ASCUS LAB
The one-of-a-kind publicly accessible laboratory for everyone
ASCUS lab is a biosafety level 1 facility for users to interact directly with the tools and ideas of science and art through DIY experimenting. The lab is accessible to anyone no matter your level of experience; whether you are an individual with a curious mind wanting to explore scientific equipment and develop new skills, a small business needing the space and equipment to test your concept, or needing a lab space to host a workshop or film in.
Our lab is accessible through
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Lab Sessions
After completing a health and safety induction, our lab sessions give you access to all our lab equipment to bring your project vision to life.
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Microscopy sessions
Whether you have something specific to observe, or just want to get lost in the unseen world, microscopy sessions are for everyone! Check out our Microscopy page for more information.
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Workshops and courses
We host a number of public workshops and lab-based events throughout the year. Keep an eye on out Events page to see what’s coming up!
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Personalised Training Sessions
Our lab manager would be more than happy to help you develop skills in microscopy, microbiology, DNA analysis or enquire about other techniques you'd like to learn.
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Hire
Our lab can be hired out for workshops, running courses, filming, and anything else that might require lab space, microscopes or other science equipment. We also hire out our microscopes for external events!
Pricing
Annual Membership
£120
Have a project that requires long term lab use or want to support the work we do? Become an ASCUS member and get 25% discounts on hourly lab access, courses, workshops and other ASCUS events.
Hourly lab access
£5/£4.5*
Spend as long or as little as you like in ASCUS Lab with access to a biosafety cabinet, fume hoods, electrophoresis tanks, a UV Doc, incubators, heating plates, microscopes and so much more.
One-to-one training
£34/hour
If you need help perfecting a technique, or just have some time on your hands and want to learn a new skill and try your hand at some of the experiments done day-to-day in a lab, our lab technician will be happy to assist.
Safety Induction
£34
This is a mandatory induction for all lab users before they start working in ASCUS Lab to get familiar with the risks involved with working in a lab.
Use of lab consumables and storage of project specific chemicals/equipment is not included in the lab access fee.
*concessions: full-time students; unemployed persons, senior citizens, residents of Summerhall, and disabled persons. If you have booked as a concession you must provide proof of status on arrival.
Ready to experiment? Here’s how it works
Complete the form below to tell us a little bit about what you would like to do in ASCUS Lab.
We will get back to you to let you know if we can facilitate your idea in our biosafety level-1 lab, and if we have the materials you need. We may need to set up a meeting to clarify some things.
We’ll then book you in for the mandatory health and safety induction, complete some risk assessment paperwork and give you a tour of the lab and that’s it!
You can contact us to book your following lab sessions. If you need any one to one training, please be sure to let us know.
We have a card machine in the lab so you can pay for your lab time before you leave. We can also keep a record of your lab hours and costs to invoice on a monthly basis.
Have something in mind but not sure where to start? Contact us to discuss your ideas with our lab manager.