The object
Amy Smith invented a phase-change incubator that uses thermal storage rather than grid power to keep water-test cultures at incubation temperature. MIT D-Lab documents its use in the Test Water Cheap system, where filtered water samples are cultured for 24 hours to reveal coliform contamination in remote communities.
What Amy did
Invented a low-cost phase-change incubator for culturing water-test samples without continuous electricity.
Why it matters
The incubator makes microbiological water testing practical where electricity is intermittent or unavailable, using inexpensive physical materials rather than laboratory equipment.
Living-status check
MIT D-Lab's current 2026 profile identifies Smith as founding director and senior lecturer; a 2025 MIT feature records her continuing leadership activity.