If you've found your way here after cutting out a spectrometer from a magazine, welcome! ## Introduction This introductory kit (also [available here](https://store.publiclab.org/collections/spectrometry), and [more info here](/wiki/foldable-spec)) has been co-designed by hundreds of contributors as an entry point to Public Lab's [collection of Do-It-Yourself spectrometry projects](/wiki/spectrometry). It's not the most robust design, or the most precise. But it's specifically for **newcomers to get started on** -- a stepping stone on the way to bigger and better DIY designs like the [Desktop Spectrometry Starter Kit](/wiki/dssk) and many more. This broader initiative is still actively under development by thousands of people coordinating their work across the open Public Lab community! Read more about our [challenges we're tackling](#Challenges), as well as the [limitations and goals](https://publiclab.org/wiki/desktop-spectrometry-kit-3-0#Limitations+&+Goals) of our designs. Once you've assembled it (a task in itself!) and noted any ideas for improving it, take the next step by looking at a more advanced activity below. ### Why we need you We're **especially interested** in people pitching in to test out **a new method for determining the concentration of a water sample**. We'll post this activity soon and would deeply appreciate your help in testing it out and troubleshooting! Click here to try comparing water samples (Coming soon) -- but be sure to [assemble](#Quick+start) and [calibrate](/notes/warren/09-01-2016/calibrating-your-spectrometer-in-spectral-workbench) your spectrometer first! **** ## About Public Lab Public Lab is a network of thousands of people around the world, working together to: * collectively understand and address environmental problems that affect people * develop and share more [accessible, affordable, and open source](/questions/warren/11-17-2017/what-are-design-guidelines-or-constraints-we-aspire-to-at-public-lab) ways to monitor these issues * support one another as a community to achieve these goals Anyone may join in -- to take the first step, find a question or project you're interested in, and share your thoughts! **** ## Quick start If you're ready to jump right in, and have already cut out your spectrometer, Click here to start assembling it Then circle back to the activities listed below. ## Goals **How can you help?** The first thing we're looking for help with is [refining this new version](/n/13076) of the foldable spectrometer design. We're hoping it'll be stronger, easier, and more intuitive to use [than its predecessor](/wiki/foldable-spec), as well as easier to duplicate (you can just copy it onto stiff paper with a laser printer/copier). To try out the new design and provide feedback, please leave a [comment on the assembly instructions](/n/13076), or [ask a question on this page](#Questions) [![SNOWFEST-339-32a.jpg](https://publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/022/501/large/SNOWFEST-339-32a.jpg)](https://publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/022/501/original/SNOWFEST-339-32a.jpg) (_Above: comparing two samples illuminated by an ultraviolet laser -- image by @cfastie_) **** ## Getting started Before tackling a bigger project, here are some introductory activities geared at helping you build a spectrometer, troubleshoot it, and upload data for comparison: [activities:foldable-spec] ## Activities These are more advanced activities for after you've gotten up and running with the [starter activities above](#Getting+started). [activities:spectrometry] **** ## Questions The easiest way to get involved is to simply ask questions! [questions:spectrometry-turbidity] **** ## Challenges Once you've gotten a solid footing with some of the above activities, try tackling one of these unsolved challenges to advance our collaborative work: [questions:spectrometry-challenge]