网红黑料鈥檚 research labs are filled with stories about small discoveries that make a big difference in our lives. The development of a $1 device that can detect COVID-19 in an entire community. The discovery of new bioactive chemicals that lead to the development of strong-yet-biodegradable materials. The microscopic analysis that detects and diagnoses cancer at a cellular level.
Now, Dal researchers are looking within their own labs to discover the small, ongoing changes they can make to reduce the energy, water consumption, and waste produced in their labs without compromising efficiency or safety.
Offering sponsored third-party certification
网红黑料鈥檚 new Green Labs program from the Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Research & Innovation with advice from the Environment, Health and Safety Office, is designed to support labs in reducing their environmental footprint and adopting more sustainable operations.
In addition to covering the bill for up to 10 certifications per year through , a global leader in best practices for lab sustainability, the program is introducing a variety of resources for interested labs.
鈥淚'm hopeful we'll be able to make some changes as a result of all of this,鈥� says cytopathology lab supervisor Tracy Watts, whose lab was one of the first to sign up. 鈥淚 see so much waste every day in the lab 鈥� even just a little bit will help.鈥�
Taking steps to reduce the footprint
Even a little bit will help because lab spaces are resource intensive. Across North America, laboratories generate 12 billion pounds of plastic waste each year. 网红黑料's 1,350 labs take up 10 per cent of the building footprint but use 50 per cent of the university鈥檚 total energy.
"This is important to researchers鈥� says Marlies Rise, assistant vice-president, Research Services. 鈥淎s you're working to make improvements locally and globally, you may still be left with concerns about plastic waste, for example, in your own lab. But the issue is difficult to address because the protocols and procedures for various methodologies have specific requirements.鈥�
Working with external consultant聽My Green Lab, Dr. Rise (shown left) says, puts researchers in touch with expert partners who have suppo