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Today's Lesson: Writing Reports On Sustainability
Tips and Tricks on how to go about it efficiently
Number Of The Day
Based on an international search for sustainability programs conducted by RAND, there are approximately 19 initiatives that assist researchers in becoming more sustainable. They also identified about 25 tools designed to make laboratories greener.
#19
Sustainability Reporting For Grants
How can you go most efficiently about the reports funding bodies require?
At first, approach these reports similar to writing grants. If you figured out what counts in grants, you will have a great foundation for writing these reports.
1. Understand the Scope
Don’t overcomplicate it.
Just like grant writing, remember that not everyone will have the interest or time to read this section thoroughly. Focus on writing something convincing rather than worrying about every detail.
This approach avoids confusion and creates a positive impression. If the reader is confused, they will feel frustrated and search for missing categories. Just as you look for positive aspects about people you like, readers will appreciate clarity and organization.
4. A Checklist For You
Here is a longer list of actions you can use for inspiration or to ensure you haven't forgotten anything:
5. Writing Tips
As you might have guessed, the dots have the same color – however, the contrast makes us think differently. And even crazier example!
Your readers are likely new to sustainability, so keeping it general is sufficient for now.
Keep it simple, start with the general topic, and then provide specific examples - aka using a deductive method.
Use contrasts to show the difference between past practices and current improvements. This technique helps clarify your points, especially when discussing specific methods.
And, do not forget to use numbers whenever possible.
An example: In terms of equipment, we focus on A) Freezers, B) HPLCs, C) Fume Hoods.
A) Freezers: Our laboratory has 5 ultralow freezers. Previously, there were no sustainability guidelines, so we created a strategy to run them as sustainably as possible. We set the temperatures to -70°C, established an annual defrosting schedule, cleaned coils, removed dust from compressors, and implemented software for sample organization. This reduced our energy consumption by about 40% year on year.
B) HPLCs: ...
Applying The Knowledge
For now, be general and easy to understand, highlighting single actions that are impressive. As sustainability becomes more crucial, your certification will cover the details.
To save time later on, consider creating online accessible Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This not only creates lasting and generalized impact in your laboratory but also provides a reference for your reports.
In the end, this is a great exercise to get you trained in sustainability and writing about it. Understand how important sustainability is for you (internally), how to describe what you are doing (externally), and what you can improve or plan to do (both internally and externally).
Upcoming Lesson:
A Look Into The Future – How Sustainability Will Develop
Asking You
How long does it take for a freezer to reach -60°C after it fails (and is set to -70 initially)?
Personal Note From Patrick, The Editor Hi Reader, preparation or action? Obviously, one cannot succeed without the other. But talking about preparation is often underappreciated because most people want action as fast as possible. Yet this impatience can lead them to achieve less in the end: Today's Lesson: How To Prepare For Change What we can do to pave the way for sustainability Number Of The Day Sometimes we have to be patient. Waiting for the right moment is hard, but often worth it....
Personal Note From Patrick, The Editor Hi Reader, have you ever changed a running system? It’s not a good idea. I've never done it in research, but I’ve unfortunately done it outside of it. However, changing the system at the right time is one of the best ideas - and this subtle difference is important. Let’s find out how to drive change safely and why it’s more a question of tactics than science: Today's Lesson: How To Drive Change Safely Tactics and insights on how to make processes greener...
Personal Note From Patrick, The Editor Hi Reader, what temperature are your freezers set to? Most often, there is concern about setting freezers to -70°C. One argument is power outages - however, this only gives you 2–4 hours until a -80°C freezer reaches -70°C. The other major concern is sample degradation... Let’s discover what the literature says: Today's Lesson: Is Storage at -70°C Safe? Reviewing the literature on low temperature storage Number Of The Day If you set your freezer from -80...
