Conventional physics laboratory courses generally include an emphasis on increasing students' ability to carry out data analysis according to scientific practice, in particular, those aspects that relate to measurement uncertainty. This study evaluates the efficacy of the conventional approach by analyzing the understanding of measurement of…

An experiment which enables students to determine the index of refraction at various wavelengths is demonstrated by using two polymers examples, poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). This experiment would be suitable for a course in organic chemistry or any course discussing the optical properties of polymeric…

A primary goal of the American Chemical Society Task Force on Laboratory Waste Management is to provide laboratories with the information necessary to develop effective strategies and training programs for managing laboratory wastes. This book is intended to present a fresh look at waste management from the laboratory perspective, considering both…

The occupational safety and health standards adopted for fourteen carcinogens are specified and discussed. Standards on benzidine and beta - propiolactone are reprinted in full as examples. (DT)

References pertaining to science facilities are organized and presented in the following categories--(1) biology facilities, (2) chemistry facilities, (3) physics facilities, (4) astronomy facilities, (5) elementary and secondary school science facilities, (6) college and university science facilities, and (7) planning and science laboratory. (FS)

This document on the undergraduate laboratory biology course is organized into 4 parts. Part 1 deals with the role of investigation in the undergraduate curricula. Chapters in this section deal with the time for laboratory reform; some special considerations in designing laboratory programs for nonmajors; the appropriate laboratory experiences for…

A massive concrete "waffle," riding on a bed of specially treated gravel and sand inside another building, provides the structural rigidity needed by the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics. (Author)

Discusses the role of the national laboratories as new sub-agencies of the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA). (SL)

Examines views, attitudes and feelings of high school pupils about their school science practicals (labs) via letter-writing and picture-drawing. Concludes that while students generally like practicals, they view them more as a means of confirming theory rather than an open investigation or true experiment. (JDH)

Describes how a planetarium was constructed on the ceiling of a traditional physics laboratory. Similarities and differences between the "poor man's" planetarium and other planetariums are noted. (JN)

Presents a manual of safe laboratory practices and precautions, covering such things as fire, explosion, poisoning, and injuries. (MLH)

The purpose of this study was to investigate Korean high school students' perceptions of their laboratory classrooms, focusing especially on the aspects measured by the items in the Science Laboratory Environment Inventory (SLEI). The study involved 439 high school students from three different streams (145 from the humanities stream, 195 from the…

This document presents laboratory safety rules for Arkansas K-12 schools which were developed by the Arkansas Science Teachers Association (ASTA) and the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE). Contents include: (1) "Laboratory Safety Guide for Arkansas K-12 Schools"; (2) "Safety Considerations"; (3) "Safety Standards for Science Laboratories";…

This paper introduces a course entitled "Teaching and Learning Life Science" which was developed as a direct response to a call for educational change in science teacher education. This course combines science content with laboratory experiences and pedagogy with inquiry learning. The targeted population includes non-science major students who are…