Australia's Science Forum

Hi there, just for comparison I am at a private school and the annual rate of pay for school assistants is 43,646 at level one then up to 51, 652 at level 4. But remember that is for 38 hrs per week with only 4 weeks annual leave. If you have more holidays you have to average it out the reason being...

Hi Graeme, Ring Serrata they got one for me but it was at my last school - so about 7 years ago ....how time flies, regards Sue

Hi Barb, yes they went through my cupboards when they were here last year. Just checking as the others have described. No problems at all.... but I had your original system to follow on from, cheers Sue

Hi there, ring Serrata they keep them but I'm not sure if the are listed in their catalogue, regards Louie

I needed a laugh .... I'll have to remember that important glass bending technique myself regards Louie

Hi There, We just did that prac here and I just clean them with hot soapy water and then soak them in a container of plain water ,after a few days I turn them upside down and fill the small area that is now at the top with water - it drains through eventually and I refill it a couple of times - it s...

Just as I thought and you won't be surprised when I tell you it's not me that wants to open them!

Hi ! Sounds like they just use the grapefruit as a cell and put the other bits and pieces in it as organelles eg nucleus , chloroplasts and so on. Maybe the gladwrap goes on after as I imagine you have to make one grapefruit into two cell halves, so something will have to keep it all together. We ma...

Dear All, just a double check. I understand that once the plates have been cultured they can't be re opened for any purpose but must be disposed of by pressure cooker. I am looking in CSIS bookp59. It seems like the only exception could be if you purchase pure culture from risk group one p58- this w...

Thanks for these details. I just rang Eddie and he says if he can get enough people he might come up . I am faxing through a list to 0246311056. I am from newcastle so if he gets a couple more it would be good, all the best Sue

Thanks Kim , will follow his up , Sue

Dear All, new textbook for earth science topic shows build your own seismograph. Science Focus 3 - it shows a spring suspended from a rod on a retort stand. Where would I purchas springs with a bit of give in them but not too much - in fact where can I get any springs at all ? thanks Sue

Serrata have a new one that they were raving about but as our old style one is still relatively new I didn't take much notice. If youre interested call them on 02 96513033. They will tell you all about it - Oh I think I'm getting jealous already but its supposed to be good, cheers Louie

I can take a guess and say not more than 25 ml per litre as I have found that when I have to make agar with phenolphthalein that is the max that I can put in and get it to set. So my guess is make up your usaul agar recipe and add 25 ml of dettol to it once it has cooled to about 60 degrees - then p...

Thanks Rob, just wondered if it needed further dilution. great ready to go but probably more costly have to check , cheers Louie

Dear All, I've got this product - its already a solution-ITs from chemsupply. The only directions in my lab manual are for making it from scratch with orcein and glacial acetic acid - but this has already been done prior to supply as it is a solution and marked corrosive - is it redy to use for test...

Hi All, I have a full set of MSDS for science on paper here in the prep room. As a whole our school provides all staff members with accesss to MSDS via the chemwatch site ie info can be accessed from any computer terminal . I think this equivalent to even more than 2 copies in the school-there's a c...

This sounds great and I usually have a lot of nastursiums in my garden , Thanks

Good one Rob -I'll do that in future,thanks Sue

Dear All, What is the best way to clean some common electrodes eg carbon, zinc and copper ? Is the only way sandpaper and elbow grease ? cheers sue