Our mission

The popularization of cheap microcontrollers, 3D printers, cameras, sensors, and other electronic components is enabling the development of innovative research tools by the academic science community. The Do It Yourself (DIY) culture is not only in good harmony with the THINK AND DO spirit at NCSU, but it also provides an opportunity to learn basic electronics, programming, design, 3D printing, etc. to students, postdocs, and staff from research disciplines not typically exposed to these technologies. The main objectives of this group are to a) empower students and postdocs doing any type of biology research to design, prototype, and build electromechanical tools and devices that can directly benefit their work, b) to share these projects and ideas with other members of the NC State community through monthly group meetings and with the general public through monthly demos at the NC Museum of Natural Science, and c) to democratize biological research by making step-by-step instructional manuals and demonstration videos freely available through the group’s website.

AraPrinter demo video

MorphoCub3D demo video

AraSorter demo video