The leads of Pocket Science Lab are Mario Behling (Germany), Padmal Madhushanka (Sri Lanka), Dang Hong Phuc (Vietnam) and Chung Wei Tat (Singapore). Mario is taking care of the project development, Padmal is the tech lead focusing on hardware and software, Hong Phuc supports the community and Wei Tat takes responsibility for production and operations.
After many hardware iterations, prototypes and Android Beta releases we produced the first larger batch of 1000 Pocket Science Labs in Shenzhen, China in October 2018.
PSLabs were first introduced in the market in Japan and immediately attracted wide attention in the Maker community. The first delivery to Japan was sold out on the second day. PSLab also sells in the Singapore store and is scheduled to start in EU and China markets.
The beginnings of Pocket Science Lab
At FOSSASIA we develop many Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) projects, but hardware always fascinated us too. At the FOSSASIA summit 2014 in Cambodia we discussed ideas to create Open Source Hardware with a number of developers.
Praveen Kumar proposed to further develop the Sealablet and create software for the device. We started a discussion with Jithin BP who was the developer of the Sealablet. At the time Open Source hardware was still a new idea to many. So, we were very excited when Jithin offered to release an adapted version of his hardware as Open Source under the FOSSASIA organization and later even joined us as a Google Summer of Code student.
2017 we started the development of the Android app, that made it easier for new users to conduct experiments with PSLab without the need for a desktop computer. We also changed the form factor of the device, updated components and added ESP and Bluetooth connectors. All this brought down the cost of production and extended the feature set bringing us closer to our goal of creating real scientific pocket size instruments that can be used by anyone.
The vision to miniaturize laboratories and make scientific instruments accessible for everyone
Our vision with PSLab is to miniaturize laboratories and make scientific instruments accessible for everyone.
There are a lot of problems in the world from environmental problems, to daily challenges in our personal lives, to challenges we face in work life. In order to solve these problems we need to understand the world around us. Open Source labs that are small and accessible enable us to do our own experiments and collect our own independent data to do just that. We can also verify official data, e.g. air quality, by doing our own measurements using sensors. Or, use the out of the box tools for measurements of electronics devices and components to ensure they work as expected.
Whatever measurements we do freely licensed Open Source applications and hardware ensure that experiments are replicable and verifiable. They are trustworthy because all layers are open and can be build up from the ground by anyone.
Order PSLab
If you would like to order a PSLab please visit our Shop Page.
Alexander holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and works as an R&D engineer in the automotive industry. He has a passion for software architecture design and test driven development.
Padmal is based in Sweden. He is an Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering graduate with a first class degree from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Being a past summer intern building up the PSLab project his interests lies in hardware/firmware development.
Mario is a German born technologist with more than a decade of experience in international ICT development, start ups and events organization. He is the co-founder of FOSSASIA.
Hong Phuc is an ambassador of Science Hack Day, co-founder of FOSSASIA, and organizer of Open Tech events across Asia. She is also a consultant on Open Source and InnerSource for large corporations.
Marco A. Gutiérrez is a PhD holder in cognitive vision planning for robotics systems from Spain. He has contributed to RoboComp, the Point Cloud Library and Open Perception.
Nimeshan is a Software Engineering student at UCL Sri Lanka, pursuing a degree from the University of Central Lancashire, UK. He contributes to FOSSASIA and Google Summer of Code 2025, while also running Mintify Dev, a startup Web and App Development company.
Alexander holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and works as an R&D engineer in the automotive industry. He has a passion for software architecture design and test driven development.
Padmal is based in Sweden. He is an Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering graduate with a first class degree from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Being a past summer intern building up the PSLab project his interests lies in hardware/firmware development.
Mario is a German born technologist with more than a decade of experience in international ICT development, start ups and events organization. He is the co-founder of FOSSASIA.
Hong Phuc is an ambassador of Science Hack Day, co-founder of FOSSASIA, and organizer of Open Tech events across Asia. She is also a consultant on Open Source and InnerSource for large corporations.
Marco A. Gutiérrez is a PhD holder in cognitive vision planning for robotics systems from Spain. He has contributed to RoboComp, the Point Cloud Library and Open Perception.
Nimeshan is a Software Engineering student at UCL Sri Lanka, pursuing a degree from the University of Central Lancashire, UK. He contributes to FOSSASIA and Google Summer of Code 2025, while also running Mintify Dev, a startup Web and App Development company.
Alexander holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and works as an R&D engineer in the automotive industry. He has a passion for software architecture design and test driven development.
