A national plan for public biology labs: LABraries and LABrarians for all
A national plan for public biology labs: LABraries and LABrarians for all
What if every American had the option to learn about biology and biotechnology?
What if every American had the option to learn about biology and biotechnology? Scholars from the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) and the MIT Media Lab, drawing inspiration from the transformative impacts of public libraries, are proposing just that: the creation of a 21st-century system of public biology labs. The team’s hope is that thousands of “LABraries” will soon provide all Americans with opportunities to engage in a safe, secure, and cooperative future with biology.
Dr. Callie Chappell, a former postdoctoral scholar at CISAC, led the project. “I grew up as a rural kid running along the shores of Lake Michigan. Artists, teachers, and my family – many of whom would not consider themselves scientists – taught me about mushrooms, native plants, and local wildlife. These experiences formed the basis for my curiosity and love of biology. Today, from our favorite foods to essential medicines, biology increasingly matters. Everyone should feel connected to and empowered with biology.”
“A free and democratic society requires that all citizens have the option of learning, including in the sciences and emerging technologies,” added Prof. Drew Endy, a core faculty member at CISAC, and faculty advisor to the project.
Despite the growing importance of biology and biotechnology, significant barriers prevent everyday individuals from contributing to and reaping the benefits of these advances. By fostering community knowledge in areas like gardening and fermentation, LABraries can inspire the public to actively engage in building biotechnological futures at the local level. “Local people solving local problems for local benefit is the key,” added Endy. LABraries offer inviting spaces that empower individuals to explore biology. Many of these spaces are already part of a global network of community biology labs that serve as educational and research hubs outside traditional academic, industry, or government settings.
Corinne Okada Takara (Stanford Class of ‘90), a community bio artist and educator, is an advisory board member for the project. In her backyard bio-maker space in Honolulu, HI, Corinne shared that she strives to uplift local and ancestral knowledge within her community through hands-on biology. “I am always inspired to hear elders and youth share stories and have fun with local natural materials.” Corinne’s community workshops educate the public about science, expand scientific research on local topics, and promote scientific storytelling through art. “Corinne’s makerspace is one of the first LABraries and she is inspiring the first generation of LABrarians,” added Chappell.
As detailed in the newly released report, LABraries can exist at all scales, not only as brick and mortar buildings. A network of Little Free LABraries, Lil Labs, are growing in neighborhoods, community centers, and city blocks already. Similar to Little Free Libraries, these free science cabinets are filled with origami microscopes, seeds, yeast packets, and more, enabling low-cost innovation and community science.
In developing a proposal for a National LABrary System, the Stanford and MIT team consulted with numerous experts across diverse areas including community biology, education, and biosecurity. Dr. Gerald Epstein, a project participant and former Assistant Director for Biosecurity and Emerging Technologies at the US White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) says, “More of a ‘Do It Ourselves’ approach than a ‘Do It Yourself' one, LABraries can promote citizen engagement, inspire and develop a workforce, and reinforce biosafety and biosecurity norms.” Ana Quiroz, an undergraduate researcher on the project and Stanford junior studying Political Science and Human Biology adds, “Biosecurity requires engaging all community members. This can be a lot to ask when biology seems so complex. LABraries present an opportunity to help people become more comfortable with biology through community science projects and bio-art, empowering individuals to advance biosecurity and safety at the local level.”
Dr. David Sun Kong, Director of the MIT Media Lab’s Community Biotechnology Initiative and co-lead on the project, calls for philanthropic support, coupled with partnerships with local, state, and federal governments, to jumpstart LABraries and LABrarians in every community across the U.S. “Already, libraries, museums, community centers, and gardens can readily become LABraries. Every American should have the opportunity to explore biology within their community,” Kong added.
All findings and policy recommendations are freely available in the new report, LABraries & LABrarians: a proposal for a national LABrary System.
