Green Labs Network
Benefits of joining the Green Labs Network
- activities count towards professional development goals
- offers CV experience and networking opportunities
- helps us meet our environmental targets
- promotes your lab group as socially responsible
Tips and guidance
Sign up to LEAF
LEAF is an accreditation scheme that helps groups reduce their environmental impact in labs.
We need lab users to engage with our Sustainable Science and Green Labs Initiative so that we can reduce the environmental impact of our scientific research. Whether you're a student, academic or technician, there are various ways that you can get involved and identify potential areas for improvement within your specialisms. You can sign your lab group up to LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework), or get involved individually through the Green Labs Network.
Although very interlinked, you can do one without the other:
- LEAF is a nationally recognised accreditation in which lab users work through a series of criteria to improve their lab efficiency and sustainability.
- The Green Labs Network provides a platform for individual staff and students to not only communicate with one another but with the entire University and beyond. It is a flexible role and you can have as little or as much involvement as you like.
Find out who's in the Green Labs Network
Green Labs Network
The Green Labs Network consists of dedicated volunteers (Green Labs Members and Leaders) committed to making a positive sustainable impact in their lab, in turn helping us to meet our University-wide sustainability pledges. The role is flexible and designed to suit staff and students' interests, priorities and schedules. At its core, it's all about being enthusiastic about sustainability issues and working to help improve the University's environmental impact.
Be recognised as a leader in sustainability by joining the Green Labs Network and becoming a Green Labs Leader or Member. You can help us to achieve the goals of our Sustainable Science and Green Labs initiative by:
- sharing best practice across the University - and beyond - in order to build a more sustainable science community
- raising awareness of, and encouraging engagement with our sustainability goals.
Green lab leader
A Green Labs Leader is a lab member who encourages the efficient use of energy, water, and material goods in their lab. They coordinate and lead sustainable activities within their lab, in order to become a certified Green Lab.
Become a Green Labs Leader
A Green Lab Leader acts as the eyes, ears and voice of conservation in their lab. As a Green Labs Leader you will:
- act as a point of contact for the Sustainable Science Manager
- coordinate Green Impact Labs for your group, in order to achieve Green Lab certification
- help identify opportunities for resource conservation (energy, water, and material goods)
- discuss changes with the Principal Investigator (PI) before changes are implemented
- solicit ideas/feedback from other members
- encourage sharing of equipment between labs
- promote green purchasing of equipment and supplies
- participate in University-wide Sustainable Labs campaigns
- attend Green Lab network meetings
Green labs member
A Green Labs Member can be any student or staff member who wants to reduce the environmental impact of their lab-based work. This shouldn't take much extra time or effort, but is about embedding green behaviours within your usual activities.
Sign up to become a Green Labs Member
Become a Green Labs Member
As a Green Labs Member you will help improve sustainability in your lab by:
- assisting the Green Labs Leader to carry out initiatives
- committing to align your behaviour and practices with the Sustainable Science and Green Labs Initiative
- promoting the Sustainable Science and Green Labs initiative within and outside the lab