Australia's Science Forum

I haven't bought one but Logical Interface sell an eye piece that fits into most microscopes. This then connects to your computer. Worth having a look at as they are a cheap option.

Our's do - just bought new ones. Still leaves the mystery of the gas smell.

Funnily enough, I have just moved to a new school (and new building - just to brag!) and noticed the same thing. I've only ever worked at schools with LP gas and the new building is connected to town gas. After the students had used the bunsens for the first time, I went into the classroom afterward...

See the teachers, they often get brochures from companies that make "fun" science posters. Bright Education is one company. I've just started at a new school and the teacher here was talking about looking at Dominie. I've found it depends on the teachers how well things like posters, plant...

What type is your new one? Was it the digital type?

We need to buy a CRO and it seems that the only type commonly available are the very slim line digital versions. Just wondering if anyone has purchased one and what they think of them. ie how do they compare to the old clunky looking machine -easier/harder to use, reliable etc etc.

Are these the ones from Westlab? I know the standard bulb type pH meter are really sensitive. ie as soon as you tells students to not touch the bulb, guess what they do? We are looking for equipment for Chemistry so hoping the older students will be more respectful.

Just wondering if anyone has tried the Laqua-Twin meters from Westlab. The sales rep showed me some this week and they look really easy to use. We are after one or two pH meters and possibly buying the whole set somewhere down the track. Would like to hear from anyone who has bought any of them and ...

We are required by legislation to have the SDS available for all hazardous chemicals. Unfortunately, sometimes the only way to find out if the substance is hazardous is by reading the SDS! I tend to just collect them for all my chemicals - it is still good practice to know what to do with a spill or...

It depends on the budget of the school. I've worked in three schools and two out of the three had lab coats. The third school used disposable ones very ocassionally.

I just bought some from Westlab. I'd previously bought their LPG ones at my other school and was happy with the quality, so stuck with them for the natural gas ones. They cost about $13 each. Used them for the first time yesterday with no complaints from the teacher.

I think that would be the better option, Macca. CSIS, without updates, is unreliable. We subscribe to Riskassess, so I am referring to that as it keeps the year group usage and hazard rating up to date.

Non DEC schools do not have access to the electronic version of CSIS at this stage. Be cautious using the printed version of CSIS, produced in about 1999, as some parts of it are out of date.

Hey Vicky, not sure what the expectations are in your part of the world, but in NSW that is teachers' work not ours. It's good to know these things to be able to help out but my job is to provide the equipment and materials that the teacher orders, not work out what the teacher should be ordering. W...

The thing that may be a problem is that UV light doesn't penetrate. UV light is used for decontaminating irrigation water in the nursery industry but for it to be effective the water has to pass over, or under, the light in a very thin stream. Unless someone has come up with something specific for a...

There's no direction in legislation or regulations that state it has to be single sided. So, yes, save some paper and print double sided.

Thanks for finding that out Elizabeth.

Xenon wrote: Works well in the morning.

Ha! A bit like me! Known to be a bit sluggish in the afternoon.

Good to get another name for it in case the one we get is no good. Thanks Xenon.

Wayne - praying that you have a nice speedy recovery. Good news about the pathology results. The holiday sounded great, now you're back at work having a rest?

Safework NSW (previously Workcover) require that staff using hazardous chemicals must have access to the SDS. If you only have an electronic copy, staff will not be able to access the SDS during a power failure or other computer problem. It does seem a waste of paper, knowing that I'm probably the o...