The Geek Beat

An article from MAKE Magazine's blog based on a news story from the Worchester Massachusetts Telegram Gazette has emotions running high for many science geeks and experimenters. The articles describe authorities ransacking a retired chemist, Victor M. Deeb's home for three days while they confiscate his lab's contents. He was not running a meth lab, or involved in terrorist activities but was doing what he knew best, experimenting to develop new materials and coatings for things like food container lids. The article states "Pamela A. Wilderman, Marlboro’s code enforcement officer, said Mr. Deeb was doing scientific research and development in a residential area, which is a violation of zoning laws".

A later article by the Telegram Gazette headlines Chemist considers legal action over materials seized reveals that Mr. Deeb had 1500 containers including 35 drums of chemicals in the home. The chemicals he was using were no more harmful than household chemicals you might find around your own home. Firefighters were called to the residence when a small fire in an upstairs air conditioner broke out. The real concern was with the quantities found and unclear labeling of the contents.

If there's a lesson in this for all of us it is to be responsible within your workspace by keeping it organized. Mr. Deeb should have been more considerate of his neighbors by storing any unused or larger quantities of chemicals off-site. If Mr. Deeb kept unused chemicals away from the house he probably would have gone unnoticed.

Many reactions over the Internet are charged with emotion. It would have been a non story if the officials involved, including the code enforcement officer, had found a way to resolve the problem with Mr. Deeb by including him in the cleanup instead of such drastic measures. The reactions to this story seem to indicate a growing fear of the authorities by citizens more than the threats they purport to protect us from.

Home based science labs are an important part of the Kansas City community too. In the HMS Beagle Science Store's blog they state that an important group is with the home schoolers but they have many other parents and students wanting to explore sciences. While Mr. Deeb's actions were extreme, we can't loose site of the need to encourage lawmakers to take a stand to support education and exploration even when practiced in the home.