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Welcome to BioCurious. www.biocurious.org biocurious@googlegroups.com @ biocuriouslab biocuriousmembers.pbworks.com. You Are Here. And we’re really glad!. What brings you here?. What is BioCurious?. A hackerspace for biotech Largest Citizen Science organization in the world
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Welcome to BioCurious www.biocurious.org biocurious@googlegroups.com @biocuriouslab biocuriousmembers.pbworks.com
What is BioCurious? A hackerspace for biotech Largest Citizen Science organization in the world non-profit organization (soon to be 501(c)3) Committed to making biology accessible, affordable, and open to everyone A community lab built for and supported by members A place to “experiment with friends”
We Care About DIYbio Democratization of technology Education and (re)training Community outreach Creating a community of early adopters Exploring opportunities created by access to biotech tools & training
What we do • Provide lab space and shared equipment • Host classes, meetings, community events and projects • Provide education – lecture & hands-on lab courses • Membership = $100 per month • OR Pay $1000 for a year (2 months free!) • Operating Hours • 12pm – 10pm weekdays • 10am – 10pm weekends BioCurious demands no IP or equity from lab space users
What BioCurious is not • We’re not TechShop • No paid staff; we’re all volunteering our time! You have the same rights and obligations as the rest of us. • Nobody here is supposed to clean up after you! • Your membership fees pay for rent & basic supplies, not for the right to be educated or entertained • We’re not a school, we’re a makerspace • (Almost) nobody here is a trained educator • Peer education: everybody has something to learn, and something to teach • You’re here to do stuff, not just sit back and absorb Members make things happen!
Mission: We believe that innovations in biology should be accessible, affordable, and open to everyone.We’re building a community biology lab for amateurs, inventors, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to experiment with friends.
Timeline • 2009 – Garage Lab • 2010 – Kickstarter Campaign • Summer 2011 – Leased Building in Sunnyvale • Fall 2011 – Open to The Public • Today – reach thousands of people • Tomorrow …
What we offer? • Access to shared lab space & equipment • Reagent Store • Mailing Address • Use of facilities and meeting rooms • Space to use and store equipment • Community • With Other Members • With Local Companies • On-Line Wiki for Members • Education • Some Discounted Workshops • Safety & Equipment Training
Guiding Principles:We do not exercise editorial control over projects.We follow safety guidelines and legal restrictions
“I’d like my 12 year old to conduct experiments!” Yes: Open access to everyone But minors must be accompanied by parent Class attendance subject to discretion of organizers
Guiding Principles:We want members to have a quality experience.Need something, ask.Have a suggestion, tell us.Staffers are here to help.
Guiding Principles:We give people access and tools to find their own answers.Community is important.We connect people.
BioCurious Policies Guests– Currently, we allow free co-working (guests must sign release) Space usage/events– requests submitted to events@biocurious.org Media – requests submitted to media@biocurious.org Safety – covered separately safety@Biocurious.org Non-Cash and Equipment Donations –Email equipment@biocurious.org
Equipment Donation Procedures For equipment questions, concerns, donations, problemsemail equipment@biocurious.org Never drop anything off at BioCurious and leave unattended used lab equipment and biohazard issues make our neighbors nervous, and earn us visits from SWAT teams in bunny suits. Never drop anything off at BioCurious that hasn’t been accepted/approved
Equipment Donation Procedures What we accept • We have wishlists-- https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0ByIgvp7w4IABYjg2ZDdlNDUtZjRlNS00NzMyLThlODgtZDdmYjhlYmU5ZTRi&hl=en_US • lab equipment & supplies • general office stuff • chores
Classes • http://www.meetup.com/BioCurious/ • We offer lecture and lab classes • Schedule is on-line, and updated often • Check regularly for updates • Got an idea for a class? Let us know: classes@biocurious.org
In the first BioCurious classes: Students built PCR machines, extracted and sequenced their own DNA, and analyzed SNP variants bioinformatically.
Selected Projects at BioCurious • Community Projects: • BioPrinter, Bioluminescence, Lab Robotics, Bioinformatics • Lab Equipment Projects: • BioPrinter, Gel Doc, cheap and fast gel electrophoresis system using web cams to capture images • Reagent Store, member-run purchasing club for sharing expensive enzymes and plasmids
What’s happening around the lab? • Tue 7pm: Molecular Biology of the Cell Study Group • Every other Wed, 5:30pm: Coast-to-Coast Journal Club • Thu 7:30pm: BioPrinter (talk to Patrik!) • Sun 10am: Biolab Automation group Community meeting : Saturday, February 22, 10am – 12pm
BioCurious Partners Corporate Sponsors
Contact Info • Main Phone (may not be answered): 408-475-2BIO (2246) • Emergency Number: 831-740-6774 • biocurious-helpers@googlegroups.com • safety@biocurious.org • board@biocurious.org
What we expect from you • Use the lab safely and legally at all times • Notify staff if you are expecting a delivery • Keep the lab clean (clean up after yourself) • Share ideas, feedback, knowledge • Have fun • Remember this is your space! Make things happen!
Your questions and feedback • We need them, today and in the future • There’s never been anything like BioCurious before • We’ll incorporate your best ideas into resources, future training
So glad you asked! Attend a class Teach a class Start a project Lead a project Start a company Change the world
Building YOUR community • What do you want to do? • Project/People Matching • Social Media • biocurious@googlegroups.com • Some community project sub groups • Twitter • Facebook • LinkedIn
Be part of the Next Big Thing to come out of a Silicon Valley garage