The new year has brought a number of changes including a full reorganization of our lab space. You might even say that we were ‘Marie Kondo-ed’, in that almost every nook and cranny was cleared out, reassessed, and reorganized. Functional spaces are more clearly defined and equipment is easier to reach. Navigation has also improved with fewer ‘dead-ends’ via a new bench layout. Consumables such as gloves & tips are situated in the middle which allows greater accessibility for everyone.
This effort was largely driven by the fact that we are currently supporting more workshops in the lab and needed a larger workspace in the middle that is available from all sides. Thus the 2 benches in the photo below picture are now prioritized for workshops while research projects, lead projects and group projects have priority for the benches on the left.
New central bench assists various lab workshops.
Our Opentrons is up and running with dedicated bench space.
All commonly used reagents, instruments and equipment are now in the main lab space, clearly labelled and displayed. Storage bins are labelled as well. It’s worth noting that the storage room is now off-limits to members; it is reserved for staff and volunteers only.
We have a separate space in the front for jackets and bags when hosting larger groups. There is also a new community notice board so please refer to it for the latest news.
Easier access to equipment.
Old equipment is being sold off (good-bye Frosty the Freezer!), which will create more usable storage space in the near future.
We hope you enjoy the new set-up! If you have trouble finding something because it has moved, please don’t hesitate to ask our lab manager.
We’d like to give a shout out to Dr. Orlando de Lange for sharing his laboratory organizational skills. We think Marie Kondo would agree that our lab sparks a lot of joy!