The key to get people to act is to give them tangible incentives.
Too often, we see value in something and then communicate only a summarized abstraction.
The result? We end up wondering why others don’t take action.
To avoid this pitfall, today we’ll take a closer look at an initiative from the University of Michigan!
Today's Lesson: Initiating Action With Others
How to launch events that with effect.
Number Of The Day
Between 2011 and 2024, approximately 12,700 kg of lab equipment was rehomed at the University of Michigan! I heard about Alexandria Galens, who was one of the main drivers behind establishing green practices, a proprietary certification that involved more than 150 labs, and a lab swap shop saving over $875,000.
12 700
Initiating Change Through Events
An inspiring example of how to tackle a big sustainability problem comes from the University of Michigan, where once a year a lab swap shop is hosted.
What’s Behind a Swap Shop?
Too often, unused equipment takes up valuable space in laboratories.
While donating or selling it on the secondary market are options, there’s also a more local opportunity: exchanging equipment with other groups on the same or nearby campuses.
In a vacant former lab space, they collected old equipment from various groups and invited others to take what they needed.
In fact, also the University College London (UCL) has a swap shop but for clothes – maybe this might inspire you to host one yourself. If it does not, here is a link to Lab Swap, a company reselling lab equipment!
Let’s discover which features of this initiative you can use for driving change:
Experiencing Over Knowing
Why organize an event if you can have a website and let scientists chat among themselves? Why not cutting right to the chase?
This initiative knew that in order to motivate action, we need to get people involved. Let’s unpack this:
Remember the Nintendo Wii, the gaming console that made even the elderly start to enjoy video games? The movement is immersive; however, it is also more intuitive than learning abstract buttons on a controller (just like inspecting a freezer is more intuitive than reading a text about it). The graphic is adapted from this article.
Due to numerous scams we all have encountered, we’ve become highly skeptical. The team at the University of Michigan, however, knew that trust is built when people can engage firsthand.
While looking at a freezer and opening its door isn’t a full assessment of its mechanical state, people feel reassured when they can see and touch what they’re considering acquiring.
By the same token, it’s easily forgotten to check the compressor of the freezer, but accidently touching a weird looking stain will make you feel a tickling in your finger for the rest of the day.
Assume you urgently need a scale: missing that the scale on the left after its long life is 5% imprecise at the upper and lower scaling limit is easy. Putting the scale on the right into your laboratory is not.
Just like children: the desire for a candy they see in the supermarket is far stronger than if you were to give them a sales brochure.
This is the a FALSE Edgar Dale Pyramid, also known as the Cone of Experience. It is a model that represents different levels of learning retention based on the method of engagement. Importantly, please note that Dale did not initially provide specific percentages for retention rates which later adaptations of the model have added (apparently without solid empirical backing). Also, instead of read or hear, in the originial it is verbal symbols and visual symbols, respectively. You can learn more about it here.
Humans—Social Animals
Although a website for exchanging old equipment might contain all the necessary information, scrolling through it is hardly exciting.
But how about checking out what a swap shop might be?
In fact, you might have the chance to chat with your old friend there (or maybe your crush, or the colleague whom you have lent your favorite pipette)!
Where would you rather go? People do not just consider whether they will benefit from an event, but also how enjoyable/exciting the circumstances will be. Humans want to experience something, not simply get the job done.
And don’t underestimate the power of social proof. Seeing others participate creates trust. On top, if Dr. Biochemistry is taking old equipment, how can Dr. Microbiology miss out? Whether it’s trust or envy, people will always seek a connection to the group!
Leveraging Assets
Normally, unused empty space is just a waste of resources… However, what powerful asset it can be to give people a real life feeling of touching equipment?
Of course, not everyone has an empty room available to display old equipment, and time constraints can make it hard to organize swap shops regularly. However, the key is recognizing your individual assets.
Turning trash into an asset – this is a picture I took at a research center (VIB) in Ghent. It is a temporary art project to raise awareness of laboratory waste. You just got to be creative!
For example, if you enjoy coding or web design, create a website where, say, your mouse is a pipette—this would definitely catch people’s attention!
If your strength is in social networking, invite others to follow you through a "green lab day". Or, if you want to start a career as a medical advisor, go around labs searching for old equipment and “sell” it to other labs (just kidding).
Applying The Knowledge
Remember, people are skeptical. Sharing your ideas in an email or poster is good, but inviting others to observe your practice, discuss with them personally or sharing published data can go a long way toward dispelling doubts.
When it comes to social proof, never miss an opportunity to leverage it!
Social proof is powerful because it combines apparent empirical insight with peer pressure. Leaving the Product Review panel out significantly decreased sales, even though the reviews were never checked to see if they were from actual people. However, please note that this illustration and data come from a high school project!
Be creative. If you’ve held a workshop, meeting, or event, share who attended. Or share a memorable quote from someone there.
People are more likely to join when they see others have done the same — in essence, others do what others do.
Thinking that your circumstances prevent you from taking action is simply your brain's way of avoiding the perceived pain of failure.
Nevertheless, everyone has assets, they just got to be discovered.
And if a project doesn’t work out, remember, your CV will only list your successes, not your failures.
Upcoming Lesson:
How To Optimize Experimental Planning
How We Feel Today
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