{"id":14173,"date":"2025-05-13T08:18:09","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T08:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/?p=14173"},"modified":"2025-05-26T14:57:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T14:57:56","slug":"https-mediasite-embl-de-mediasite-channel-seminars-watch-d6731e4e756e4c5da1c500ed518d431a1d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/https-mediasite-embl-de-mediasite-channel-seminars-watch-d6731e4e756e4c5da1c500ed518d431a1d\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections from our symposium Sustainable Research : Fit for the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>On April 29, over 300 people gathered for the Sustainable Research \u2014Fit for the Future symposium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-grid | vf-grid__col-3\"><div class=\"vf-grid__col--span-2\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<p>As part of the SuReSymp symposia series, this year\u2019s event explored how the scientific community can play a bigger role in addressing global challenges by rethinking and transforming the current research model. The event was designed to take attendees on a journey from individual action to larger systemic change, with input from researchers, institutional leaders, funders, other stakeholders and even artists. The aim? To share knowledge and spark collective action that would shape the future of sustainable science.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<div class=\"vf-box vf-box--is-link vf-box--normal vf-box-theme--primary | vf-u-margin__bottom--400\">\n      <h3 class=\"vf-box__heading\">\n              <a class=\"vf-box__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/mediasite.embl.de\/Mediasite\/Channel\/seminars\/watch\/d6731e4e756e4c5da1c500ed518d431a1d\">\n                    Symposium recording                <\/a>\n                  <\/h3> \n        <p class=\"vf-box__text\">Available here<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inspiring talks to inspire action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The day kicked off with a powerful keynote by Fernando Valladares, an ecologist and science communicator, who reminded everyone about the pressing environmental crises we face. Valladares emphasised the importance in science of leading by example\u2014not just in reducing environmental footprint, but also in championing sustainability through data, conversations, and innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<style>\n    <\/style>\n\n<section id=\"wp-block-1\">\n  <div class=\"vf-card-container vf-card-container__col-3 | vf-u-fullbleed  \n  | vf-u-background-color--grey--lightest \">\n        <div class=\"vf-card-container__inner\">\n            <div class=\"vf-section-header | vf-u-margin__bottom--600\">\n        <h2 class=\"vf-section-header__heading\" >\n             <\/h2>\n              <\/div>\n      \n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1620\" height=\"1080\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-010.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-010.jpg 1620w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-010-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-010-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-010-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-010-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1620px) 100vw, 1620px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">Fernando Valladares delivers the keynote lecture.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-033-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-033-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-033-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-033-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-033-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-033.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">Participants travelled to EMBL Heidelberg for Sustainable Science: for for the future.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-002-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-002-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-002-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-002-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-002-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-002.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">Brendan Rouse opens the symposium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n          <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> A central theme that emerged was the importance of grassroots initiatives. Researchers and sustainability professionals shared stories of informal networks and community-driven projects \u2013&nbsp; carbon calculators, lab sustainability guidelines, and peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing platforms \u2013 that transform how we approach sustainability in science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The day also showcased some amazing innovation. Finalists for the EMBO Sustainability Award 2024 gave short presentations on cutting-edge projects \u2013 from new ways to rethink procurement systems to plastic-free protocols and reusing materials in scientific experiments. These talks helped remind participants of the creativity and dedication driving the next wave of sustainable science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"vf-blockquote | vf-u-margin__bottom--600 vf-u-margin__top--600\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"155\" height=\"175\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/MartaPicture.jpeg\" class=\"vf-profile__image vf-u-margin__right--600\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\" \/>  <div class=\"vf-blockquote-has-image\">\n    <div>\n      From saving energy and reducing waste in labs (both wet and computational) to incorporating sustainability into research culture, the discussions highlighted how small individual actions can lead to significant institutional change.    <\/div>\n    \n          <footer class=\"vf-u-margin__top--600\">\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/internal-information\/people\/marta-rodriguez\/\" class=\"vf-blockquote_author__link\">\n      \n      <div class=\"vf-blockquote_author\">\n        Marta Rodr\u00edguez-Mart\u00ednez, EMBL Sustainability Officer      <\/div>\n\n              <\/a>\n      \n      <div class=\"vf-blockquote_author__details\"><\/div>\n    <\/footer>\n      <\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Institutional leaders and funders joined the conversation by discussing the new policies, funding structures, and partnerships that are evolving to push sustainability in research. They discussed topics like the Heidelberg Agreement and the UK Concordat, with a focus on how to make environmental responsibility a central part of the research ecosystem. The takeaway? Funders need to match big ambitions and long-term strategies with practical steps, setting clear metrics and having transparent reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The symposium wrapped up with a panel that explored how to bring about systemic change in the research world. The panel was a chance to reflect on what tools, partnerships, and mindsets are needed to embed sustainability across the entire research landscape. The overarching message? Sustainable science isn\u2019t just an add-on to existing practices \u2013 it\u2019s a way to rethink how we define excellence and impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Art and science<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A symposium art exhibition featured dresses made from used nitrile gloves and plastic pipettes that encouraged reflection on sustainability from a cultural and emotional standpoint.&nbsp;The exhibition was created by <em>Saki the Artist<\/em> who also created a sculpture from typical laboratory plastic during the day and engaged with participants on the problem of laboratory waste. A lively community celebration with pizza, drinks, and music concluded the symposium, reminding participants that sustainability is as much about human connection as it is about technical solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the face of growing environmental challenges, the 2025 Sustainable Research symposium offered a hopeful vision for the future of science, one that is collaborative, conscious, and deeply committed to the health of our planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<style>\n    <\/style>\n\n<section id=\"wp-block-1\">\n  <div class=\"vf-card-container vf-card-container__col-4 | vf-u-fullbleed  \n  | vf-u-background-color--grey--lightest \">\n        <div class=\"vf-card-container__inner\">\n            <div class=\"vf-section-header | vf-u-margin__bottom--600\">\n        <h2 class=\"vf-section-header__heading\" >\n             <\/h2>\n              <\/div>\n      \n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-029-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-029-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-029-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-029.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">The dresses on display at the symposium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"1080\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-025.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14195\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-025.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-025-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-025-683x1024.jpg 683w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">Dress made from nitrile gloves.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-027-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-027-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-027-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-027.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">Dress made from plastic pipettes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-031-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14189\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-031-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-031-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-031.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">The symposium art exhibition, featuring this sculpture made from typical laboratory waste.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n          <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The event, a collaboration between EMBL, EMBO, and the Sustainable European Laboratories Network, was supported by the European Union\u2019s Climate Pact and Merck. It achieved the highest EMBO sustainability event rating, marked by three leaves \u2013 an impressive feat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250429_185030-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250429_185030-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250429_185030-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250429_185030-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250429_185030-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/20250429_185030-2048x1153.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">The event chairs (L-R). Valeria Scagliotti, Marta Rodr\u00edguez-Mart\u00ednez, Philipp Weber, Florijn Dekkers, Martin Farley and Brendan Rouse.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Images cc Kinga Siring\/EMBL<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On April 29, over 300 people gathered for the Sustainable Research \u2014Fit for the Future symposium. Inspiring talks to inspire action The day kicked off with a powerful keynote by Fernando Valladares, an ecologist and science communicator, who reminded everyone about the pressing environmental&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":14347,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[4193,4195,4191,4158,4197],"embl_taxonomy":[],"class_list":["post-14173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-brendan-rouse","tag-marta-rodriguez-martinez","tag-sustainability","tag-sustainability-stories","tag-symposium"],"acf":[],"embl_taxonomy_terms":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/EMBL-Sustainablity-Symposium-2025-012-small.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14173"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14583,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14173\/revisions\/14583"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14173"},{"taxonomy":"embl_taxonomy","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/sustainability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/embl_taxonomy?post=14173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}