Re: [DIYbio] Democratizing Science - What can we do?

Also, I think it's been a long time since I've checked out The ODIN.
It looks like it's got some awesome stuff!

-Alex

On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 1:57 PM, Alex <spider87@gmail.com> wrote:
> The big deterrent for me has always been cost. It's hard when
> everything that you do requires expensive equipment and then, on top
> of the expensive equipment, to make use of it you need to buy another
> $90 this and $50 worth of that and $100 this that everything else for
> every few times you want to use it. Oh, and in case you can manage
> all of that, you'll also have to befriend a local university or
> business or something just so you can get shipments of certain things.
>
> It'd be great if this could all be made a little more accessible!
>
> -Alex
>
> On Wed, Sep 2, 2015 at 12:28 PM, Josiah Zayner <josiah.zayner@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I have been feeling a little angry lately because it seems like the ability
>> for DIY Scientists to accomplish things is still difficult. This is
>> noticeably seen through a lack of Scientific publications or data generated
>> by us.
>>
>> People in DIY Bio seem to be working towards something that doesn't seem
>> possible because of the lack of resources, knowledge and tools.
>> Papers, plasmids and strains that would be dirt cheap if the whole system
>> wasn't run by profiteering gluttons($65 for a plasmid, seriously addgene?
>> $200 for a strain at atcc).
>> Academic scientists sit by and use the phrase "open science" as a motto of
>> apathy. How long would publishers survive if scientists stopped citing and
>> publishing in their journals? Or refused to pay publishing fees? And just
>> posted data to their website instead? DIYers remain with no access.
>>
>> At The ODIN(http://the-odin.com), I have been trying to provide cheap prices
>> and single researcher size quantities to DIY Scientists to allow them to do
>> experiments. After lots of contemplation, I want to move away from my job as
>> a Scientist at NASA because I think big things can happen in DIY just like
>> what came of the computer hackers in the 90s. I want to help that stuff
>> happen by creating more resources and tutorials for people.
>>
>> This is where I need your help.
>>
>> In the next few months at The ODIN, we have plans to release a Codex of
>> plasmids and bacterial strains(yeast maybe?) for cheap. We want people to
>> have the resources they need. Sign-Up at http://wildtypevsmutant.com and let
>> me know what you are looking for or need.
>>
>> We are also planning a crowdfunding campaign to take cutting edge genetic
>> engineering tools like CRISPR and make them accessible physically,
>> intellectually and financially. We might be looking for some beta-testers
>> soon. Again, Sign-Up at http://wildtypevsmutant.com to keep updated. (Also,
>> let me know what you think of the video)
>>
>> I think that until genetic engineering arrives in many homes, what we do
>> will just be scary and misunderstood. At The ODIN, we want to create a
>> conversation around "Why do people think mutants are bad when they are here
>> to save us?", i.e. Wildtype vs Mutant.
>>
>> I appreciate all the support people on the list have given The ODIN so far
>> and I hope to continue to provide to the community through biting commentary
>> and ad hoc Science.
>>
>> Finally, to make DIY more successful get involved if you aren't already.
>> Teach classes at your local hackerspace, if you can't, then write tutorials
>> online(I would be glad to host them on The ODIN), mentor other DIYers or if
>> you need a mentor contact me!
>>
>> There is a little ways to go before DIYers can accomplish cutting edge
>> Science so let's make this thing work, together.
>>
>> Josiah Zayner, Ph.D.
>> NASA Bioengineering Scientist
>> The ODIN CEO
>>
>>
>>
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