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Building in Public

Lab Notes

The polished results belong on the data and results pages. Lab Notes are for the things that happen on the way there.
Publishing from day one
Build

Before There Are Snakes, There Is a Lot of Building

Lab Note #1

The Surface Sand Boa Project begins before the first behavioral measurement is recorded.

We are currently building the observation rack, testing heating and lighting, preparing the QR-linked record system, designing the animal-profile database, testing camera placement, and 3D printing the equipment that will make standardized weekly checks possible.

It would be easy to wait until the project looks impressive before showing it publicly.

We would rather show the beginning.

Science includes the setup, mistakes, redesigns, and boring parts too.

What Gets Documented

This Is Where the Project Gets Messy

  • Rack construction
  • Camera tests
  • Software development
  • Substrate testing
  • 3D-printed equipment
  • Animal acquisition
  • Quarantine
  • Protocol changes
  • Equipment failures
  • Ideas that worked
  • Ideas that did not
  • Unexpected behavior
  • Milestones
  • Future-generation updates