Lab Diary: Entry no.2
The latest note from R&D software provider IDBS looks at the challenges scientists face when working with the banality of starting routine procedures from scratch, the subtle, but integral, art of collaboration, and the love/hate relationship between scientists and their equipment.
1. Process inefficiencies
A common pain point for researchers is the need to regularly start processes from scratch every time, rather than using a standard operating procedure (SOP) template. The time spent writing out procedures could be used far more effectively.
By using a comprehensive data management software system that has both the appropriate functionalities to complement scientific research and enough capacity to ensure all SOPs are searchable to maximise efficiency, procedures can be stored centrally, for ease of access, sharing and training. This is outlined further in The World Health Organization’s Good Laboratory Practice Handbook.
2. Collaboration concerns
Collaboration is the new buzzword for the workplace outside STEM, and although science and research is already familiar with the concept, it doesn’t make it any easier for researchers to do.
Certain co-workers can be difficult to work with, young residents often think they know everything, and even supervisors can add unwanted stress to daily activities. And that’s not yet considering macro-scale collaboration; globalisation has encouraged teams of scientists from all corners of the globe to work closely on specific projects.
It’s very exciting — but challenging. Collaboration can add value to methodology and analysis, but poor communication can impact the integrity of any conclusions, often found out after it’s too late. Fortunately, certain digital solutions can ameliorate these pain points.
In this feature on data informatics, Scientific Computing World (SCW) explores how the use of informatics software can increase data integrity in the lab. When working with external partners, unified platforms can overcome communication barriers by digitising workflows, allowing all parties access to the same data.
Organisations such as Nutricia Research have benefited from this approach by implementing flexible platforms that holistically
support their activity when working with different partners, whilst still securing their data and intellectual property (IP).
3. Equipment trust issues
Lastly, every researcher enjoys a tenuous relationship with their equipment.
Lab utensils are the driving forces of the scientific process, but even so, scientists have their favourites and some teams avoid some equipment altogether! Unreliable pH meters cause havoc with buffer reactions so you use your neighbouring labs meter instead, until you find out they are doing the same back with your own. Autoclaves break too often and take far too long; there are never enough Bunsen burners; and finding micropipettes and pipette-men have been thrown together happens more often than not.
We’ve all been there. Especially when you find equipment that, wait for it, actually works perfectly and you have to find a secret location to store it away from everyone else. Unfortunately, though, not every lab pain point has a simple solution. Henderson Hasselback equations in pH experiments are only as good as the meter. Bunsen burners will always be popular — and no, propane torches are not a valid alternative — and someone will always mess with the equipment storage.
Equipment rage is an accepted part of laboratory life. And it’s a reminder that not every problem can be solved by the seemingly omnipresent relief of digital and data innovation.