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Abstract
This study provides insights into what constitutes a laboratory identity and the ways in which it is spatially constructed. This article explores students' professional identities as microbiologists as manifest in their usage of representational space in a laboratory and as such extends understandings of science identity and spatial identity. The data for this study consist of comprehensive digital photography (static and Gigapan) and interviews. Results of the study show that the size of workspace areas reflected educational status within the laboratory with higher the educational levels being assigned larger working bench space. The analysis of multimodal additions to workspace reveals three social functions: (1) personalization of science and laboratory space; (2) the announcement of professional ability; and (3) the reinforcement of laboratory community relations. This study establishes laboratory identity as a multifaceted construct that includes scientific ability, feelings for laboratory community relations, and personal family and heritage backgrounds.
