BioE271: Frugal Science
Come learn how to solve serious challenges with a little bit of play!
Image credit: Atelier Colpizen
A new global project class at Stanford.
BioE271: Frugal Science
In this course, participants will learn principles of frugal science to design scalable solutions with a cost versus performance rubric and explore creative means to break the accessibility barrier. Using historic and current case studies, we will examine the importance of basic science to tackle design challenges with everyday building blocks. Learn to juggle the rigors of applied mathematics and physics with the creativity of a designer.
Enrollment is by application only. We will be accepting a mixed cohort of Stanford undergrad and graduate students from all schools/majors, who will team up with a cohort of global collaborators to build concrete solutions to planetary-scale challenges.
Frugal Science will be next offered in Spring 2025 (31 March to 04 June). Please check back in March 2025 for information about registration.
Let’s build better
As a society, we find ourselves surrounded by planetary-scale challenges ranging from lack of equitable access to health care to environmental degradation to dramatic loss of biodiversity. One common theme that runs across these challenges is the need to invent cost-effective solutions with the potential to scale. The current COVID-19 pandemic provides yet another example of such a need.
We hope to use this teaching platform to build a global community of curious explorers passionate about frugal science ideas; sharing and learning from each other - with a critical eye towards scalability.
