The PlanktoScope project is a citizen science initiative that aims to improve our understanding of the role that plankton play in marine ecosystems. Plankton are tiny organisms that float in the water column and form the base of the ocean food web. Despite their importance, little is known about plankton populations and how they are affected by environmental changes.
Through the PlanktoScope project, we are inviting individuals and communities to join us in collecting and analyzing plankton samples from bodies of water around the world. By participating in this project, you will be contributing valuable data to a global database that will help scientists better understand the health and resilience of marine ecosystems.
This FAQ has been compiled to answer common questions about the PlanktoScope project and how you can get involved. We hope you find it useful and we look forward to working with you to advance our knowledge of the oceans!
If you have the technical know who then you can build it yourself, the required information can be found here in the documentation. Let others know about your intention to do this and say hello in our Slack channel, maybe someone is interested and would like to participate.
To find the necessary tools and knowledge to produce the PlantoScope, consider visiting a [Fablab](https://fablabs.io/labs) or [Hackspaces](https://wiki.hackerspaces.org/List_of_Hacker_Spaces) in your region. These organizations often have a culture of openness and may be willing to support you with your project.
And if you have specific questions or problems, you can always report them in the Slack channel and in the best case you will find someone there who can support you.
## I am looking for an older version of the PlantoScope where the housing could still be manufactured with a laser cutter. Where can I find the corresponding design files?
Even though the development is now focused on a more sustainable approach based on recycled wood, the design for the acrylic housing is still available on [Github](https://github.com/PlanktoScope/PlanktoScope/tree/acrylic_case).
