Australia's Science Forum

Just curious - for those like me unable to attend the conference ....what is a limewater distiller??

Yes, I also checked the website and asked around but no luck either. Sorry.

Thanks for that. I'm looking forward to seeing my daughter so much I don't really mind what the temp will be (though cold, I know) My eldest is coming also and I will be spending my Big 5-0 with both my girls - will be very special! (My husband will be working back here - oh and looking after the do...

Well, I'm heading off to England visit my youngest daughter in January. She's been teaching in Essex since February and I'm expecting it to be chilly to say the least. The other day it made it to 5deg and she looked out the window to see snow falling. Days are short (getting dark while she's still a...

I remember a teacher (male) at a previous school asking me for a curette! Can you believe it?? After a process of elimination and guesswork I found that he actually needed a crucible! So pleased we didn't have to procede with the curette!

Thanks for the recipe Rita! Have shown it to one of my teachers and already she has ordered it for Yr 7 for tomorrow morning. We're looking forward to the crystals!

I like the sound of the crystallisation of the borax with the pipecleaners. It would probably appeal to the Year 7 teachers here. Would you mind sending me a copy of the prac. Thanks heaps.
Robyn (Science)
Fax: 66222940

I remember years ago (in the 1970's, I think) when I was working at the Health Commission in the Food Bacto labs and a lab was set up to test the oysters grown around the Hawesbury during a particiularly nasty infectious outbreak. If you ever want to smell a FOUL, NAUSEATING smell, try plating up so...

Just a point of view from someone who has has worked in the Private and Catholic sector and is now in the public system (over 20 years all up)..... has anyone out there heard of any others who have contracted cancer etc after working with all these chemicals in schools? I developed cancer several ye...

Hi Estelle,

You've really opened a can of worms here but if you get a chance I'd really love a copy of the risk assessments too!

robyn.l.dean@education.nsw.gov.au

Thanks, much appreciated!

My teachers are fairly good at filling in the order forms (sometimes too good!). Mind you there are a couple who insist on last minute verbal orders and if I happen to remember them all well and good but sometimes I am so busy these ones slip my mind! I have 7 labs to look after here, in 3 different...

Thanks Richard - I'll be on to it - in my "spare time" of course ha ha. I look after 7 labs here, 3 different buildings, 2 different levels and shortly will lose time in Science and have to divide my time with Home Ec! Should be an interesting juggling act!

OK, my skills are limited as far as testing electrical meters so I thought one of you clever people may be able to help me here. I want to be able to test both the ammeters and voltmeters which are in use at the moment for Year 8 and shortly for Year 9. I suspect some meters have been burnt out. I h...

Yes we use matches here too, redheads preferred as the cheapies do break more easily. I only put 10 or so matches in the 10 boxes that go out. I number each box 1 - 10 and the teachers hand box1 to bench 1, box 2 to bench 2 etc and then they know who hasn't returned stray boxes (so the theory goes a...

Thanks for that Richard

Have just replaced several lithium batteries in our stopwatches. Is there an acceptable means of disposing of the used batteries - HT not sure, and CSIS talks about elemental lithium etc but not specifically batteries. If I store them in a jar in the chem store for the next pickup (!?!) will that be...

Yes we use 1M sulfuric acid here too. It works well without any problems encountered as yet.
Be careful cleaning up the dripping conc acid!!!

Have a great break everyone. You know you need a holiday when you're sitting in your car wondering why the key won't go in and then realise you are trying to start it with your work keys!!

Yes us country kids rarely get to travel down to the big smoke for these courses so conducting them in regional centres would be great! Have just done a very conservative estimate of what the $180 course would actually cost for me to go to from Lismore. There's the fee itself, there is the return ai...

Thanks for all your feedback on this; it's much appreciated.