Why is a laboratory notebook so important?
- It is a complete ‘legal’ document.
- A recording of your work in the laboratory.
- Vital in proving you conducted the research.
- Invaluable in proving the right to ownership of a patent before dates of prior art.
The notebook:
- Pages should be permanently sewn or otherwise bound to the book.
- DO NOT use loose-leaf folders or ring bound notebooks.
- Pages should be numbered consecutively.
- No pages or spaces should be skipped. If so a line should be drawn through them to demonstrate the spaces are intentional and avoid misinterpretation.
- Legible entries in indelible ink. Never use pencils.
- Errors must remain legible i.e. lined out rather than erased or covered.
- The integrity of the record should not be questionable.
- Entries should be in chronological order, without blank pages.
- Never tear or destroy pages.
- Additional information including diagrams and photographs should be dated and attached via stapling or adhesive.
- Ideally these should be signed and dated by the researcher across the document and the underlying page.
How much detail?
- Your notebook is just that a NOTEbook!
- Err on the side of thoroughness and completeness.
- Should contain enough information so that a technically informed third party will understand what was done without the assistance of the researcher who made the entries.
- Include an index and glossary defining trade names, acronyms, codes etc at the front of the notebook.
- Include all results be they positive or ‘negative’. Remember everything goes into a thesis/publication.
- Enter batch/lot numbers of items used in experiments.
- Do all calculations in the notebook, DO NOT use separate loose sheets.
- Discuss with supervisor about signing off on work in notebook.
Ownership:
- All notebooks are the property of RCSI. When you leave, your notebooks remain in college with your supervisor.