Australia's Science Forum

No Nicky, peptone is not meant to be rock hard, it should be a powder. Being an organic substance, it has quite a short shelf life.

Diana

Hi Annette Do you have the Science Laboratory Manual (Large grey file) (Bible in WA government schools). On page 8 of the Chemistry section it states that you need a flammables cabinet if there is more than 50l of flammable liquids in the school. If you have any queries please ring me on 99658 316, ...

HiJen
On tube of Selleys Super Glue phone number is 1300 555 205. Hope this helps.
Diana

Hi Noela Answering your second question. We use paper printer labels, (Avery DL24) covered with three overlapping strips of general sticky tape. We have tried spray coating and contact and this seems to be the best and easiest. They do need replacing at intervals but are quite easy to remove with a ...

Hi all, yes it is good to be in contact with large numbers of other techs in a wide variety of places. Hope all of you going to PD this year really enjoy it. I hope to get down to next year's one.
Diana (Geraldton)

We're like Judy having carpeted area in the centre of the room with desks and benches on two walls with sinks and gas outlets. About 8 years ago we had the lab benches in the centre of the room (old style science lab) removed. We were moving into a middle school situation and needed the freedom of s...

Here in WA we are required to work a 42 week year, this means that we come back a week before the students and finish approx. a week after them in term 4. It's great, just enough time without them to get stuff done. But still have all the mid term holidays off.

Coming from WA I'm really interested in these experiment risk assessments. We only have monitoring and assessments for the the chemicals classified as hazardous by Work Safe. What exactly is involved in these assessments. Robb maybe you are the one to answer this? All other information very welcome....

Glad someone else asked this question. I have never heard of this and was feeling like I really should.

Diana

One of the main causes of fumes in flamables cabinets is containers with non sealed lids. Flamable liquids should be stored in glass with a screw top lids. If stopped bottles are used vapours will be released. Another possible cause is storing substances other than flamable liquids in your cabinet. ...

One of the main causes of fumes in flamables cabinets is containers with non sealed lids. Flamable liquids should be stored in glass with a screw to lids. If stopped bottles are used vapours will be released

Hi :D Great idea to use thermometer on flask, I have also always let flask cool to reduce condensation, but this much more exact. I use cling wrap to seal and store my up turned petri dishes. I agree with DJ on the time the plates will last. I often make my plates in a number of large batches at the...

Hi Tracy Diana Hansen here from John Willcock, Geraldton. I purchased my chemicals this year from two sources both of which are based in Perth. I have checked their current catalogues and both supply methanol. Sigma Chemicals, 228 Balcatta Rd, Balcatta 6021 Ph: 08 9345 2233 Fax: 08 9345 4012 Methano...

We did this to all our specimens (some 20yrs old) just over 8 years ago and the results continue to be great. It was a bit of an effort, but well worth the effort

Diana

We too have our yr8's design safety posters after they have learnt the basic safety rules. Having the posters up not only helps them remember what to do but also gives them ownership of their classrooms.

Hi Nikki Some where in your Lab should be a large grey file, "Science Laboratory Manual" put together by our Regional Technicians group here in WA. In it is a recipe for nutrient agar I have used regularly for 12 years. It is also full of just about everything else you will need to make yo...