Public Lab

{{Short description|American nonprofit organization}}

{{more citations needed|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = The Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science

| abbreviation = Public Lab

| formation = {{start date and age|2010}}

| type = Non-profit organization

| registration_id = 45-2846555

| purpose = Community Science Environmental Justice

| leader_title = Executive Director

| leader_name = Jordan Macha

| board_of_directors = Janet Haven (Chair), Shelby Ward (Vice Chair), Micah L. Sifry (Secretary), Catherine Bracy, Elaine Garvey, Mike Ma, Gwen Ottinger, Rajul (Raj) Pandya, Christina Xu,

| website = {{URL|publiclab.org}}

}}

The Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science (Public Lab) is a non-profit organization that facilitates collaborative, open source environmental research in a model known as Community Science.{{Cite web|url=https://creativecommons.org/2016/09/07/collaboratively-generating-knowledge/|title=Collaboratively generating more knowledge: Public Lab's approach to citizen science|date=2016-09-07|website=Creative Commons|access-date=2019-01-11}}{{Citation|last1=Breen|first1=Jessica|title=Public laboratory:: Play and civic engagement|date=2019|jstor=j.ctvcmxpds.12|work=The Playful Citizen|volume=1|pages=162–174|editor-last=Glas|editor-first=René|series=Civic Engagement in a Mediatized Culture|publisher=Amsterdam University Press|isbn=9789462984523|last2=Dosemagen|first2=Shannon|last3=Blair|first3=Don|last4=Barry|first4=Liz|editor2-last=Lammes|editor2-first=Sybille|editor3-last=de Lange|editor3-first=Michiel|editor4-last=Raessens|editor4-first=Joost}} It supports communities facing environmental justice issues in a do it yourself approach to environmental monitoring and advocacy.{{cite web|url=https://www.fsf.org/news/public-lab-and-karen-sandler-are-2017-free-software-awards-winners-1/|title= Public Lab and Karen Sandler are 2017 Free Software Awards winners|work=Free Software Foundation}} Public Lab grew out of a grassroots effort to take aerial photographs{{Cite web|url=https://www.good.is/articles/grassroots-mapping-how-you-can-create-aerial-cartography-for-under-100-and-use-it-to-do-good|title=Grassroots Mapping: How You Can Create Aerial Cartography for Under $100, and Use It to Do Good|date=2011-03-09|website=GOOD|access-date=2019-01-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/09/hacking-the-gulf-oil-spill-with-kites-and-cameras/|title=Taking On the Gulf Oil Spill With Kites and Cameras|last=Bilton|first=Nick|date=2010-06-09|website=Bits Blog|access-date=2019-01-10}} of the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/06/17/mit-based-grassroots-mapping-mapping-the-oil-spill-with-digital/|title=MIT-based Grassroots Mapping mapping the oil spill with digital camera, kites|website=Engadget|access-date=2019-01-10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/if-trump-dismantles-the-epa-use-these-kits-to-monitor-your-environment/|title= If Trump Dismantles the EPA, Use These Kits to Monitor the Environment|work=Vice|date= 12 January 2017}} Since then, they have launched a range of projects, including an open source spectrometer,{{Cite web|url=https://makezine.com/2014/11/08/engadget-expand-open-source-spectrometers/|title=Engadget Expand: Open Source Spectrometers {{!}} Make|date=2014-11-08|website=Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers|access-date=2019-01-10}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2013/03/spectral-challenge/|title=Analyze This: Design Contest Seeks Your Cheap, Open Source Spectrometers|last=Hurst|first=Nathan|date=2013-03-07|magazine=Wired|access-date=2019-01-10|issn=1059-1028}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wg27BQAAQBAJ&dq=%22Public+Lab%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA145|title=Building Open Source Hardware: DIY Manufacturing for Hackers and Makers|last=Gibb|first=Alicia|date=2014-12-06|publisher=Addison-Wesley Professional|isbn=9780133373905}} multi-spectral camera, and low-cost microscope.{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/christmas-specials/2017/12/19/do-it-yourself-science-is-taking-off|title= Do-it-yourself science is taking off|newspaper=The Economist|date= 2017-12-19}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/meet-community-scientists-shaping-new-environmental-resistance/|title=Meet the Community Scientists Shaping the New Environmental Resistance|last=Glinskis|first=Emmalina|date=2018-07-19|work=The Nation|access-date=2019-01-11|issn=0027-8378}}