About Public Lab
The Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science (Public Lab) is a community -- supported by a 501(c)3 non-profit -- which develops and applies open-source tools to environmental exploration and investigation. By democratizing inexpensive and accessible Do-It-Yourself techniques, Public Lab creates a collaborative network of practitioners who actively re-imagine the human relationship with the environment.
The core Public Lab program is focused on "civic science" in which we research open source hardware and software tools and methods to generate knowledge and share data about community environmental health. Our goal is to increase the ability of underserved communities to identify, redress, remediate, and create awareness and accountability around environmental concerns. Public Lab achieves this by providing online and offline training, education and support, and by focusing on locally-relevant outcomes that emphasize human capacity and understanding.
Download a PDF overview of Public Laboratory's work here: public-laboratory-overview-11-22-11.pdf
Join now at: publiclab.org/join
We're developing new tools for civic science with the following features:
- low cost
- open source and user modifiable design, with creative reuse of consumer technology
- ease of use/low barrier to entry for using hardware, software and field methods
- public participation
- data legibility (including a preference for maps and other rich visual means of representation)
- high quality, environmentally and socially relevant data
Useful pages
- Contribute - how to participate in Public Lab
- Priorities - our main concerns and goals
- Media - upcoming events we're speaking at, our publications, and press coverage
- How Public Lab is Funded - A list of Public Lab funding sources
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Public Lab on Twitter and on Facebook
How Public Lab is organized.
Who We Are
Public Lab is a growing community that is open for all to join. However, there are seven staff and three board members that support this community.
Support for Public Lab
Public Lab is made possible with support from:
The Knight Foundation, via the Knight News Challenge
Patagonia, Inc's Environmental Grants Program
Our friends at RackSpace
And with support from the Shuttleworth Foundation
Public Lab received generous early support from MIT's Center for Civic Media
Contact
The best way to get in touch is by emailing our staff list at staff@publiclab.org. If you are trying to reach a particular staff member, please visit the Public Lab Staff page. If you need assistance with a kit purchase, please contact retail@publiclab.org. For issues with the website, please contact web@publiclab.org.
We receive mail at:
Public Laboratory P.O. Box 426113 Cambridge, MA 02142
You can also call us at: 504-358-0647 or fax us at: 504-324-0401
Logos
Here are some Public Lab logos in various sizes:
