Foldscopes for your classroom!

[Foldscope @TeamFoldscope]

The new collection of MicroRealms Explorer Cards is HERE! 🦠🔬🙌

The following specimens are included in this series of trading cards:

* Hibiscus - Pollen
* Lichen
* Mosquito Wing
* Paramecium
* Rabbit - Liver

These cards are wonderful for young explorers getting started with a Foldscope because they include:

🦠 Real Specimens – In the center of each card is a real specimen, mounted like a traditional microscope slide.

✏️ Custom Illustrations – Stunning illustrations highlight macroscopic and microscopic features of the specimen that you can look for with your Foldscope.

🔬Scientific Information – Learn more about each specimen from the fun and informative information included on every card.

(All sample cards are compatible with both the Foldscope 2.0 and Mini! )

✨ Shop now and start exploring the micro world - Tap the link in our bio or go to https://t.co/jXGF7h8UnL!

[Dr. Anupma Harshal W @dranuharshal]

Assessment for a 5day course on Exploring the Microcosm at LGAUP26 looks n feels like this they came they explored and promised 2continue the journey @PrakashLab #lodhagenius
@TeamFoldscope #AMR #Microscopy
https://t.co/RdfbC7XVtT