Australia's Science Forum

I'd persist with contacting TAFE, I think they should be able to tell you the current day equivalent. Try ringing, rather than e-mailing, it's a bit harder to ignore you if you're on the end of the phone!

Thanks, Rosalie. I've been receiving hints since I started here 20 months ago about dealing with these, so I'm happy to wait a bit longer. Can't say it's on top of my list of priorities.

Would anyone have any idea when formaldehyde was stopped being used in schools. I have a cupboard of specimens, most need topping up, but I have no idea what they are in. I'm with lesnsw, not into the idea of the smell test either. It does make good sense that the jars should be labelled with the da...

Thanks, guys. For pure practicality, I love the suggestion of heating water. Can't believe I hadn't thought of that

I did a comparison a couple of months ago. I know I put it somewhere safe so I could refer to it again - just need to find where! When I did the comparison it worked out significantly more to buy nutrient agar, based on about $75 for 100g, than mixing a brew myself. So unless I'm in a hurry, the jun...

We have just purchased a microwave for the prep room. I've read on Chemtalk about making agar and sterilising agar plates prior to disposal, but does anyone have any other ideas for its use?
Appreciate your ideas.
Thanks
M.

One of the teachers came to me last week and said she was having trouble with the van der graaf generator. It was repelling bit of paper etc rather than attracting it. I have no idea how to use this, quite happy to leave it for the teachers. No one has complained about it before. Any ideas? Should I...

Narelle - we have something in common "physics isn't my strong point" and "I'm no physics expert". I was typing my reply as you were posting yours, so honest I didn't copy!

Physics isn't my strong point, so I can't help out in detail but this year instead of replacing ammeters, voltmeters etc, the physics teacher was happy with us buying multimeters for use in the junior classes. They were much cheaper, only $10 each, and are more durable. We've kept the other meters f...

Our teachers also use shaving cream, just a small amount that expands greatly. They also use marshmallows.

This sounds like the course run for people using pesticides, it has a few different names depending on who is running it. It is also called Chemcert. It is a requirement for anyone applying pesticides as part of their job, so I think that would include grounds staff. I have completed it three times ...

I update our MSDSs when they have gone past their date ie five years from date of issue. This is a real problem when things change whilst the MSDS is still current. Checking them each year may be beneficial, but I'm thinking of the amount of extra work :w00t: And if we check them every year, changes...

Great idea, Ian. Not sure what my family will think of that. I suppose Rosalie, if we all went to work in Tasmania we could afford your pilots licence and the plane! But then we probably wouldn't need to commute?

Yeah, Rosalie, sounds good. Ian and I live about 5ks from each other about 15ks north of Mittagong so not much of a deviation off the Hume Highway for you! I wonder how many lab assistants they need there, looks pretty big and very very tidy, that could keep one labbie busy in itself!
M.

It's funny, all those people who thought they were being "different" by buying Apple Macs etc, now they have just become one of the hordes! I'm going to stand out and be different and stick with Windows (and save a whole lot of money too!)

But Ian, the commute is going to be a killer!
M.

We do the red and green toothpicks as well - a suggestion, make up extra green toothpicks!

Oh Ian, come to the dark side and give Bill Gates even more money! As you know we have PCs, not that that makes Chemwatch any easier, but I suppose in theory it does work (except for computer challenged people like myself).
M.

Narelle That's too much! We recently bought some periodic table posters from Prof Bunsen. They're huge, black background, look great and they came laminated. I'm supposed to have them put up in the labs for Science Week (oops). Aiming to have them up before the HT comes back from being off for a mon...

Hi kmk
Our manifest is also on Chemffx. Yes it is difficult and not user friendly but it is what I have inherited and seems easier than starting something from scratch. I think I still have contact details for someone at Chemwatch who was very helpful. PM me if you need this information.
M.