Bengaluru, September 2025: The Murty Trust annual public lecture, held on September 6 at Sir Puttanna Chetty Town Hall and hosted by the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), featured a keynote address by Dr. Manu Prakash, Associate Professor of Bioengineering at Stanford University.
Widely known for his concept of frugal science, Dr. Prakash has developed low-cost scientific tools such as the Foldscope, a paper-based microscope, and the Paperfuge, a hand-powered centrifuge. These innovations are now being used in schools, community health centres and research projects across the globe, making scientific exploration more accessible.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Sudha Murty, Chairperson of the Murty Trust, said the initiative was aimed at taking science beyond laboratories. “Science is truth, and truth should be accessible to everyone. Dr. Prakash demonstrates how simple materials can be transformed into tools that change the way people view science,” she said.
Delivering his lecture titled “From Paper Microscopes to Global Change: Story of Frugal Science”, Dr. Prakash underlined how curiosity-driven inquiry could lead to affordable solutions for real-world problems. Drawing from expeditions in the Arctic and fieldwork in African communities, he showed how innovation thrives even outside advanced laboratories.
“It was an honor to be invited to Bangalore. Despite the rain, people travelled for hours to attend — a reflection of the city’s strong scientific spirit,” he said.
The event drew over 350 participants, including students, teachers and researchers. A question-and-answer session followed the talk.
Prof. L. S. Shashidhara, Director of NCBS, said such innovations inspire students to ask new questions. “The simplicity and affordability of tools like Foldscope can ignite scientific curiosity in an entire generation,” he noted.
The Murty Trust’s lecture series aims to connect world-renowned scientists with the public, encouraging greater understanding and appreciation of science.
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