To BNC Faculty:
The situation in the BNC Cleanroom has degenerated to the point that serious action must be taken. The current conditions in the cleanroom have resulted in unsafe situations as well as significant interruptions of research. Both of these consequences stem from poor citizenship of the users. Sloppy use of chemicals, not cleaning up after themselves, leaving chemical spills, not rinsing empty chemical bottles, and like actions are the primary issues that must be addressed.
I am requesting that you as a faculty member support the correction of the current situation in two ways: 1) Please enter the cleanroom at least once per week and make your presence known to your students. Observation of the activities and your presence should inspire better citizenship. 2) Talk about good cleanroom and laboratory practices in your group meetings. By setting the expectation that students will practice good citizenship you will be supporting all the efforts to bring the cleanroom back into a safe, efficient facility.
There will be meetings held in August for all cleanroom users where these issues will be addressed. Your support over the next few weeks will be instrumental in correcting the issues that are currently impacting safety and research. It is hoped that your activities and the cleanroom-user meetings will correct the situation, and that more drastic measures will not be required.
Thank you in advance for your support of BNC operations.
John
John R. Weaver Facility Manager Birck Nanotechnology Center Purdue University (765) 494-5494 jrweaver@purdue.edu