Bolangir: A workshop on Foldscope was organised at Kendriya Vidyalaya-2 here on various uses of the instrument in medical science and agriculture.
Addressing the students, Prasant Nanda, Associate Professor in Arunachal Pradesh, said that Foldscope can be used as an alternative to microscope which would bring revolutionary changes in the field of medical science and agriculture. Nanda gave a detailed talk on the uses and features that makes it different from the microscope.
The professor said that the instrument is an optical microscope and is built using plain paper, lens of two micron resolution and 140 magnification lenses. Pathological examination can be done on a glass slide in the Foldscope which has been designed and developed by Indian-born scientist Manu Prakash a professor at Stanford University in the USA.
Nanda said that a microscope which is used for various tests cannot be taken everywhere due to its bulkiness. However, a Foldscope can be carried easily, even in a shirt pocket. Students and pathologists can test blood and other samples in remote and inaccessible areas.
As this instrument could bring revolutionary change, the Union government has signed an agreement to make the device in this country. A Foldscope costs about Rs 3000 outside India. But if it is manufactured in this country, its price will come down.
The students conducted various tests using the Foldscope during the workshop and posed various questions to Nanda on the instrument
Students of Class XI attended the workshop in the presence of Principal RN Panigrahi, teachers Mamata Katoj, Balaram Mishra and Amit Sharma.
PNN
