Green Labs, Smarter Science: Practical Steps for Sustainable Research and Innovation
ModulesGreen Labs, Smarter Science: Practical Steps for Sustainable Research and Innovation
The world is facing several pressing environmental issues such as climate change and air pollution that need to be urgently addressed. As lab managers, researchers, innovators, and students, our work aims to solve these environmental challenges. Ironically, many scientific labs consume excessive energy, generate significant material waste, and rely on unsustainable equipment, substantially increasing their carbon footprints. However, the good news is that simple, practical actions can make a big difference. What could these practical actions be?
This micromodule is designed to equip learners with the knowledge and tools needed to make labs more environmentally friendly, thereby contributing to a Green Transition. Through real-world examples and a case study showcasing eco-friendly lab management practices, this micromodule will foster learning and critical reflection on how greening strategies can be tailored to specific contexts and scale up for a broader outreach.
By the end of the module, participants should be to:
Raise awareness about sustainable laboratory (lab) management through environmentally friendly practices that promote green labs, improve research efficiency and drive smarter innovation.
Participants should also be able to:
- Identify daily small actions that can be undertaken to make labs more environmentally friendly.
- Examine the case of inefficient energy use in labs to identify underlying causes and propose improvement strategies.
- Reflect on how changes towards sustainable management should be implemented
Learning practical actions for making labs more sustainable
Greening labs involves reducing environmental impact by implementing sustainable practices within laboratory settings. In this regard, several small actions that are ecofriendly can be considered in lab activities to contribute to environmental sustainability.
How can we save energy in labs?
Laboratories are very energy intensive. In this session, you will explore practical, daily actions that can significantly reduce the energy loads in lab spaces. The video “Saving energy in your lab” discusses how energy is used in a lab and offers tips on how energy use can be reduced.
Final reflection
Nice work! You have explored various strategies for greening lab operations. These strategies are centered around small daily actions that can be undertaken to minimize energy consumption and adopt eco-friendly procurement options. However, it is essential to integrate these actions into our daily routines to ensure that laboratories contribute significantly to environmental sustainability and Green Transition. Here, reflect on your own actions towards greening labs by answering the questions below.
