Australia's Science Forum

Hi and Happy New Year everyone. If anyone would like a free, second-hand copy of 'The Laboratory' by Barbara Dungey, 2000 edition, please let me know. I only have one so it's first in, best dressed, I'm afraid.

I tried this over the weekend. Brilliant results with a minimum of effort! Thanks for the tip.

If anyone needs accomodation on the Thursday night of the conference, The Park View Motel is within walking distance of St. Marys Senior HS. They are offering a corporate rate of $108/night with no single surcharge. Phone (02) 9623 1227, Fax (02) 9673 4667, email parkview@<URL removed, see forum rul...

We are using the Pasco dataloggers, which are quite easy to use remotely or attached to the computer.

Hi Robbie,

As one of the organising team, I'll be there on both days. The Thursday evening drinks & dinner is a great opportunity to meet other participants in a less formal setting.

See you there. Steph

Don't worry, Julie, the blood we use is saved from dissections (luckily they are doing them at the same time). No human products !

Hi Denise,

I do the same as you, but find the containers are so cheap that I don't worry about it. Steph

Hi Nicole, Welcome to lab teching. I usually restock the lab cupboards with glassware, equipment etc. There is always lots of cleaning if I feel like it, or repairs to equipment. Tidying storerooms and restocking them fill in the time well, as does cleaning microscopes. You'll find the time flies. I...

Hi,

According to Appendix D of the CSIS package, Zinc Carbonate is 'slightly toxic if ingested'. Hope this helps.

I have some beautifully silvered test tubes after a year 11 Chem prac using Tollen's reagent to test for reducing sugars. Does anyone know the best way to clean them? Someone suggested conc. Sulphuric acid, but if there is a safer way, I'd rather use that.

We do rat dissections every year. Southern Biological in Melbourne supply frozen ones - I prefer them to the ones in formalin. They air freight them and only take orders for delivery at the beginning of the week so they are not sitting around for days, defrosting. Any that aren't used keep well in t...

Haines Educational in Melbourne sell a great tool for cutting glass rods which costs about $27. It has a cradle to hold the rod and a cutting wheel. You simply press down on the cutting wheel while rotating the glass rod. This etches a ring around the rod which can then be snapped quite easily. Hain...

Does anyone know of a reliable recipe and/or method for Luminol for the Year 12 HSC Chem, Forensic Science elective? It is used for detecting blood at crime scenes etc. I found one recipe using hydrogen peroxide, but have no method. Steph

Hi Kath,

All you need to do to change your title on the site is to post things. A total of 10 postings will take you to the next level. I'm not sure what the point of it is, though.

Steph

Westlab have an excellent water deioniser for approx. $750 complete with a carbon filter for the water pipe as well as a spare ion exchange cartridge. It is their own brand, made in Australia. We have been using one for about a year with no problems and haven't had to change the cartridge yet. Also ...

Hi Kathryn, We don't have any lab assistants' organisation that has training courses in NSW, but SLAMN (School Laboratory Assistants Metropolitan Network) does hold a two day conference at St. Marys Senior HS in November each year. If you would like to forward me your school's postal address, I will...

Hi Physicsone, I also use Sonex and have not found anything similar on the market. The trouble with ordinary dishwashing powders is that they can leave a residue which isn't much good for senior Chem classes. I last bought Sonex in May 2005 from Clifford Hallam Pharmaceuticals Pty. Ltd. They are in ...

This may not be much help, but I also cast 1cm & 2ccm slabs and that's where my part ends. The students are armed with rulers & safety razor blades so they can cut their cubes themselves. It certainly saves me tearing my hair out.

Egg white can be used instead, but if it has to be in powder form, I'm sure it can be dried in a beaker then ground in a mortar & pestle if necessary. Also, dried egg white may be available from some supermarkets or health food shops.

:!: Don't forget that the NSW/ACT 2006 SASS Science Conference will be at St. Marys Senior HS, St. Marys, NSW, on 23rd & 24th November this year. Registration forms will be posted out in late August/early September. If you haven't received yours by mid-September, please let me or one of the othe...