Building a world where anyone, anywhere can invent tools that make a difference

Here at the Frugal Science Academy, we help high school students build synthetic biology tools using everyday objects.

Synthetic biology has the potential to solve some of our greatest environmental, social, and economic challenges. However, training in synthetic biology and biotechnology remains outside the reach of many pre-college students because of the cost of the equipment.

Here at the Frugal Science Academy, we help high school students build synthetic biology tools using everyday objects. Through our internships, we train students to develop frugal hardware and share those tools with others. We also train teachers in invention engineering and synthetic biology to empower their students as creators.

Together, we nurture and channel the curiosity of the next generation of engineers, inventors, and change makers.

Frugal Science Academy

If you are a student interested in applying for the Frugal Science Academy High School Scholars Program: Please Note that the Application deadline for Summer 2024 Internships is closed. Check back July 15 for the application for the Fall Semester, 2024

APPLICATION Is Currently Closed

If you are an educator interested in hearing more about how to get involved with our programs or training:

RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

Thomas A Edison
If you can write DNA, you're no longer limited to 'what is' but to what you could make.

Drew Endy
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.

Albert Einstein
Where there is no vision, there is no hope.

George Washington Carver
We are now at a point where we must educate our children in what no one knew yesterday, and prepare our schools for what no one knows yet.

Margaret Mead

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OpenCell aims to overcome the barriers to entry in synthetic biology research and contribute to the growing collection of frugal and open hardware.

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Why this work matters

New ideas can come from anywhere and anyone. Our mission is to harness the creativity, curiosity, and energy of high school students to build new frugal tools that make synthetic biology accessible for all.

Frugal Science leverages the power of everyday objects to create new and exciting products. Our goal is to use frugal science to break down barriers to entry for synthetic biology curricula and resources. Our vision is a world where anyone, anywhere can invent tools that make a difference, for science, education, even public health.

We believe the resourcefulness of frugal engineering and the rigor of science can lead to innovative solutions to our most pressing global challenges.