Arduino and Google are excited to announce that the Google Science Journal will be transferring from Google to Arduino this September. Due to Arduino's existing experience with the Science Journal and a long-standing commitment to open source and hands-on science, Google has agreed to transfer ownership of the open-source project over to Arduino. This decision is taken to encourage students to learn outside of the classroom and make resources accessible to support teachers and students.
Arduino's new version remains free and will be available for iOS and Android. The Science Journal will include support for the Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense Board and the MKR WiFi 1010 Board included in the Arduino Science Kit. This will enable students to document science experiments and record observations using their mobile phones. Users will be able to migrate and access their existing experiments from the Google version of the Science Journal to the new Arduino version of the app by manually exporting and importing them.
For developers, the Arduino version will continue to offer codes, APIs, and Arduino open-source firmware to help them create innovative new projects. The Google versions of the app will officially cease support and updates on December 11, 2020, with Arduino continuing all support and app development moving forward.
As put in by Fabio Violante, CEO of Arduino, the Science Journal’s core principles of enabling children to learn interactively in a safe and inclusive environment are aligned with Arduino’s philosophy and approach to education. This will help in providing essential tools for STEAM classes that develop with students as they progress through school and university, preparing them for a successful future.
The new Arduino version of the app will continue to let users measure the world around them using the capabilities built into their phones, tablet, and Chromebook. Furthermore, Arduino will be providing better integration between the Science Journal and existing Arduino products and education programs. The Arduino Science Journal will continue to be free and open-source, with updates and new features added over time, making it easier for students to conduct and document innovative science experiments.
