Mobile Laboratory

A mobile laboratory is a laboratory that is either fully housed within or transported by a vehicle such as a converted bus, RV, or tractor-trailer. ^[1][2] Such vehicles can serve a variety of functions, including:

• Science education
• Science research
• Air, water, and soil analysis and monitoring
• Biosafety

Mobile Teaching Laboratories

A novel use of the mobile laboratory is in science education. In some cases, the mobile laboratory travels to a schools, museums, and other community organizations, providing the school with educational resources they otherwise lack. The mobile laboratory coalition is a loose partnership of groups that provide such services. ^[3] In other cases, students must also travel to the mobile lab, such as when the lab takes the form of a boat or a train. ^[4] Mobile laboratories have recently been gaining favor from the National Institutes of Health, in the form of the particular mobile laboratories such as the Biobus and the Boston University MobileLab, as a way to develop knowledge and understanding regarding biotechnology and medicine amongst the United States population. ^[5] The practice of mobile teaching labs exists outside of the USA as well, such as in the UK. ^[6]

References

1. ^ Farber mobile laboratories
2. ^ R&D Daily article on mobile labs for research and government
3. ^ Mobile Laboratory Coalition
4. ^ New York Science Barge
5. ^ NCRR article on mobile biology laboratory
6. ^ UK Lab in a Lorry (temporarily UK residents only)