Biotech Professionals Sustainability Workshop

Do you have a passion for sustainability and want to learn how to incorporate it into your biotech lab? Join us for the Biotech Professionals Sustainability Workshop on Thursday, June 13 at Illumina. Food and drinks will be provided.

This program is designed for scientists and biotech professionals who want to encourage more environmentally conscious practices in their lab. Join us to:

• Connect with local biotech professionals also interested in sustainability
• Hear presentations on current sustainability initiatives from local biotech professionals
• Gain ideas for how sustainable actions can be implemented at your organization
• Learn strategies to influence change at your organization

Sustainability is a journey, not an endpoint, so wherever you are in your journey we encourage you to attend. Anyone who is working in or supporting a lab is welcome to join.

Agenda

• 4:30 - 5:00: arrivial and networking
• 5:00 – 5:40 Presentations from local biotech professionals
• 5:40 – 6:00 Q&A
• 6:00 – 6:10 Break
• 6:10 – 7:00 Workshop & networking

Reach out to Sam at samantha@sustaindane.org with any questions.

Heidi Umhoefer is a development scientist at Illumina

Project: Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer “Chill-up”

Ultra-low temperature freezers (or ULT’s, usually at -80C) are huge energy consumers in the lab space, with each unit consuming as much energy as an entire house! Several steps can be taken to reduce the energy consumption of these units, including raising set points. Raising the set point of ULT’s even 5 degrees can have a huge impact on energy consumption, usually with little effect on the stability of freezer contents. Heidi will outline the process of presenting a ULT freezer “Chill-up” to company leadership as well as additional work needed to be done to make it happen.

Katelyn Geleynse is a production scientist at Promega

Project: Plastic Film Recycling

Keeping plastic out of the landfill is an important part of sustainability. Katelyn will talk about how Promega set up their plastic film recycling program through NexTrex. To date the program has diverted more than 25,000lbs of plastic film from the landfill.

Alyson Kenny is an associate research scientist / technical project manager at PPD.

Project: Glove Recycling

With gloves being an essential part of every lab space, take the opportunity to recycle used gloves from your labs to save valuable materials from the landfill. Alyson will go over how anyone can start the RightCycle program at your place of work.