Australia's Science Forum

Debbie, can you tell me if those coloured light sources are bright enough to use in a normal classroom please. They look fantastic and I love that they dont need the power supply boxes.

I try to have them used within a week, but sometimes they are kept for longer. It depends on the thickness of the agar, if too thin then they can dry out and curl up at the sides which is no good. When filling the plates, fill them to about 2/3 full.

I know that my method has huge risks of contamination and would never be used in a microbiology lab, but it works for us. I pour the agar when it is cool enough to handle the bottle and then I LEAVE THE LID OFF THE PETRI DISH until it has cooled completely. I then store and incubate upside down and ...

love it! thanks Ian, I showed the head of science and now he has a legitamate reason for buying an ipad!

we use paddle pop sticks soaked in the solutions overnight and then empty the solution out prior to prac. They work better if they are still a bit damp, no bottles for the kids to contaminate.

Well I must be the laziest labbie around. :-) We do the rusting prac in 10ml culture tubes that I buy in bulk and work out at 7cents each. I dont even bother trying to wash them at that price, straight in the bin they go. I figure the time, water, cleaning chemicals just doesnt justify washing them....

Yeah there is a fair bit on the internet on pipette pumps/fillers but i'm after the experience of the labbies here who will give an honest answer as to which are best.

Wow Matchstick that is good news to hear! I have often looked at those but thought they would probably break too so have stuck to the cheaper hand made ones. Maybe its time to start investing in the "all in one" ones.

Thanks for your responses guys, keep them coming, as all info is appreciated. Smiley can you give me a bit more info on the Diji pipettes please? I havent heard of these ones. If you know where they came from I could perhaps find them in a catalogue.
Cheers Jen

I buy mine from the local hardware store and then I can see exactly what I am getting

I have been looking at pipette pumps and I'm not sure which ones to go for. Science supply have Kartell at $29.50 and Polylab pi-pumps at $9.50. Does anyone have experience with either of these and which should I buy? Dont want to waste $20 if the cheap ones are ok, but more importantly dont want to...

we too use the wooden wall racks and while we do get some scratching, it is a lot less than when we had them in a box. The racks make it easy to see if any are missing too

Try Education Matters, I bought some blue ones there last year, $10 each

we use hibiscus which are in flower now, at least in WA they are. My neighbour has a few that hang over my fence so I just help myself in the morning and bring them in.

Serrata's 2010/11 catalogue has them at $14.60 for the separate handles, $16.50 for one handle and ball on a chain.
Love the idea of the separate handles and no chain to break. Think I will be updating mine old ones with these.
thanks for the tip

Has anyone had experience with Wiltronics Scientific Digital LCD Microscopes. They come with a 3.5" LCD screen. I thought these might be great for students working in groups, much easier for them to discuss and identify whats on the screen.
any input appreciated
jen

yep, that's what I do

how about coloured matchsticks, they are cheap to buy, already coloured and last for ever

I dont know how to help with your query, but congratulations on your marriage last year Annette

Thanks Kim,
Was there a part 1? I got parts 2,3 and 4
Jen