Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36350791›Full record

ArticlePloS one2022

DIY liquid handling robots for integrated STEM education and life science research.

Ethan Li, Amy T Lam, Tamar Fuhrmann, Len Erikson, Mike Wirth, Mark L Miller, Paulo Blikstein, Ingmar H Riedel-Kruse

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Accelerated chemical science with AI.Digital discovery · 2024
    Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ethan LiDepartment of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0002-3041-0428
Amy T LamDepartment of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Tamar FuhrmannThe Miller Institute for Learning with Technology, San Carlos, California, United States of America.
Len EriksonTeachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Mike WirthTeachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Mark L MillerTeachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0003-4866-7915
Paulo BliksteinThe Miller Institute for Learning with Technology, San Carlos, California, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0003-3941-1088
Ingmar H Riedel-KruseDepartment of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0002-6068-5561

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Automation has played a key role in improving the safety, accuracy, and efficiency of manufacturing and industrial processes and has the potential to greatly increase throughput in the life sciences. However, the lack of accessible entry-point automation hardware in life science research and STEM education hinders its widespread adoption and development for life science applications. Here we investigate the design of a low-cost (~$150) open-source DIY Arduino-controlled liquid handling robot (LHR) featuring plastic laser-cut parts. The robot moves in three axes with 0.5 mm accuracy and reliably dispenses liquid down to 20 μL. The open source, modular design allows for flexibility and easy modification. A block-based programming interface (Snap4Arduino) further extends the accessibility of this robot, encouraging adaptation and use by educators, hobbyists and beginner programmers. This robot was co-designed with teachers, and we detail the teachers' feedback in the context of a qualitative study. We conclude that affordable and accessible LHRs similar to this one could provide a useful educational tool to be deployed in classrooms, and LHR-based curricula may encourage interest in STEM and effectively introduce automation technology to life science enthusiasts.

Indexed as

Biological Science DisciplinesRoboticsAutomationComputersCurriculum

Identifiers

PMID36350791
PMCPMC9645590

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.