After waiting over a decade for LEGO to create a model set that represents the biological labs familiar from his own research work, PDN postdoc Chu-Cheng Lin has taken up the challenge and built his own model concept for an accurate biological laboratory set.
By building a realistic LEGO biological laboratory and submitting it for consideration to ‘LEGO Ideas’, Chu-Cheng hopes to de-mystify laboratory spaces, and create a LEGO set which belongs not only to the general public, but to the biologist community.
“I started my biological research path 15 years ago. I found the lab environment to be mysterious for people who haven’t seen it before, and sort of pretty for me.” Chu_Cheng said “While I spent 12hrs a day in the lab, my parents and best friend have no clue what my working environment looks like. By building this set, I want to show people a place where biology is explored, and let biologists demonstrate their professional life to loved ones and the world.”
Currently a postdoc working on the learning neural circuits of fruit flies, as part of the Cardona lab, Chu-Cheng has added elements in to the bio lab build which are influenced by his own research journey. For example, it features a fly patch clamp rig and cell culture room, and a commonly seen molecular bench. The model includes elements of cell biology, neurobiology, molecular biology, and plant science, and is based on his own academic career experiences. The two-floor, realistic design is educational, playable, and can be used for outreach.
“In this design, I try to tell stories about biologists, introduce biology concepts to the general public, and convey the beauty of the biology lab through the accessibility of LEGO. I wanted to build a model that biologist parents can proudly share with their children, and tell them "This is where daddy/mommy works.”.
Anyone with an idea for a new set can submit to LEGO Ideas and turn their dream build into reality. People can submit their own concepts and become a Fan Designer. If a Product Idea gets 10,000 votes on the Ideas page, it will be considered for production as a real-life LEGO set.
Chu-Cheng said “LEGO is a special media and almost everyone I know likes it. It's educational and aesthetic. The joy while building, and the sense of accomplishment after finishing it, makes both adults and kids fall for it”
To explore the lab model in detail, and vote to help make it a reality, visit the LEGO IDEAS page at https://beta.ideas.lego.com/product-ideas
