EHS Green Labs Leader Badge

Are you a UT Austin student researcher looking to learn more about lab sustainability? The EHS Green Labs Leader badge was created just for you! This program provides student researchers with opportunities to learn about lab sustainability while they enhance their communication, leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. 

How does it work?

The EHS Green Labs Leader Badge is a self-paced certification program. The program is administered through Canvas and comprises six different modules that provide background materials (readings and/or videos) on a specific topic. Some of the modules require participants to complete a hands-on activity in their lab. The estimated time to complete each module is listed below. 

• Module 1- Introduction to Green Labs (1 hour)
• Module 2- Defining Sustainability (1.5 hours)
• Module 3- Waste Minimization (2 hours- not including time working in the lab for 20 hours while collecting waste)
• Module 4- Energy Conservation (4 hours)
• Module 5- Green Chemistry (2 hours)
• Module 6- Career Readiness (2 hours)

After completion of the program, participants will be awarded a digital badge. The badge is a verifiable digital record of certification completion that contains metadata with detailed information about the EHS Green Labs Leader program. Badges can be shared on social media sites such as LinkedIn, via email signature, and on resumes and CVs. Learn more about the UT Austin Digital Badging Initiative here.

Who can participate?

The EHS Green Labs Leader Badge was created for UT Austin undergraduate and graduate students working in a UT Austin research lab. If this does not describe you but you are still interested in completing the badge, please reach out to greenlabs@austin.utexas.edu.

Why should I participate?

Through the EHS Green Labs Leader Program, participants will: 

• obtain a thorough understanding of lab sustainability.
• build their resume or CV. Completing this program will allow participants to stand out from the crowd and show future employers they did not just talk about sustainability but took actions towards helping maintain a more sustainable lab. 
• be presented tools to help better articulate their career competencies and skills to future employers.
• be given an outlet to hone communication, leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while acquiring knowledge about lab sustainability.
• gain a sense of accomplishment by knowing their actions are helping to make research more sustainable. 

How long will it take me to complete?

We estimate it will take participants a total of 12.5 hours to complete the program. The program is self-paced.

How can I get started?

To get started, fill out this form. Once a Green Labs team member receives your form, we will reach out to the Principal Investigator (PI) or lab manager (must be faculty or senior staff member) of the lab you work in. Your PI or lab manager will need to give permission for you to participate in the EHS Green Labs Leader Badge. Receiving permission from your PI or lab manager to participate in the EHS Green Lab Leader Badge does not allow you to make any physical changes in your lab. You will need to receive specific permission from your PI or lab manager before making any physical changes in the lab.

Questions?

Please email greenlabs@austin.utexas.edu with any questions.