Known for taking big risks, a hard reality inspired Jeremy De Leon to come up with a solution and invent a simple and handy tool for teachers and students can use with minimal requirements.

His childhood dream was to become a scientist but the high cost of laboratory equipment was a hindrance to fulfilling his life’s goal. Because of this, he took up a Manufacturing Engineering course at Mapua University. As a young graduate, De Leon was once again faced with the same problem that challenged his knowledge and capability as an engineer early in his career.

During the pandemic when school laboratories were closed, De Leon witnessed the struggle of students and teachers alike in learning and teaching biology and life sciences. Even with the re-opening of face-to-face classes, millions of students do not have access to laboratories, however, most of them have smartphones. 

De Leon then invented the Make-roscope, a single lens, key chain microscope that can magnify specimens from 125 to 400 times. Without the complicated parts of a fancy microscope, the Make-roscope is very easy to use with a smartphone or tablet. This small but powerful tool is made from high-quality food-grade silicone that can view wet and dry specimens, a good alternative to compound light microscopes.

The portable Make-roscope comes on its own, or in a laboratory kit that includes specimen slides, pipettes, tweezers, and tubes inside a high-quality tin can.

After winning the DOST TikTok Challenge in 2021, Make-roscope was announced as the grand winner of the Alfredo M. Yao (AMY) IP Awards by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2022. This award recognizes socially relevant inventions by Filipinos.

In October 2023, the Make-roscope was recognized by the James Dyson Award as one of the inventions included in the global Top 20 shortlist. The prestigious award recognizes ideas that solve problems from university students of engineering, product design, and industrial design, and those who have graduated in these subjects in the last four years. De Leon’s ingenious creation was judged as the national champion, received a P330,000 prize, and represented the country in the international round.

To date, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and other private companies and institutions, the Make-roscope is now being utilized by more than 3,000 Filipino students and teachers across the country.

De Leon is currently working full-time and exploring ways to improve the Make-roscope, such as upgrading its zoom capabilities that can be useful in the medical field. He is also developing new kits for animal care, soil testing, and oceanography. 

Through his startup Jeremake, the young inventor is motivated to “keep the innovation and respond to the latest societal issues.” “As as much as possible, I would like for the Make-roscope to be available for public use as well as in different countries,” said De Leon.

Jeremy de Leon is one of Manila Bulletin’s Newsmakers of the Year. The MB Newsmakers of the Year Awards is co-presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), Gcash, realme, SM Development Corporation, and The Medical City. This event is also supported by major partner SM Supermalls.