Microbiology

A general discussion and Q & A forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
macca
Posts: 992
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 08:38
Job Title: Mind Reader
State/Location: NSW

Microbiology

Post by macca »

Hi Brains trust,

Just wondering what everybody is doing in regards to Microbiology in the current climate.
As we all know every precaution can be taken but kids will be kids and not all teachers manage the same.

Are you going to be using agar plates, incubating etc., with Junior/Senior classes, done as a demonstration or not done at all?

Your thoughts on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers :coffee:
User avatar
ELIZABETH
Posts: 233
Joined: 02 Jun 2006, 10:00
School: O'Connor Catholic College
Suburb: Armidale
State/Location: NSW

Re: Microbiology

Post by ELIZABETH »

It's the same as it's always been....why would it be different now?
We only sample fomites or water and the plates are not opened after incubation.
Cheers
Marama T
Posts: 214
Joined: 01 Aug 2017, 12:19
Job Title: Laboratory technician
School: College
State/Location: NSW

Re: Microbiology

Post by Marama T »

We're still doing it too. As usual, don't open the plates!
User avatar
macca
Posts: 992
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 08:38
Job Title: Mind Reader
State/Location: NSW

Re: Microbiology

Post by macca »

I feel like I'm constantly asking for reassurance this year.
We have year 10 student research projects being done at home. Our HT has given the okay for microbiology to be done at home students purchasing agar plates from companies etc., some of the disposal methods and techniques are less than favourable.

Should this be bought to W.H. & S and put a stop to next year?

Previously students do a draft of what they want to do before hand and it is given the okay or not. Lower glasses are given a A4 list of ideas to choose from. Any ideas??????
User avatar
ELIZABETH
Posts: 233
Joined: 02 Jun 2006, 10:00
School: O'Connor Catholic College
Suburb: Armidale
State/Location: NSW

Re: Microbiology

Post by ELIZABETH »

That would be a HUGE thumbs down from me!!
MariaQ
Posts: 84
Joined: 02 Sep 2015, 08:41
Job Title: Boss
School: Central Coast Grammar
State/Location: NSW

Re: Microbiology

Post by MariaQ »

It would be a huge thumbs down from me as well, and Id definitely report to your WHS....BUT if you have a teacher that insists on it, Id insist on a risk assessment that the parents, student and teacher all signed and possibly arrange for them to bring to school the finished product in a sealed bag into school for disposal. MariaQ
User avatar
kimmy
Posts: 418
Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 10:00
Job Title: School Lab Assistant
School: Quirindi High School
Suburb: Quirindi
State/Location: NSW

Re: Microbiology

Post by kimmy »

We are still doing this as we always do.
I think i am lucky as i have very very good Biology teachers who are strict with all experiments.

I sometimes think that this whole cleaning situation is funny in the sense that what we have to teacher people to wash their hands after going to the toilet. You are expected to clean your hands before you eat, you clean your table with disinfectant, the labs get cleaned daily.
To me these are just things that happen anyway.

Most of our experiments are done with extra care anyway.
So to be honest apart from cleaners coming through more often,not much has changed in my little life.
mtg
Posts: 510
Joined: 15 Aug 2011, 10:48
Job Title: Lab Tech
School: NDSC
Suburb: west gippsland
State/Location: VIC

Re: Microbiology

Post by mtg »

Firstly we are in stage 3 where I am so no plates atm. I ALWAYS pretend we have grown the plague and act accordingly. A microbiologist came in to talk to our students once and told me human viruses need blood agar to grow. Most of our growths are mould, bacteria, and fungi.
User avatar
macca
Posts: 992
Joined: 10 Dec 2008, 08:38
Job Title: Mind Reader
State/Location: NSW

Re: Microbiology

Post by macca »

mtg wrote: 26 Aug 2020, 10:53 Firstly we are in stage 3 where I am so no plates atm. I ALWAYS pretend we have grown the plague and act accordingly. A microbiologist came in to talk to our students once and told me human viruses need blood agar to grow. Most of our growths are mould, bacteria, and fungi.
Yes we are still going ahead at school, it was the students doing at home which was of concern. It's been reported higher up the ladder, and hopefully something will be said to the teacher concerned. Students are fine to be doing mouldy bread at home. But when you have them doing microbiology in plastic cups sealed with glad wrap and sitting in the middle of your dinning room table, bacteria is a problem we don't have the means too see what type of bacteria and they definately don't at home. The kids PPE and disposal methods were of concern as will.

Hopefully it won't happen again next year.
curie
Posts: 360
Joined: 27 May 2010, 09:42
State/Location: NSW

Re: Microbiology

Post by curie »

mtg wrote: 26 Aug 2020, 10:53 Firstly we are in stage 3 where I am so no plates atm. I ALWAYS pretend we have grown the plague and act accordingly. A microbiologist came in to talk to our students once and told me human viruses need blood agar to grow. Most of our growths are mould, bacteria, and fungi.
Viruses need living cells to reproduce, whether that is you, me, a lab rat, an egg embryo or a tissue culture. Some viruses can infect living bacteria. Not agar though.
Post Reply