How to spend budget for Environmental Sustainability initiatives? by

set up a dedicated space where we could 'shop' used keyboards, mouse, monitors are still good but not used by any groups or anyone anymore. Same with stationeries, or misordered lab equipments (tubes etc)

2025-05-14 16:38:42 UTC

Scientific posters are usually only showcased once, and only during a conference. Quite a cost to print for it being shown once. Why not put up framed posters around the building showcasing the work of our own researchers? we could change the posters being put up once in a while... It could improve the sense of belonging of researchers and students in our building/division.

2025-05-14 16:43:13 UTC

Homemade DNA and protein ladders

2025-05-14 17:17:45 UTC

Song Tan produced a range of pPSU plasmids for making homemade DNA and protein/Western ladders (https://www.addgene.org/search/catalog/plasmids/?q=ppsu). I have the DNA ladders but not the protein ladders that can be bought in and produced cheaply and reduce transport, costs, ordering, and would be good for students when making them.

FBS alternatives?

2025-05-14 17:22:21 UTC

Is there an alternative to using Fetal Bovine Serum in media? Fully characterised media (https://nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resources/improving-human-relevance-cell-culture-using-animal-free-culture-media) or see what companies have alternatives too (https://www.bio-techne.com/reagents/cell-culture-reagents/serum-free-animal-free)?

Recylcled/BioBased centrifuge tubes?

2025-05-14 17:24:54 UTC

Eppendorf started making BioBased centrifuge tubes (15 ml, 50 ml, etc: https://www.eppendorf.com/gb-en/Products/Laboratory-Consumables/Tubes/Eppendorf-Tubes-BioBased-p-PF-4440301) that could be an alternative to the Falcon tubes we use now but the difference in cost covered perhaps?

Wet/Dry vacuum for defrosting freezers?

2025-05-14 17:31:10 UTC

We had a vacuum not only for the filters but to also quickly remove frost build up in freezers in my previous department that could be signed out for a day or so. It was something like this: https://www.karcher-center-trafalgar.co.uk/karcher-wd-3-wet-dry-vacuum-cleaner

As an alternative promotion, MCR Library of Things in Levenshulme is up and running since last year on Saturdays and Wednesday evenings for borrowing equipment so could be something to distribute: https://mcrlot.com/

Staff time for setting up LabCup or alternative inventory system?

2025-05-14 17:31:58 UTC

Paying for staff time for setting this up given the high initial input?

Sharing best practice?

2025-05-14 17:34:22 UTC

We ran regular (monthly) discussion groups in my previous department down south and led to setting up a webinar with Biochemical Society and a follow up Feature Article (https://portlandpress.com/biochemist/article/44/3/2/231299/Taking-a-LEAF-out-of-the-green-lab-book) so might be something worth taking up to stimulate discussion rather than reinventing the wheel in some cases

Active Travel

2025-05-14 17:38:54 UTC

Maintain money for encouraging active travel. Brekkies planned for May and July (I think budget already set aside) so depending on uptake, might be worth continuing

Plug timers for each water bath in the lab?

juliakijas — 2025-05-15 10:04:11 UTC

Recyling of lab plastics

2025-05-15 15:41:11 UTC

I attended the Lampadina showcase today, and there was a company there (RecycleLab) that offer a lab plastic recycling service. They can even recycle TC plastics, if they have been appropriately decontaminated. I’d be very keen to give that a try. I know they offer trial subscriptions for 5 waste bins – it would be really cool to offer a few labs a trial and see what the uptake for this would be and how feasible it is in practice. I think it could make a huge difference to the amount of incinerated waste that we generate!