The CU Green Labs Program Methodology for Building and Sustaining a Network of Engaged Laboratory Scientists in Conservation at the University of Colorado at Boulder
Kathryn Ramirez-Aguilar, Ph.D., University of Colorado at Boulder
The Facilities Management Office of Sustainability and the University of Colorado (CU) Environmental Center created the CU Green Labs Program in 2009 at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU-Boulder) to promote an atmosphere of conservation and identify opportunities to reduce resource use (energy, water, and material goods) in an estimated 400 laboratories on CU-Boulder's campus. Over the past three years, one focus of the program has been building a network of engaged scientists by enrolling laboratory members interested in the efficient use of resources in their laboratories to be volunteer "Lab Eco-Leaders." The goal is to have a Lab Eco-Leader representative for every laboratory on campus. Purposely, a bottom-up approach has primarily been used to build the network based on the thought that if individuals make the choice to participate, they will be more engaged in conservation in their laboratory (and department) than individuals who are required to participate. The program already has 130 Lab Eco-Leaders. This presentation will focus on the benefits of establishing a network of engaged scientists, what strategies have been used to approach and encourage laboratory members to sign-up for the Lab Eco-Leader role (and which have worked best), what the program is doing to keep Lab Eco-Leaders and their laboratories engaged in the program, and what enhancements to the program structure are being pursued to enable continual growth to the rest of campus.
Kathy Ramirez-Aguilar is the manager of the CU Green Labs Program at CU-Boulder, a program she has been building and creating since 2009. Ms. Ramirez-Aguilar has a doctorate in analytical chemistry and 15 years of laboratory research experience within the fields of biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and organic chemistry. Working as a research scientist, Ms. Ramirez-Aguilar recognized the need for a program to engage scientists in conservation. With the birth of her twin daughters and her hope for their future, her passion grew to promote change and create a program focused on resource conservation in laboratories, which could serve as a model for other campuses to adopt.