Padmal is based in Sweden. He is an Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering graduate with a first class degree from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Being a past summer intern building up the PSLab project his interests lies in hardware/firmware development.
Mario is a German born technologist with more than a decade of experience in international ICT development, start ups and events organization. He is the co-founder of FOSSASIA.
Hong Phuc is an ambassador of Science Hack Day, co-founder of FOSSASIA, and organizer of Open Tech events across Asia. She is also a consultant on Open Source and InnerSource for large corporations.
Marco A. Gutiérrez is a PhD holder in cognitive vision planning for robotics systems from Spain. He has contributed to RoboComp, the Point Cloud Library and Open Perception.
Nimeshan is a Software Engineering student at UCL Sri Lanka, pursuing a degree from the University of Central Lancashire, UK. He contributes to FOSSASIA and Google Summer of Code 2025, while also running Mintify Dev, a startup Web and App Development company.
With his project TV-B-Gone Mitch is a legend in the Open Hardware community. He is also the founder of the first US Hackerspace Noisebridge in San Francisco.
CEO of Lionsforge, ex-Air Force trainer of Republic of Singapore. He is an educator, inventor and organiser of FOSSASIA Summit Singapore. His areas of interest are digital fabrication machines, training and education, and hardware development.
President at Hong Kong Creative Open Technology Association. He has developed software products for companies such as Kodak and was the former Project Manager for Creative Commons HK. He was also a Computer Science lecturer in Hong Kong Baptist University.
Software Engineer and Chairman of Hong Kong Linux User Group. He was the Director of Hong Kong Creative Open Technology Association. He is also a free software enthusiast and internet Freedom supporter.
Software Engineer, Cofounder of PhotosynQ. He is an open technology advocate, co-organizer of the Gathering of Open Science Hardware GOSH. MultispeQ, a low-cost photosynthesis meter, and PhotosynQ, a platform for collecting and sharing plant health data are some of his ideas.
With his project TV-B-Gone Mitch is a legend in the Open Hardware community. He is also the founder of the first US Hackerspace Noisebridge in San Francisco.
CEO of Lionsforge, ex-Air Force trainer of Republic of Singapore. He is an educator, inventor and organiser of FOSSASIA Summit Singapore. His areas of interest are digital fabrication machines, training and education, and hardware development.
President at Hong Kong Creative Open Technology Association. He has developed software products for companies such as Kodak and was the former Project Manager for Creative Commons HK. He was also a Computer Science lecturer in Hong Kong Baptist University.
Software Engineer and Chairman of Hong Kong Linux User Group. He was the Director of Hong Kong Creative Open Technology Association. He is also a free software enthusiast and internet Freedom supporter.
Software Engineer, Cofounder of PhotosynQ. He is an open technology advocate, co-organizer of the Gathering of Open Science Hardware GOSH. MultispeQ, a low-cost photosynthesis meter, and PhotosynQ, a platform for collecting and sharing plant health data are some of his ideas.
With his project TV-B-Gone Mitch is a legend in the Open Hardware community. He is also the founder of the first US Hackerspace Noisebridge in San Francisco.
CEO of Lionsforge, ex-Air Force trainer of Republic of Singapore. He is an educator, inventor and organiser of FOSSASIA Summit Singapore. His areas of interest are digital fabrication machines, training and education, and hardware development.
President at Hong Kong Creative Open Technology Association. He has developed software products for companies such as Kodak and was the former Project Manager for Creative Commons HK. He was also a Computer Science lecturer in Hong Kong Baptist University.
Software Engineer and Chairman of Hong Kong Linux User Group. He was the Director of Hong Kong Creative Open Technology Association. He is also a free software enthusiast and internet Freedom supporter.
Software Engineer, Cofounder of PhotosynQ. He is an open technology advocate, co-organizer of the Gathering of Open Science Hardware GOSH. MultispeQ, a low-cost photosynthesis meter, and PhotosynQ, a platform for collecting and sharing plant health data are some of his ideas.
Aakash is a Computer Science and Engineering graduate from Indian Institute of Technology (Varanasi), India. He is an application development and tinkering enthusiast who loves trying out new tech and coding patterns.
Aakash is a Computer Science and Engineering graduate from Indian Institute of Technology (Varanasi), India. He is an application development and tinkering enthusiast who loves trying out new tech and coding patterns.
Aakash is a Computer Science and Engineering graduate from Indian Institute of Technology (Varanasi), India. He is an application development and tinkering enthusiast who loves trying out new tech and coding patterns.
