Sustainable Science Updates

Congratulations to Dr. Chelsey VanDrisse, the PI of the VanDrisse Lab and Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics, for winning this year’s UGA Freezer Challenge! Dr. VanDrisse’s Lab focuses its research on how bacteria generate biofilms in their natural environments. Dr. VanDrisse has demonstrated extraordinary efforts in sustainability, resulting in 58.8 kWh of energy saved per day through the implementation of several cold storage management practices. As the challenge winner, the VanDrisse Lab will receive a new high-efficiency ultra-low freezer valued at $15,000, courtesy of UGA Utility and Energy Management.

The UGA Green Labs program is inviting all UGA research labs to participate in the 2025 International Laboratory Freezer Challenge now to July 1. It’s a global competition designed to promote best practices in cold storage management, and the impacts are significant. See how you can participate.

Congratulations to Dr. Jayshree Samanta, professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, for winning this year’s UGA Freezer Challenge!

Congratulations to Dr. John Wares, Professor in the Odum School of Ecology and Department of Genetics for being the UGA winner of the International Freezer Challenge, which ran from January to July 2023.

The UGA Green Labs program is inviting all UGA research labs to participate in the 2023 International Laboratory Freezer Challenge now to July 1.

The UGA Green Labs program would like to recognize Dr. Pengpeng Bi, Assistant Professor in the Center for Molecular Medicine & Department of Genetics, for taking sustainable actions in his lab during the Fall 2022 semester.

Together, My Green Lab and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories issue a challenge to science funders around the world to encourage sustainability in research.

A systems thinking approach to incorporating green chemistry and safety into laboratory culture is vital, as chemists will be at the molecular level of the innovative solutions to our global challenges.