[Astro] [CAPT] Blackboard on A113

[Sayyed Rassouli]

Hi All,

I am the PhD student who made the blackboard possible. I fully agree with Alfonso’s points. I will try to establish a regular cleaning cycle for the erasers (which can be washed) to help reduce the spread of chalk dust. If she’s comfortable, I may also ask Margaret to clean them weekly.

Perhaps we could also post a brief “housekeeping” note near the board for visitors, so they know to keep the chalk and erasers off tables and chairs.

I understand the concerns around chalk dust—particularly for those with respiratory sensitivities—but blackboards do come with the territory of a bit of mess. While I appreciate the reminder to be mindful, the idea that chalk dust is ruining clothes might be an overreach: if you’re working with or around a chalkboard, some dust exposure is almost inevitable.
Best,
Farbod


From: Particles <particles-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk> on behalf of Alfonso Aragon-Salamanca <Alfonso.Aragon at nottingham.ac.uk>
Date: Friday, 7 March 2025 at 09:41
To: capt at nottingham.ac.uk <capt at nottingham.ac.uk>
Cc: Alfonso Aragon-salamanca (staff) <ppzaa at exmail.nottingham.ac.uk>
Subject: [Particles] [CAPT] Blackboard on A113
Dear all,

If you use the blackboard in A113, please try to minimise the amount of dust generated (I know the chalk is classed as “dust-free”, but it still produces significant amounts of dust). Dust not only creates additional work for our cleaner, but it may be harmful for people with respiratory problems such as asthma. It is also difficult to remove from clothes.

If you use the blackboard, it is important that:


The erasers are cleaned (outdoors, at the back of the building) regularly, to reduce the chalk dust they accumulate. If you use the blackboard, please clean the erasers. Users may consider a “rota” to ensure this happens a few times per week.


Chalk and erasers are placed in the box provided during and after use, and NOT on the tables/desks/chairs. People who attend seminars in that room do not want to get their clothes ruined by chalk dust. And our cleaner doesn’t need extra dusting.

It the blackboard continues to cause problems of the nature mentioned above, it will be removed.

Thank you for your understanding.

Best wishes,

Alfonso

Alfonso Aragón-Salamanca
Professor of Astronomy

School of Physics and Astronomy
University of Nottingham
Room B106b, Centre for Astronomy and Particle Theory
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

+44 (0) 115 95 16230 | alfonso.aragon at nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:alfonso.aragon at nottingham.ac.uk>
URL: http://nottingham.ac.uk/physics/people/alfonso.aragon
General teaching enquiries physics-teaching at nottingham.ac.uk<mailto:physics-teaching at nottingham.ac.uk>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/pipermail/astro/attachments/20250307/687feee2/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
_______________________________________________
CAPT mailing list
CAPT at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
https://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/capt