Gregory+Niguidula+-+Describing+Practice

Interning at the DFWI While I am focusing on my experience at the Darrin Freshwater Institute, many of the observations below are common to the other laboratories I have worked in. Technically, lab coats, long pants, gloves, and close-toed shoes are to be worn at all times in the lab, however, these safety rules were only enforced only when there were important guests visiting. This is mainly because the substances being worked with were far from dangerous. However, we treat the invasive species samples with extreme caution because not only the Lake’s health, but the DFWI’s reputation was on the line. If the Institute was found to be responsible for starting a new invasion, then serious consequences would follow. I never asked exactly what the consequences would be, but I got the sense that they would be dire. All the invasives being examined were aquatic, so they could be disposed of by being dumped into the dirt, however it was ensured that where they were dumped was sufficiently far away from the sewer grate. For those on the outside, it can be easy to forget that scientists are human beings too. TV shows portray them as brilliant problem solvers that are perpetually wearing lab coats, their own publications can be difficult for laymen to understand which makes them seem somewhat removed from the rest of the population. However, working at the DFWI shows that a lab is just like any other workplace, some rules are followed and some are not. The rules of subconsciously prioritized based on how likely they are to get someone in trouble.