Enterprise Stories: Lois and Things Under A Microscope

Posted on: 3 February 2021 in Enterprise

Enterprise stories are a great way to get inspired. Lois is sharing her idea of making science more accessible and fun.

About me:

Hi, my name is Lois and I am a first-year Microbiology student from Liverpool. I have always had a passion for science and find myself regularly fascinated by simple everyday things in life.

About my business idea:

My idea is all about making science more accessible and fun and sharing the beauty of our world. I use my page to post photographs I have taken of various things under my microscope, where I also post fun facts about whatever is in the image. The aim of my page is to appeal to an audience who wouldn’t normally have an interest in science, by creating engaging posts that draw attention and make people want to share them, for example, of everyday household things and showing them under the microscope to give people another perspective.

I am also working on sharing information weekly on specific topics related to food, drugs, different animals/insects, unknown medical conditions etc. explained in an easy way. The aim of my idea is to provide education on various topics in science in an accessible way, without the confusing terminology, and focusing on the ‘under a microscope’ quite literally or also metaphorically, as I am looking at topics on a deeper and more in-depth level.

What is the next step for me?

The next step is to invest in a better quality microscope and camera so that I can zoom into the microscopic world even deeper, and grow my audience. So far I have my social media pages but I am planning on expanding my idea to create a series of short animations explaining different topics in science with fun alternative analogies as well as starting up a monthly magazine, which will also include current research in the industry but explained in simple ways so that everyone can have an understanding of what’s currently happening. I also want to create prints from the images, as well as personalised requests using biological samples so the piece of art is completely unique and personal to the customer.

Have you participated in any enterprise activity or programmes at university?

I am currently taking part in the Design Your Future Programme with Alison Pountney, which is giving me an insight into how to start up my own business as I have no previous experience or understanding of how it works. So far I have found the talks with other professionals very helpful and it has given me a good idea of where to begin. By the end of these workshops, I hope to gain a lot more confidence in myself and my idea and have a solid business plan to go forward with.

Do you have any top tips to share with future and current students looking to bring their idea to life?

My advice for any current or future students looking to bring their idea to life would be to just go for it. Instead of waiting for a perfect time to begin, it’s better to just start with what you have and continue to build and grow or you will never get round to it. I would also recommend speaking to people with experience in your field or joining an enterprise programme. If you are passionate about something and are willing to put the work in, you are guaranteed to be successful.

@thingsunderamic

@things.under.a.microscope