Making your Mind as Sustainable as your Laboratory
Working sustainably does not only benefit the environment but also yourself by improving your results and happiness. Lets see how!
We focus on three main topics – for a general overview of who we are click here
We advance mindsets, experiments and processes
Join our events to get a deeper dive into what we do!
In our events, you will learn how to transform your actions with the energy of sustainability.
Additionally, in each event, we share some news from our collaborators – building your own network on its own.
All our events are online to reduce environmetal impact!
Get direct support with tailored solutions for your challenges!
Collaborate with us online via direct meetings, mail or on our platforms.
Whether you are a reasearcher, employee, leader of an association, the world of sustainability is open to you.
And we promise, we do not bite
Working sustainably does not only benefit the environment but also yourself by improving your results and happiness. Lets see how!
Our mindset lies at the beginning of every action we take!
It shapes our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. And everybody, from the newly starting Bachelor student to the experienced CEO has to master their mindset.
Creating sustainable laboratory practices requires a shift in mindset - from a short-term, overwhelmed attitude to a long-term, environmentally conscious approach. By addressing your mindset, everybody can lead the way in driving positive change for both yourself and the planet.
Every situation is different. Exactly for that reason you got the thinking machine between your ears. Addressing your mindset is essential for creating specifically the practices you need in your field. Where else do come all the solutions from?
Essentially, your mindset is like a muscle - the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. By mastering your mindset, you can cultivate a sense of resilience, adaptability, and inspiration that will make your research spark
Join our events to learn more about how to take control over your mindset and learn all the in depths tips & tricks
We are working on an online platform to share all the information and content with you - if you like, sign up for our email list to stay updated!
Instead of being feel-good coaches, we understand that achieving success and creating a positive impact on the planet requires more than just abstract concepts of a “mindset”.
We provide a framework to understand with specific actions and tools.
To be positive is often hard because it requires you to trust yourself. We want to show you how to believe in your training and how to develop trust your own path.
To us, sustainability is a process, not an end. It requires ongoing effort and improvement. This is why we are here and invite you to do a journey with us.
You can be clever or powerful ... But the smartest and strongest you are with others.
– All those require effective and efficient communication –
Especially for sustainable actions we need to talk powerful, precise and compelling. There will be many skeptics but we show you how to bring your point across!
We know exactly what idea we have in mind, but others may not. To help them understand your plan, passion, or motivation, you need to be able to guide them through your thought process. This is especially important if you want to share a sustainable protocol. Here is an example from our content:
To enhance your ability to explain things, you can take two immediate steps:
1) Structure your presentation. For instance, start with the main point you want to convey. Then, explain why you want to communicate that particular point. Finally, provide the necessary information about the topic.
2) Try to view things from your audience’s perspective. Ask yourself whether they have all the facts and information you believe they do. If you think they might have some knowledge gaps, make sure to clarify what they need to know. Additionally, take their emotions into account. They may be nervous, distracted, or interested in an aspect that you have overlooked. Therefore, ask yourself, “What are they seeking?” since they often want more than just information.
Convincing others is one of the most crucial skills that people can develop. Essentially, if you can persuade, you can achieve whatever you strive for. That is why we focus so much on this topic. In short, you will become much more effective at persuasion when you keep three things in mind:
Share your passion. When you talk about a topic that is important to you, don’t be intimidated! Inject all your emotions into your voice – this will make your counterpart feel that you mean what you say.
Although it may seem obvious, clearly explain how your counterpart benefits. Help them understand why they should do what you suggest.
Don’t shy away from doubts. If you think the person you’re talking to has some concerns, address them and resolve them. Ignoring the issues won’t help.
Here is an example: Why not try to use fewer pipette tips today by reusing the same tip when you can’t contaminate your samples? By using strategies like this, we can optimize protocols and reduce plastic waste by up to 80%. Yes, that’s right – without compromising the quality of the experiments! You may doubt your impact, but remember that even saving one pipette tip today can save 365 tips in a year – that’s equivalent to three tip boxes.
As Chris Voss wonderfully explains in his book “Never Split the Difference” (one of our must-reads!), you have to understand your counterpart before you can communicate efficiently with them. You might assume all sorts of things, such as that they’re interested in reducing their environmental impact or that they’re motivated by working less and achieving more. But what if you’re wrong? Then your entire argument might be correct but not important to the other person. Therefore, try to confirm your assumptions by letting your opponent express how they really feel. Don’t hold back from asking questions until you truly understand what drives this person and what is preventing them from making changes.
Let’s be honest, you will not always succeed right away. You will not be able to convince every single researcher to join your green passion. That’s why we’re here to help you not give up, but to keep going. Finding out is closely related to understanding your counterpart, but it goes one step further. Even when you understand the issues they might face, you should find out why the other person thinks they cannot overcome them. Find out what resources they haven’t used yet. Discover things that even your counterpart wasn’t aware of. Pay attention to the little details that only the experts ask for.
Ultimately, the goal is to make a real change. We do all of this to actually have an impact – that’s what really counts. Therefore, you haven’t succeeded until you’ve succeeded. This might sound strange. What we mean is that before you end a conversation, make sure you agree on how to proceed. Set clear “checkpoints” that you can review. Be aware that many people want to be more sustainable and will readily agree to move in this direction. Still, we have often experienced that noble undertakings fail because people miss the first step. To avoid this, make sure that your counterparts know exactly what to do next and that you help each other achieve the “checkpoints” you set!
Never stop communicating without a clear agreement on the implications and actions when the outcome is important to you!
Do not even consider to fightalone – there are many to help you.
And we show you how to get connected.
· Overcoming Insecurity
· Inspiration in Conversations
· Mastering Collaboration
Finding people with a similar drive will make you experience the enourmous power of shared dreams and goals.
You need help? You need advice? You need collaborators? Whatever it is, your network is the best partner to ask.
Get input from people with similar aspirations – they might have mastered challenges you currently face.
Here, in America, you can find other leading figures in green laboratory work, whether it be my green lab, which promotes the green movement in laboratories and companies, or institutions such as the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories. Additionally, there is an amazing network available at Green Your Lab and a plethora of information on the Labconscious website.
Interestingly, in Europe, there is an initiative aimed at transforming approximately 86 institutes into sustainability hubs, namely the Max Planck Sustainability Network. Additionally, there is the Sustainable European Laboratories Network, and you can also get in touch with individuals such as Kerstin Hermuth-Kleinschmidt who are interested in expanding sustainable actions in research.
This movement unites the entire world, it is not limited to highly industrialized regions. Through the International Union for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Trainee Initiative, we have been able to bring the idea of sustainable practices to Africa. Inspired by Cintia from South Ameria, check your curriculum; you might find more green classes available than you think.