Australia's Science Forum

I've never done this either, however I have a UV Sterilisation cabinet which would allow me to leave the lids off while the gel is setting and not allow contamination. I often place regular nutrient plates in there to ensure sterile plates.

I have recently completed a Cert IV in OHS. I was able to get credit for some units as I had completed the Qld WHSO course. I did my course through NSCA, they do the diploma as well. Did you find the course beneficial? Did you pay for the course or did you school cover the costs? I've searched the ...

Has anyone done any formal OHS training? I'm looking at Cert IV or Diploma in OHS.

I like the sound of 1 week suspension for the first offense with mobile phone - that would mean that in our school of 900, we'd only ever have 25 kids here

Just wondering what you schools' policies/positions are on students & mobile phones and IPods?

I normally freeze offal etc and place in main skip bin on the day that it will be emptied. On one occasion about 10 years ago an Ag teacher had asked me to obtain a cow's womb. She had been lucky enough once in previous years to have found a foetal calf intact and asked me to see if the local meatwo...

I don't bother sterilising cotton swabs, but I guess it should be done to avoid contamination. I've never witnessed cross contamination when trying to produce a lawn of a pure bacterium, however I also do have a UV Sterilisation cabinet that I use for forceps, scalpels, other dissecting equipment so...

Do you add any alcohol when you dissolve iodine? Or try and dissolve only in water?

I'm going to make one, just not sure when I'll have the time

From my understanding (which is limited as I only Googled it yesterday) peppercorn infusion is a source of Bacillus subtilis a gram +ve bacterium. I believe that Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632 –1723) described micro-organisms he found in peppercorn infusion.

Most of our classes are 'doubles' (we have 2x double plus 1xsingle per week) but I still inoculate plates for the students - it eliminates one source of error. What I do couldn't be referred to as 'streaking' (and I reluctantly studied Microbiology as part of my degree although I got out of there at...

I've got a batch of peppercorn broth 'brewing'. It sounds like a great idea - I've never heard of it before. Are there any other natural products that yield pure starins of bacteria?

There are several levels of SSO in SA (School Support Officer). My role is a Level 3 (Lab Manager), but typically I think most SA labbies would be 1 or 2 depending on size of school, duties, responsibilities, line management etc. - and many not full time Hourly rates (at highest step within each lev...

I get paid 52 weeks per year, and work 48 weeks - I'd love to not be able to work in the holidays (although that's the best time to get anything done - without teachers and students). I would like to still get my $62000 though! I think I could live quite nicely.....

I often don't realise that I am using my education. A lot of the info I draw upon is so ingrained that I take it for granted. I occasionally stand back and then I realise life here would be a lot more difficult without a chemical background, because my role here is very chemistry-orientated. That co...

our Site Hzardous Substances Register has been written into my J&P over the last 2 years....

Sorry, meant no offense to anyone. Sometimes I have bad days and wish I was elsewhere.... I admit, a background (degree and commercial experience) in Chemistry helps me out so much in this job. I don't know about your schools, but Chemical handling etc is probably the biggest part of my job, and hav...

Hi MTG If I were you I'd seriously consider moving Na back to the flammables cabinet. Mg should be there as well, but is a much lower risk - the risk comes more if there is already a fire, whereas Na may cause a fire. My charcoal is stored remote from other chemicals in a 'spontaneously combustible'...

I'm in SA and my position is Level 3. This is based on duties and responsibilities within the position and not years of experience or education - there are however 'steps' within each level that you go up for each year of service. I believe that in department schools in SA this is as good as it gets...

I do both..it depends on the solubility of the solid you are trying to dissolve. If it is highly soluble, add water to the solid. If it isn't as soluble, you may form larger lumps that become very difficult to fully dissolve.