Lab NotebooksLab Notebooks

““It’s a notebook, not a neat It’s a notebook, not a neat book”book”

R. CuetoR. Cueto

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IMSD, October 3, 2010

Main Reference:Main Reference:

Writing the Laboratory Notebook, Writing the Laboratory Notebook,

Howard M. KanareHoward M. Kanare

American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical Society

Washington, D.C. 1985Washington, D.C. 1985

ISBN: 0841209332ISBN: 0841209332

~$27 at Amazon or B&N~$27 at Amazon or B&N

(~$15 used)(~$15 used)

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Bad record-keeping costsBad record-keeping costs

LeMonnier, French astronomer who gets no credit for the first LeMonnier, French astronomer who gets no credit for the first sightings of the planet sightings of the planet UranusUranus. His notes were so bad that he . His notes were so bad that he thought it was a comet. Discovery of thought it was a comet. Discovery of UranusUranus is instead is instead awarded to Herschel. awarded to Herschel.

Gordon Gould had many ideas related to the production and use Gordon Gould had many ideas related to the production and use of lasers. He foresaw that they could cut steel or ignite fusion of lasers. He foresaw that they could cut steel or ignite fusion reactions. His notes were witnessed by a candy store notary reactions. His notes were witnessed by a candy store notary instead of a colleague. He had undocumented meetings with instead of a colleague. He had undocumented meetings with the “maser people.” Years and years of legal proceedings the “maser people.” Years and years of legal proceedings were required to get him were required to get him somesome of the credit he deserved. of the credit he deserved.

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Types of DocumentationTypes of Documentation

Notebook:Notebook: Factual details of experiments, including thought Factual details of experiments, including thought experiments, ideas, inventions, etc.experiments, ideas, inventions, etc.

Field Book: Field Book: Special notebook version for note taking on the Special notebook version for note taking on the field (sample collection, environmental studies, etc)field (sample collection, environmental studies, etc)

Logbook:Logbook: for example, a list of measurements made on the for example, a list of measurements made on the NMR, FTIR, GPC, TEM, Balance, etc.NMR, FTIR, GPC, TEM, Balance, etc.

Diary (Journal):Diary (Journal): What you were feeling, a personal record, What you were feeling, a personal record, opinions; stuff that is less factual than the notebook. opinions; stuff that is less factual than the notebook. Depending on the situation, this Depending on the situation, this mightmight be appropriate to place be appropriate to place in the notebook but be careful to delineate fact from opinion. in the notebook but be careful to delineate fact from opinion.

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Computer RecordsComputer Records This is a whole industry now: LIMS , Laboratory notebooks.This is a whole industry now: LIMS , Laboratory notebooks. Example: balances or pH meters that are hooked into a database. Example: balances or pH meters that are hooked into a database. A few misguided souls have almost stopped keeping written A few misguided souls have almost stopped keeping written

records. records. We operate on the assumption that you are not misguided, so DO We operate on the assumption that you are not misguided, so DO

keep a decent lab notebook. keep a decent lab notebook. Back up your data! Back up your data! Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) requires that you PROTECT Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) requires that you PROTECT

THE RAW DATA. If you need to edit something, save a COPY THE RAW DATA. If you need to edit something, save a COPY of the raw data. of the raw data.

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The Right StuffThe Right Stuff

Notebooks have to last 23 years after patent issue. Patents Notebooks have to last 23 years after patent issue. Patents take time to get, so figure 30 years longevity.take time to get, so figure 30 years longevity.

Paper has to be very good (much paper today is junk by the Paper has to be very good (much paper today is junk by the standards of a hundred years ago).standards of a hundred years ago).

Notebook should be bound. Notebook should be bound.

No spiral notebooks! No loose-leaf! No spiral notebooks! No loose-leaf!

Page layout easy to graph, date, sign, etc. Page layout easy to graph, date, sign, etc.

Table of contents!Table of contents!66

What to write with?What to write with?

No pencils.* Erasures are a definite no-no!No pencils.* Erasures are a definite no-no!**There are some exceptions—e.g. field notebooks where you know it will get wet and may not have a ready There are some exceptions—e.g. field notebooks where you know it will get wet and may not have a ready

supply of pens. supply of pens.

No aqueous-based pens (e.g., most felt-tips).No aqueous-based pens (e.g., most felt-tips).

Best bet for general use: black, ballpoint pen.Best bet for general use: black, ballpoint pen.

No white-out!! Just strike through, explain and initial errors.No white-out!! Just strike through, explain and initial errors.

““It’s a notebook, not a neat book.”—R. CuetoIt’s a notebook, not a neat book.”—R. Cueto

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First things first..First things first..

Write your name on the outside and inside cover of your Notebook

Put your mailing address, phone number, and e-mail on Put your mailing address, phone number, and e-mail on front or on inside cover.front or on inside cover.

Also give the name of your mentor, and his/her full Also give the name of your mentor, and his/her full mailing/contact informationmailing/contact information

Put a general project name (or course name) on the Put a general project name (or course name) on the exterior of the notebook.exterior of the notebook.

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First things first..2First things first..2

If your notebook is not already equipped with page If your notebook is not already equipped with page numbers, add them (in top right- and left-hand corners).numbers, add them (in top right- and left-hand corners).

Reserve the first 2-4 pages for a Table of Contents Reserve the first 2-4 pages for a Table of Contents (which you will fill in as time passes).(which you will fill in as time passes).

