All CSR challenges
Science education · Curiosity in every fold
Foldscope
Build a pocket microscope. Help a child see a world they couldn't see before.
Know the activity
A small instrument. A whole new world.
Somewhere in India, a child has never seen a microorganism up close or watched a drop of water reveal an invisible world. Their school may not have access to a conventional microscope.
The Foldscope is a fully functional paper microscope invented by Manu Prakash at Stanford University. Your team's challenge is to assemble these remarkable instruments with precision and care. Every Foldscope your team builds is intended for a child who is about to see the world differently—literally.
Made together
The activity in action.
A closer look at the people, teamwork, and hands-on moments behind Foldscope.
Why should you choose it?
A shared challenge. A meaningful outcome.
01
Explore one of the world's most innovative and accessible science tools.
02
Give participants a direct role in expanding children's access to science and curiosity-led learning.
03
Combine careful, hands-on assembly with a purpose that makes every fold meaningful.
04
Bring education, innovation, and community impact into one team experience.
05
Help create a lasting learning resource that can inspire discovery beyond the event.
The result
Build something small. Open up something vast.
The precision needed to assemble each microscope calls for focus, patience, and genuine collaboration. What stays with participants is knowing that the instrument they built can introduce a child to something they have never seen before.
That moment of discovery, made possible by the team's effort, gives a single afternoon's work a life beyond the room.
Learning outcomes
What the team takes back.
Purposeful precision
Treat attention to detail as an act of care for the person who will use your work.
Collaboration
Work together to assemble a delicate, detail-driven instrument where every contribution matters.
Social awareness
Reflect on educational access and the resources available to schools in different communities.
Appreciation of innovation
Experience how a thoughtful, accessible design can make science more available.
Shared fulfilment
Discover the satisfaction of building something small that can make a meaningful difference.
Have any questions?
Before you get started.
What exactly is a Foldscope?+
The Foldscope is a paper-based folding microscope invented by Dr. Manu Prakash at Stanford University. It is designed as a durable, low-cost way to make microscopy more accessible.
How difficult is the assembly process?+
Assembly calls for care and attention but is accessible to participants without specialist experience. Teams are guided through the process, making precision part of the challenge.
Who receives the Foldscopes after the activity?+
Completed Foldscopes are gifted through community partners to children in underserved schools and learning centres, supporting hands-on scientific exploration.
What do participants say about the experience?+
Many are surprised by how meaningful it feels to assemble a simple instrument when they understand the discovery it can make possible for a child.
Bring it to your team
Make room for meaningful teamwork.
Share your group size, preferred location, and dates. The Success Tea team can help shape Foldscope around your people and community partner.