Connecting Sustainable Scientific Research and Social Justice

Discussions of social justice and equity are often overlooked aspects of sustainability within the laboratory sustainability field. Many of us focus on environmental impacts of research and the economic benefits of sustainability innovation, but social justice and equity are often left out of the conversation. Experts have long defined sustainability as happening in the overlap of environmental, economic, social, and culturally sound processes, practices, and efforts. The goal of this presentation is to help participants start to make connections between laboratory facilities, research, and social justice issues, and to expand our understanding of sustainability. This session will help participants understand how social justice and equity relate to research spaces, with specific examples that can be shared and implemented in other labs. Researchers, lab managers, designers, engineers, architects, administrators, and green labs facilitators all have something to gain from this presentation, which will enable participants to be more aware of equity issues that are connected to the laboratory environment and the intensive resource use of the research enterprise. All levels of awareness of social justice issues are welcome.

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