If you wish you might add a Preface pageIf you wish you might add a Preface page

Date each entry in table of contentsDate each entry in table of contents

Never, under any circumstance, should you remove a Never, under any circumstance, should you remove a pagepage

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A proper notebook pageA proper notebook page

Written as the work is performedWritten as the work is performed

Dated and signed by authorDated and signed by author

Each section has a clear, descriptive headingEach section has a clear, descriptive heading

The writing is legible and grammatically correctThe writing is legible and grammatically correct

Active voice in first person: Active voice in first person:

“ “I added the two ingredients…”I added the two ingredients…”

Read by witness and signed/dated Read by witness and signed/dated

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A proper notebook page..2A proper notebook page..2

Do Not write over. Cross, and write above, below or on Do Not write over. Cross, and write above, below or on the side.the side.

Do Not use whiteout!Do Not use whiteout!

If a page is skipped, draw a large “X” across itIf a page is skipped, draw a large “X” across it

Try to write legibly Try to write legibly even if you have bad handwriting even if you have bad handwriting

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Sticky situationsSticky situations

It is better to glue or tape that original paper snippet into the It is better to glue or tape that original paper snippet into the lab book than it is to copy the result. lab book than it is to copy the result.

Glue: acid-free white glue is best. (Elmer’s?)Glue: acid-free white glue is best. (Elmer’s?)

Rubber cement is not recommended (but used to be)Rubber cement is not recommended (but used to be)

Tape: Archival mending tape is recommended.Tape: Archival mending tape is recommended.

There are various qualities of tape (3M?). There are various qualities of tape (3M?).

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Legal MattersLegal Matters

You do NOT own the notebook. You do NOT own the notebook.

You may ask for a copy. You may ask for a copy.

The lab director can and should inspect books The lab director can and should inspect books periodically.periodically.

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Employer ChecklistEmployer Checklist

Black or Blue, ballpoint pen used?Black or Blue, ballpoint pen used?

Legible handwriting?Legible handwriting?

Table of contents up-to-date?Table of contents up-to-date?

Entries signed/dated (October 13, 2002 better than Entries signed/dated (October 13, 2002 better than 10/13/02)10/13/02)

Clear headings saying what this page is about?Clear headings saying what this page is about?

Written in first person?Written in first person?

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Employer Checklist…2Employer Checklist…2

Complete sentences? Complete sentences?

Could the work be followed by another scientist? Could the work be followed by another scientist? (avoids jargon?)(avoids jargon?)

Is the researcher correctly “thinking in the notebook”—Is the researcher correctly “thinking in the notebook”—i.e., ideas and plans and observations integrated and i.e., ideas and plans and observations integrated and written down. written down.

Are entries witnessed appropriately?Are entries witnessed appropriately?

Is the notebook stored safely when not in use? Is the notebook stored safely when not in use? 1616

What goes in the What goes in the notebook?notebook?

PlansPlans

Realities (deviations from the plan)Realities (deviations from the plan)

ObservationsObservations

Sketches and photographsSketches and photographs

““Links” to the notebooks of others in your groupLinks” to the notebooks of others in your group

““Links” to instrument logbooks and data on disksLinks” to instrument logbooks and data on disks

Ideas: a notebook is a repository of creativityIdeas: a notebook is a repository of creativity

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What goes in the notebook?...2What goes in the notebook?...2

E-mails from collaborators (tape or paste them in)E-mails from collaborators (tape or paste them in)

Plot-as-you-go graphs: do it!Plot-as-you-go graphs: do it!

Summaries of papers you have readSummaries of papers you have read

Hints and tips you may get from science friendsHints and tips you may get from science friends

Concerns and personal data….but be careful to delineate Concerns and personal data….but be careful to delineate fact from fiction/opinion. Also, remember that personal fact from fiction/opinion. Also, remember that personal info could become embarrassingly public! For that, use info could become embarrassingly public! For that, use a diary.a diary.

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Labeling SamplesLabeling Samples

GoodGood: rc.3.27b This means RC’s notebook #3, page 27, : rc.3.27b This means RC’s notebook #3, page 27, sample b.sample b.

BadBad if used alone: PEG solution 0.1% if used alone: PEG solution 0.1%

The label should POINT to the The label should POINT to the detaileddetailed notebook description. notebook description.

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Great Days in Great Days in Science: Discovery Science: Discovery of first Computer of first Computer Bug. What else Bug. What else would you do but would you do but glue it into your glue it into your notebook?notebook?

Grace Hooper, Grace Hooper, HarvardHarvardSept. 9, 1945Sept. 9, 1945

2020

Smithsonian, National Museum of American Historyhttp://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object.cfm?key=35&objkey=30

First First transistor transistor amplifier, amplifier, AT&T Bell AT&T Bell Labs Labs (Walter H. (Walter H. Brattain)Brattain)Dec. 24, Dec. 24, 19471947

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Bell Labs Web sitehttp://www.porticus.org/bell/belllabs_transistor.html

From Linus Pauling From Linus Pauling Research NotebooksResearch Notebooks

June 1976: Vitamin C, June 1976: Vitamin C, the common cold and the common cold and the fluthe flu

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http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/specialcollections/rnb/31/31-269.html

From Linus Pauling From Linus Pauling Research NotebooksResearch Notebooks

May 28, 1953 May 28, 1953

Discovery of the protein Discovery of the protein alpha-helix (Measurement of alpha-helix (Measurement of 10cm=1ÅIIIB).10cm=1ÅIIIB).

Pauling won his first Nobel Pauling won his first Nobel prize for the work described prize for the work described here, the first real insight into here, the first real insight into the 3D structure of proteins.the 3D structure of proteins.

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http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/specialcollections/rnb/28/28-011.html

From Alexander From Alexander Graham Bell's Graham Bell's notebooknotebook

March 10, 1876, describes the March 10, 1876, describes the first successful experiment first successful experiment with the telephone.with the telephone.

"Mr. Watson -- come "Mr. Watson -- come here!here!

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http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/85b/at0085bp0040_0041.jpg