13.30, Friday 26 April 2024
Join our virtual career development event on Friday 26 April 2024, to learn from experts about ways individuals and organisations can make research greener, and to discover current initiatives.
The event will consist of a series of talks from different perspectives, including sustainability within clinical research and laboratory science, a case study from industry on lowering environmental impact, and various initiatives that can improve research sustainability. You will also get an insight into differing career pathways, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.
This event is open to everyone, with the aim of raising awareness and fostering discussions around sustainability in research. If you are new to this topic, we particularly invite you to join us to learn more and explore ways to take meaningful action.
Our Career Development events are free and open to everyone. They are particularly useful for early-career biomedical and health researchers, offering practical skills training and the chance to learn from peers and more senior academics. To hear about our upcoming events, funding schemes and other opportunities, please sign up to our bi-monthly careers newsletter.
The event will begin at 13.30 and finish at 15.30.
About out speakers:
Chair: Professor Judy Hirst FRS FMedSci, University of Cambridge
Judy is currently the Director of the Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MBU) at the University of Cambridge. She was appointed Professor of Biological Chemistry in 2018 and director of the MBU in 2020. She has been a Fellow of Corpus Christi College in Chemistry since 2011. Judy was elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 2018 and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci) in 2019.
Judy is the sustainability advisor at Corpus Christi College, a role in which she chairs the College sustainability committee and leads on green initiatives. She has successfully established a green team in her department, which won Green Impact bronze and silver awards in 2021 and 2022 and a gold LEAF award in 2023. She is also a member of the climate and sustainability action group at the Cambridge clinical school and chairs the university’s Sustainable Research Working Group.
Professor Katie Gillies, University of Aberdeen
Katie is an MRC (Medical Research Council) Senior Non-Clinical Fellow and Professor of Clinical Trials Methodology.
Her research interests focus on the design and delivery of participant centred trials, from point of initial contact through to feeding back results to individuals. She leads research in the application of behavioural science to trials methodology.
Dr Anan Hoest-Ragab, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult
Anan completed her BSc in Biochemistry and Chemistry at Roskilde University, Denmark, then went on to complete an MSc and PhD at the University of Cambridge at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. After her PhD, Anan moved Germany to work at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) to research functional genomics, and to the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology (LMCB) at University College London, specialising in stem cell research. She has also worked in medical affairs and market access, and health economic outcomes research in biotech. At CGT Catapult, she is senior programme manager for the Allogeneic Cell Therapies programme. Since 2020 she has also been Sustainability Manager for the business.
The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult) is an independent innovation and technology organisation committed to the advancement of cell and gene therapies with a vision of a thriving industry delivering life-changing advanced therapies to the world. Its aim is to create powerful collaborations which overcome challenges to the advancement of the sector. With over 400 experts covering all aspects of advanced therapies, it applies its unique capabilities and assets and collaborates with academia, industry and healthcare providers to develop new technology and innovation.
Martin Farley, UKRI
Martin is currently the UKRI Associate Director of Environmental Sustainability Programmes. He is the founder of the consultancy, Green Lab Associates, which helps researchers to reduce the energy and resources they use in their workspace. Martin also created the LEAF programme at UCL - the leading global standard in sustainable lab operations.
Martin started a career in research, however his personal and professional interest in sustainability led him to take an alternate career path focused on making labs more sustainable.