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UVA's Groundbreaking Sustainability Plan: A New Era for Biomedical Engineering
The University of Virginia's Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) has launched a transformative 2025-2030 Sustainability Plan, marking a pioneering moment within the academic sphere. This initiative aims to implement sustainability best practices across five critical areas: sustainable labs, waste management, training, curriculum development, and research advancement. With scientific laboratories being among the most energy-intensive spaces on campus, the initiative is crucial for achieving UVA's broader 2030 Sustainability Goals.
Celebrating Community Engagement and Innovation
At the launch event, more than 100 community members gathered in the MR5 courtyard to celebrate this milestone with ice cream and collaborative spirit. BME department chair Dr. Shayn Peirce-Cottler highlighted that this inaugural Sustainability Plan is tightly interwoven with BME's mission to advance healthcare. The event also saw the presentation of the first BME Sustainability Award to Cheryl Borgman, a dedicated champion of sustainability within the laboratory environment.
From Vision to Action: The Role of Student Leadership
Under the initiative's guiding hand, the Graduate Biomedical Engineering Society (GBMES) has been instrumental in fostering a culture of sustainability. Since the appointment of the first sustainability chair in 2021, faculty, students, and researchers have united to join the Green Labs Program, which promotes safe and environmentally friendly research practices. Recognizable leaders like Noah Perry, Tor Breza, and Sam Crowl have propelled this mission forward, earning the group a UVA Sustainability Leadership Award in 2023. Their collective efforts have created a sustainable movement that extends well beyond the classroom.
A Vision that Inspires: Looking Ahead
The ambitious goals set forth by the sustainability committee include hosting zero waste events and guiding every BME lab toward Green Labs certification. Co-chaired by BME executive assistant Lena Zell and assistant professor Chris Highley, the sustainability committee looks beyond immediate impacts to encourage broader environmental responsibility across departments. As they carry this vision into the future, they not only strengthen BME's sustainability efforts but also serve as a beacon of inspiration for other academic departments at UVA and beyond.
Making Meaningful Impact Together
The essence of the BME Sustainability Plan lies in community engagement and collective action. The plan is structured to ensure that each member—students, faculties, and lab managers—has a role to play in improving environmental outcomes. With a strong emphasis on collaboration, the initiative showcases how shared goals can lead to substantial change, emphasizing that sustainability is truly a collective responsibility.
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