Table Of ContentDOCUMENT RESUME
SE 052 300
ED 344 734
Kanare, Howard M.
A1:4HOR
Writing the Laboratory Notebook.
TITLE
American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.
INSTITUTION
ISBN-0-8412-0933-2
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85
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Elementary Secondary Education; *Ethics; Higher
DESCRIPTORS
Education; Inventions; *Laboratory Experiments; Legal
Responsibility; *Notetaking; Patents; Science
Education; Scientific Researn; *Writing Skills
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this book is to teach the principles
of proper scientific notekeeping. The principles presented in this
book are goals for which working scientists must strive. Chapter 1,
"The Reasons for Notekeeping," is an overview of the process of
keeping a laboratory notebook. Chapter 2, "The Hardware of
Notekeeping," is intended especially for the laboratory manager,
purchasing agent, or school administrator who is responsible for
specifying and obtaining laboratory notebooks, writing paper, and
pens. The information that is included will also be valuable to
librarians, archivists, record managers, and any scientist who is
concerned about the permanence of written records. Chapter 3, "Legal
and Ethical Aspects," discusses the ownership, rights, and
obligations of the scientist and the employer, both in the university
and industry. Chapter 4, "Management of Notekeeping," describes
practices for issuance, use, and storage of notebooks. Chapter 5,
"Organizing and Writing the Notebook," emphasizes the importance of
being flexible and clear in writing. Chapter 6, "Examples of Notebook
Entries," provides examples of the proper method of entering a
variety of laboratory notes. Chapter 7, "Patents and Invention
Protection," examines how the notebook is used to help secure patents
and invention protection. Chaptr 8, "The Electronic Notebook,"
summarizes the advantages and disadvantagec of traditional,
handwritten notekeeping systems and computer-based systems. Some
suggestions for teaching laboratory notekeeping and photographs from
the historical laboratory notebooks of famous scientists are
appended. (KR)
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TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
Howard M. Kanare
BE T C:ITY AVAILABLE
Writing the
Laboratory Notebook
Howard M. Kanare
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
WASHINGTON, D.C.
1985
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Kanare, Howard M., 1953-
\Writing thc laboratory notebook.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Laboratory notebooks.
I. Title
Q180.58.K36
1985
85-15606
542.
ISBN 0-8.!12-0906-5
ISBN 0-8412-0933-2 (pbk.)
Copyright © 198.5
American Chemical Society
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by Sections 107 or 108 of thr U.S. Copyright 1.aw. Reprographic
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not extend to copying or transmission by any meal'sgraphic
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The citation of trade
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as an endorsement or as approval by ACS of the commercial products
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process, or other data
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PRINTED IN THE UNITED SIATES OF AMERICA
Third printing 1989
About the Author
Howard M. Kanare received his
B.S. in chemistry from the Uni-
versity of Connecticut in 1976,
followed by an M.S. in mate-
zials science from the Univer-
sity's Institute of Materials
Science. He worked in specialty
chemical production before
joining the Research and Devel-
opment Laboratories of the
Portland Cement Association,
where he now holds the posi-
tion of Senior Research Chem-
His recent work has in-
ist.
cluded improving X-ray
fluorescence analysis of minerals and supervising the production of
under contracts with the
cement standard reference materials
National Bureau of Standards.
"Live in the serene peace of laboratories and libraries."
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)Adyice to young scientists attend-
ing the ,Jubilee Celebration in Pasteur's honor, at the Sorbonne,
27 December 1892.
f;
I dedicate this book with love to my wife, Larina Veronica Kanare.
Contents
Preface
xi
1
The Reasons for Notekeeping
An Overview
1
2
The Hardware of Notekeeping
Books, Pens, and Paper
11
3
Legal and Ethical Aspects
Ownership, Rights, and Obligations
29
4
Management of Notekeeping
35
Practices for Issuance, Use, and Storage of Notebooks
Organizing and Writing the Notebook
53
Be Flexible
ix
6
Examples of Notebook Entrie,
81
7
Patents and Invention Protection
103
8
The Electronic Notebook
113
Appendix A
Some Suggestions for Teaching Laboratory Notekeeping
121
Appendix B
Photographs from the Historical Laboratoly Notebooks
of Famous Scientists
129
Index
141
X
Li
Preface
This b(vk has a simple purpose: to teach the principles of proper
nr.rekeeping. Few, if any, of us working scientists write
ully and completely as we should. We often lament not
notes a
recording a seemingly unimportant detail that later proves crucial.
Much experimental work could have been better understood, and
much repetition of work avoided, if only we were more attentive in
our notdkeeping.
The principles presented in this book are goals for which we
will be impracti-
must strive; sometimes following all the principles
cal or impossible. Do the best that you can, and keep in mind that
the extra effort and time put into notekeeping are worthwhile.
Everyone develops a personal nor:keeping style; some are more
If you would like to share the personal
efficient than others.
techniques that make your notes especially useful, please send your
ideas to the ACS Books Department, 1155 16th Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20036.
Acknowledgments
The comments, criticisms, technical information, and suggestions of
I would like to thank the
many people have been invaluable.
following people for their aFsistance in th t. development and revision
of this book: Donald W. Anstedt, Construction Technology
Laboratories; Paul Banks, Columbia University; Henry A. Bent,
North Carolina State University; Walter E. Buting, Genentech, Inc.;
George J. Collins, U.S. Government Printing Office; Raymond E.
Dessy, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Hubert E.
Dubb, Eleiskr, Dubb, Myer, and Lovejoy; Edmund L. d'Ouville,
formerly with Standard Oil Company (Indiana); Merrily Smith,
Library of Congress Preservation Office; John K. Taylor, National
Bureau of Standards; Richard C. Toole, DuPont Experimental
Station; and 'William K. Wilson, formerly with the National Bureau
of Standards.
xi
