Laboratory Notebooks

Why are notebooks and patents related? Patents in the US go to the first person to invent The date of invention must be proved –Provide evidence of the date of conception –Prove diligence in “reduction to practice” Exhibit #1!

When were the inventive acts carried out? Date must be clear Date must be attested –Signature of inventor –Signature of corroborating witness who is not an inventor

Who should witness? Noncollaborator Someone who has read and understood described work Someone who has no other conflict of interest and will respect confidentiality Read and understood Frances Richmond September 2, 2004

Diligence Does steady uninterrupted work follow the invention? Are there unexplained period of inactivity? Unless diaries are kept, no record may be available of absences and interruptions—and diaries are not witnessed! July 12-15: on vacation

Rules for Notebooks Permanent binding Numbered pages Paper of good quality Permanent, light resistant ink, no pencil

But I want to use an electronic notebook! What are the problems? How do we solve the problems?

Electronic records Frances Richmond Sept 20,2004

You must not………. Tear out pages Erase or obliterate entries Write on non- sequential pages Leave pages empty

Changes to Entries Cross out with a single line, change below, then sign and date change Mass = 2.4 kg 2.8 kg, F Richmond, Sept 20,2004

Content Identify the project under study A peer should be able to reconstruct the experiments from your notes Affix permanently the printouts of electronic equipment Make records of progress and changes Detail matters! No derogatory remarks!!!

Storing notebooks Store working notebooks in a secure location Archive old notebooks according to a system, usually for 20 years

Notebooks in a multiuser environment Avoid entries in multiple notebooks—a single project should preferably have a single book, and different contributors should sign and date contributions

Keeping Track of work… Issue numbered notebooks to specific users who are responsible for the book Issue guidance and training on the use of the book

Who owns “my” notebook? Not you, unless you are working for free with your own space and materials Generally your employer—be sure you understand who owns the book if you have more than one employer

Front Matter Name, address, , phone number on front cover Notebook number on front cover if relevant Table of Contents ( 2 pages) Table of Abbreviations

So where and what do I write? Begin each experiment on a right-handed page Write date unambiguously in upper corner Title Objective Chemical equations Required materials Numbered steps for procedure Record results and insights immediately—no detail too small!

Quality matters! If the notebook is messy it will be discredited as a reliable source If a book is too clean, it will be discredited as well! If it contains mistakes, valuable time and resources may be squandered