What did you think of Rosalind's approach to lab safety? How do you think things have changed for modern scientists?

What did you think of Rosalind's approach to lab safety? How do you think things have changed for modern scientists?

She disregarded rules. I imagine she was aware of the dangers of radiation because of the regulations that were in place. Her work was her priority not her own well being.

She certainly should have known and been aware of the danger of radiation. She was so engrossed in what she was doing and just put all caution aside. Also, she probably didn't think anything was going to happen.

Early in the book I realized that her lack of safety was going to do her in. She was way to lax in terms of safety with the radioactive materials. Perhaps it was she didn't understand the cancer connection at the time, but I thought she should be aware of it because of Marie Curie and others. She was not scientific in her lax behavior which was contradictory to her other scientific endeavors.

I agree with what Navy Mom said. As soon as I read about her lackadaisical ways of not taking the precautionary measures when working around radioactive materials, I figured it was going to haunt her later. I found it disconcerting that she was this brilliant scientist that was not thinking of the consequences of her actions. I get that she was so engrossed in her work, but still found it baffling.

I think this would be more difficult to get away with today. I would think there are protocols set up for safety that MUST be adhered to in present or you could jeopardize your job. Also, more is known about radioactive materials and what can happen.

I also agree that her lax behavior towards the required lab safety precautions most likely caused her cancer. However, I did understand why she pushed those boundaries. She was driven by her love of science and the desire to learn, compulsive in her calculations and testing but she did not take the same care for her her personal safety. She was young and healthy, a hiker she never questioned her own mortality.

Does the end justify the means? In her mind, she was going to be the first to map the molecular structure of DNA and discover the location of genes. This was her mindset, even if it meant pushing boundaries.

She didn't think it could happen to her. A common blind spot, actually. Now, I suspect, protocols are stricter and she would be forced to comply. Way too many people knew what she was doing and looked the other way.

I think for Franklin, her work came first and everything else was second. And I'm not so sure that the dangers of radiation were well established then. She was willing to take a risk, but I'm not sure she was fully aware of it. But she might have done the same thing even if she had been. Her experiments were the most important thing in her life.

As a recently retired research scientist, I was appalled at her disregard for safety, as there are so many protocols in place in laboratories today about safety. However, during my own career I saw many changes (for the better) in safety in laboratories. As tough as it can be to abide by these safety protocols, it is definitely better in the long run that they are in place now.

Franklin's disregard for the safety protocols was tragic. She was a scientist and was certainly aware that X-rays can damage living tissue as evidenced by quite a bit of research by the time she was working in labs.

It is interesting that an individual like Rosalind Franklin can be knowledgeable about the dangers of their research methods yet not internalize that danger to include themselves. Like carolt said "She didn't think it could happen to her".

She kind of knew there could be a problem; she remarked on Curie's fate, but also seemed to discount the probability that her death was caused by radiation. I believed she referred to information about radiation causing illness to be a "rumor," and not proven enough for her to change her work habits. I think it was a case of "cherry-picking" data, choosing not to believe something that would inhibit her activities (that's still going on today in some circles!). I found it surprising, though, that with her scientific mind that she'd be so careless.

Rosalind was so determined to find the answer to the DNA structure that she ignored the safety guidelines of the lab. I believe, but do not know for sure, that safety precautions are required and monitored much more today. Rosalind's experiments were done alone in her lab with no one around.

As a nurse I was dismayed that she disregarded the safety protocols. Surely she must have know the danger of that.

She blew off lab safety and the results caused her health.

She definitely had a certain disregard for the safety rules. I think in part that is because at the time they didn't believe the doses of radiation they were exposed to would affect their health. She wasn't the only one, which I'm sure is the reason they all had to have an annual physical.

Rosalind put the greater good ahead of her own safety. To her her life was dedicated to humanity.

I think she was wrong to disregard safety requirements and believed them to be unnecessary rules. Her research was the most important activity for her. I’m sure there are stringent safety precautions now.

I think it’s always wrong to ignore safety precautions…that being said, sometimes they do appear unnecessary and tempting to find work arounds. Sure that’s true today.

Young people have the sense of invincibility and that nothing's going to happen to them. There were already examples of scientists who had died because of radiation exposure, Marie Curie probably being the most prominent and relevant to Franklin's circumstances. Safety precautions are much more codified today, but you still find people ignoring the rules. It usually takes a tragic accident to force people to change their ways. But habits are hard to break. I know the chemistry community is becoming more safety focused, but it's really hard to change the culture, especially in academic settings.

I think she threw caution to the wind. She felt the safety precautions inhibited her work and progress. Today there are protections installed for people working with radio active materials.