Rae Chilton
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labtech666.bsky.social
Rae Chilton
@labtech666.bsky.social
RSciTech, school physics technician for 23 years, enthusiastic about STEM clubs, autistic.
I really like rubber ducks (not a euphamism - actual toy rubber ducks.)

Preproomtales on instagram.
Sixth form student just came to the prep room to ask if we have anything like a wind tunnel. They were so surprised and happy when I told them that I made one a couple of years ago using @cleapss.bsky.social instructions.
Can't wait to see what they actually want it for!
November 4, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Rae Chilton
CLEAPSS and LabLogger

The collaboration will use anonymised requisition data from LabLogger to build a picture of school science practical work. Participation is entirely voluntary (opt-in), and no personal data is shared in the process.

For more info see science.cleapss.org.uk
October 20, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Reposted by Rae Chilton
Publication Day! Moss Safari is Out in the Wild!

Well, the day has finally arrived. After months (OK, years…) of researching, writing, editing, photographing, microscope-fiddling, and occasionally yelling at my laptop – Moss Safari: Exploring the Secret Life in Moss is officially published! It’s…
Publication Day! Moss Safari is Out in the Wild!
Well, the day has finally arrived. After months (OK, years…) of researching, writing, editing, photographing, microscope-fiddling, and occasionally yelling at my laptop – Moss Safari: Exploring the Secret Life in Moss is officially published! It’s out there. In the world. A real book. With a cover, pages, microscopic creatures, and everything. If you've ever crouched down to peer at a cushion of moss and wondered what’s going on in that miniature jungle – or even if you haven’t yet but now suddenly feel the urge – this book is for you.
mosssafari.com
June 17, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Tidy, uniform trays make happy.
June 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Rae Chilton
I wrote an article for @rsc-eic.bsky.social on safety specs vs goggles in schools!

The link in the quoted post is broken, but try edu.rsc.org/endpoint/do-...
June 12, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Reposted by Rae Chilton
Quick poll time, it would be very useful for our work to know how many labs you have in your school.

Sadly we can't do this via a voting poll, so please just reply with how many labs (teaching labs + prep rooms) you have.

Please also share this with others

Thanks for your help in this 👍
June 11, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Reposted by Rae Chilton
This goes for STEM events targeted at children too. Science communicators, step up.
There is no place for #BigOil or #FossilGas sponsored resources or competitions in schools. The industry has an agenda and, sadly, it's not the wellbeing of young people.
This is a great article on the Energy Town game from Equinor.
Spoiler: to win it seems you have to invest in oil or gas 🤢
I didn't think I could still be shocked by fossil fuel companies' lobbying tactics but this story, first revealed by Malene Emilie Rustad at the Norwegian publication E24, is amazing.

www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...
June 6, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Year 8 have examined all the evidence and have concluded that it was the Head of Physics who killed the gryphon, using a circus baton as a weapon, so that he could get a gryphon feather to wear on his fancy hat!
As part of enrichment week, tomorrow our Year 8 students are going to try to solve the murder of the school's pet gryphon.
I've had a lot of fun preparing fingerprints, blood spatters, and footprint casts for them.
June 5, 2025 at 1:51 PM
As part of enrichment week, tomorrow our Year 8 students are going to try to solve the murder of the school's pet gryphon.
I've had a lot of fun preparing fingerprints, blood spatters, and footprint casts for them.
June 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Rae Chilton
Kew gardens are running several competitions for all Key stages. £1000 for each category. Ends 27th June
endeavour.kew.org/competition-...

#primaryscience #uked #ukteaching
June 3, 2025 at 8:18 AM
I foolishly assumed that I would have a quiet week since Science is doing forensics as an enrichment week activity.
Nope, apparently fingerprints, blood spatter analysis, and footprints all count as physics now. 🤦‍♀️
June 2, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Reposted by Rae Chilton
Eyes are on the Vatican this week for the selection of a new Pope 💭

Specific recipes are used for the black and white smoke released to indicate the result of conclave voting – here's a look at the chemicals involved: wp.me/p4aPLT-8St

#ChemSky 🧪
May 8, 2025 at 10:01 AM
'Think about the crab in Moana', is a thing I have just heard my HoD say to his year 9 physics class.
May 9, 2025 at 8:41 AM
It's always a proud moment when the CREST award certificates arrive.
April 23, 2025 at 6:57 AM
I think most technicians have some hoarding tendencies, but I think it might be time to finally get rid of notes from training that I attended 17 years ago.
April 3, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Rae Chilton
It's #NationalBunsenBurnerDay
National Bunsen Burner Day is an annual celebration of the invention of the Bunsen burner by Robert Bunsen; a day to recognise the contributions of science and chemistry to society and to honour Bunsen for his invention.
#ScienceIsEverywhere #BeCurious #DrJoScience
March 31, 2025 at 8:16 AM
I got this year's @cleapss.bsky.social mug at #TSTC25 yesterday. Another one for the collection!
March 29, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Great day at the Tonbridge school Technicians' Convention yesterday. I particularly enjoyed the workshop on how to make a paper loudspeaker. It worked!
##TSTC25
March 29, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Reposted by Rae Chilton
If the weather is clear there's a chance to see a partial solar eclipse this morning in the UK, Europe, Africa and much of N.America.

Eclipse starts 9.56 AM GMT 6.13 AM EDT

DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE ECLIPSE!

For more details, check out buff.ly/R79hRsn
March 29, 2025 at 7:00 AM
I love getting a book that I've preordered ages ago. It's like past-me has sent me a present!
@hallierubenhold.bsky.social
March 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Trialling the magnetic fields practical using cut up twist ties instead of iron filings.
#TECHOGNITION
March 27, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The most important bit of morning prep. (In my office area, not a lab of course!)
#TECHOGNITION
@cleapss.bsky.social @techognition.bsky.social
March 27, 2025 at 8:49 AM
The STEM duck crew are ready to celebrate #TECHOGNITION day!
March 27, 2025 at 7:43 AM
I can't decorate my prep room door for #TECHOGNITION due to not having an actual door, so this is the next best thing.
Behold, the entrance to my prep room.
March 26, 2025 at 8:06 AM