What is a lab notebook?
A Lab Notebook Is…
- A complete record of procedures, reagents, data, and thoughts to pass on to other researchers
- An explanation of why experiments were initiated, how they were performed, and the results
- A legal document to prove patents and defend your data against accusations of fraud
-A scientific legacy in the lab
A Lab Notebook is not a personal journal, or yours to take with you.
There are many elements that make up best practices for lab notebooks. There are the physical elements of the notebook, and the ethical or data integrity elements. These two documents provide guidance regarding best practices for your lab notebooks.