Life science laboratories offer greater environmental rewards for improving sustainability than other workspaces, but that doesn’t mean a sustainability mindset should be limited to inside the lab. Biologists often rely on collaborations with non-scientists to improve operations and environmental footprints. Events and spaces that remind us of our place in nature are a great way to connect everyone in a school or workplace to sustainability goals.
Megan Williams, was a Research and Core Team Technician in the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences at Kings College London, when she saw an empty outdoor space on her urban campus and envisioned a community garden for fellow biologists, students, staff, and campus workers. Happily, her ecofriendly lab mates, and the university Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion team agreed to help bring the garden into reality.
Kings College London is renowned for basic and clinical research and is a signatory to the global Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges initiative to zero carbon emissions. Lab sustainability champions at the university use the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) as a guide for steps to conserve lab plastic consumables, energy, water, and other resources. This year’s goal is to ensure that all laboratory spaces at King’s adopt the framework. A Sustainability in Research Team visits research labs to identify barriers and creates local LEAF Laboratory Units (LLUs) support services.
The School of Life Sciences and Medicine is integrated with Kings Health Partners which provides healthcare on the Denmark Hill campus. A few years ago, King’s research laboratories helped increase COVID-19 testing capacity. Space outside the university’s Weston Education Centre near several research institutes and King’s College Hospital was allocated for vaccination clinics. With the pandemic in the rearview mirror, the space lay empty.
The transformation of an empty lot into a community garden required coordination with university workers and outreach to local organizations. In an interview with Meagan, she explained how she enjoyed working with people she wouldn’t normally have had the opportunity to interact with in her laboratory work—from the installation of the garden gate to organizing the garden-opening ceremony. “You don't have to be an expert to get started. Constantly throughout this project I have felt that there's people with a great amount of knowledge and then there's me, who's just thinking, well, that's a nice looking plant, isn't it? I like that it flowers, but I don't know what's best for bumblebees. One individual does not have to have all the knowledge and expertise. This kind of project can be great for community building.” Megan was grateful that the King's building management service team, Artic Building Services, volunteered hours of their time. Other, local, inspiring, community gardens projects such as the Friends of Ruskin Park sent brilliant volunteers to help. The group typically runs workshops, such as ethical and sustainable farming, and seed giveaways for plants that encourage rare, Camberwell Beauty butterfly sightings. Green-fingered staff donated plants and shrubs, whilst a local garden center offered reduced prices.
“ You don't have to be an expert to get started. Constantly throughout this project I have felt that there's people with a great amount of knowledge and then there's me, who's just thinking, well, that's a nice looking plant, isn't it? I like that it flowers, but I don't know what's the best choice for bumblebees. One individual does not have to have all the knowledge and expertise. This kind of project can be great for community building. ”
-Megan Williams, Laboratory Health and Safety Advisor, Kings College London
The garden opening ceremony welcomed King’s staff, students, and workers with an opening thanks, ribbon cutting ceremony, refreshments, and sustainability-themed workshops. The hope is that by welcoming everyone to enjoy the new garden, individuals will enjoy the space and be inspired to consider how to improve sustainability themselves. Megan pointed out that you never know where the next improvement can come from. It may be a post-doc or it may be an insight from the worker delivering supplies to all the labs from the receiving mailroom. Inspired minds present new perspectives that can improve lab operations. Soon after the garden opening Megan took on her new role as a Laboratory Health and Safety Advisor. Her open mindedness and background working in research and core laboratories will be valuable to greening lab operations.
When asked what others considering a project like this should know, Williams shared that “A community garden is great, but it doesn’t require a whole garden to increase sustainability. It can be as simple as getting a plant near your desk, or putting some low-maintenance vegetables out on a small balcony. Anything that encourages wildlife can benefit biodiversity and encourage sustainability every day.”