Be content in all things, learn well, grow strong in your knowledge and help others!
Things to do to get ready for your first lab
Try out The Macrogalleria, the most popular multimedia introduction to polymer science available today! The Macrogalleria is the main reference work for the Department of Polymer Science and for this course. In addition:
* Go to the bookstore and buy three things: the lab manual "Polymer Synthesis and Characterization," (S. R. Sandler, W. Karo, J.-A. Bonesteel, E. M. Pearce, Academic Press, San Diego, 1998), a blue-covered bound notebook for lab work, and one or more pairs of safety glasses: You cannot do any lab work without safety glasses! You cannot even be in the lab without them, so make sure you always have them on when in or even near the lab.
* Read the first chapter; it's pretty good and complements what we will tell you in class and in the following pages of this on-line site.
* Get on a computer, open Netscape and go to the Macrolab home page at www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog/labintro.htm. Now read the intro chapter and the page titled "First Assignment," which contains much of the same material that's in this handout. Take the prelab quiz till you get it right, print it out, sign and date it and bring it to the first orientation lecture.
* Go to lab lecture the first week of school! Contrary to what you hope might happen and what may have happened elsewhere in lab courses, we do have lab the first week. You need it, and you should be ready and excited about getting started.
* Work on attitude! Probably the most important thing you have
under your control is how you think about what you do. This applies
to your education, you personal life and your profession. You have
chosen polymer science as your profession: it's hard work, demanding
and requires more than you thought you were capable of giving and
doing. If you are positive about what you are doing (and positive
this is what you want to be doing), you work better and learn
better. So get in there and do it!
Safety and good lab procedures are your responsibility. Please read
the attached section on "Safety" and the "Lab Agreement" document, print
it out, sign and date it.
Remember, you are part of a community of USM students and polymer science
students who are counting on you to behave as a caring, responsible
adult. It goes both ways: you are counting on them as well.
Be content in all things, learn well, grow strong in
your
knowledge and help others!
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USM Polymer Science Online Laboratory Directory