How large are effects of measures against ecological costs of research in diverse labs?
Bianca Schell, University of Konstanz, Germany
Flash Presentation: Supply Chain & Sustainability Management
Video Conference Room (BigBlueButton): https://bbb.mpi-magdeburg.mpg.de/meeting/SmartPSE2022-Schell
Abstract: Climate change poses a fundamental threat to future generations. Science is researching for solutions, but with little focus on research-related environmental impacts. The Alliance of Science Organizations and Baden-Württemberg have set the goal of climate neutrality by 2035 and 2030, respectively. To achieve this, the actual ecological costs of scientific work must be determined and scientific institutions must be provided with recommendations for action tailored to their needs. Initiatives such as LEAF, My Green Lab and Green Labs offer catalogs of measures for more sustainable laboratories. However, many measures are based on generalizations and assumptions and do not consider the diversity of labs. Different initial conditions such as research areas, location factors (state-of-the-art buildings / buildings in need of renovation) and infra-structure are not taken into account. In my research, I plan to assess 8-10 laboratories with different preconditions and their use of resources, especially energy (buildings, computing, equipment, according to the GHG Protocol), water, chemicals, laboratory materials, life cycle analysis of equipment and the subsequent handling of old equipment. Subsequently, I would like to quantitatively analyze how much CO2 emissions and resource consumption can be reduced by implementing the measures of the above-mentioned initiatives. From this, a broadly applicable blueprint for laboratories is to be developed, which specifically addresses the obstacles and problems of the diversity of laboratories. Finally, I would like to be able to answer the question whether bottom-up changes (behavior of individual research groups) can make a big difference or whether the framework conditions are so limiting that only top-down changes (institutions / legal frameworks) can lead to sufficient (system) change to make research itself sustainable.