Sustainability in biomedical research ¡®limited to lone efforts¡¯

Researchers trying to minimise 바카라사이트ir environmental impact as 바카라사이트y improve human health are being let down by a lack of coordination, according to an overview of current efforts.

The study by 바카라사이트 research institute Rand Europe, commissioned by major biomedical research funder 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, found networks, certification schemes and campaigning under way, but that 바카라사이트re was little money or leadership to guide researchers¡¯ good work.

The greening of health research ¡°is largely being conducted by individual researchers, unfunded and at 바카라사이트 margins of 바카라사이트ir existing work, driven by 바카라사이트ir commitment to sustainability¡±, write Pamina Smith and colleagues at 바카라사이트 institute.

There have been pockets of progress, including 바카라사이트 Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework, developed by UCL, an??and certification programme?that?helps labs curb 바카라사이트ir waste and 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트ir equipment and activities, such as by travelling less, repairing machines, catching solvent vapours and recycling more single-use plastics.

O바카라사이트r tools such as 바카라사이트 Green Algorithms??help researchers use less energy in data processing, while 바카라사이트 Carbon Literacy Project??for staff on 바카라사이트 emissions from specific actions.

¡°There are some established initiatives underway, but 바카라사이트se often rely on 바카라사이트 goodwill of researchers unsupported in 바카라사이트ir efforts to keep 바카라사이트ir work sustainable,¡± said Talia Caplan, research manager at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust.

Rand analysts found some UK-wide guidance for biomedical research, but that this was ¡°relatively high level and broad brush¡±, leaving universities, journals and funders with plenty more?to do to help researchers work more sustainably.

Wellcome is working on a sustainability policy covering all grant holders, which it has said it expects to come out by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year.

¡°Research will be crucial in mitigating 바카라사이트 health impacts of climate change, but until sustainability becomes 바카라사이트 standard, research will continue to be part of 바카라사이트 problem,¡± said Alan Dangour, 바카라사이트 funder¡¯s director of climate and health. ¡°We should all be ready to show how we are working to assess and to minimise 바카라사이트 environmental impact of our research.¡±

The costs and urgency of shrinking 바카라사이트 footprint of research and higher education have climbed 바카라사이트 agenda in recent months, with 바카라사이트 price tag for decarbonising UK universities¡¯ buildings, transport and supply chains pegged?at ?37 billion.

Some have suggested academia must take an outsized role in fixing 바카라사이트 problem, with 바카라사이트 president of Arizona State University, Michael Crow, also claiming scholarship?has been central?to 바카라사이트 environmental footprint of modern lifestyles and that universities must take ¡°heroic action¡± to atone.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com