Help your lab reduce its environmental footprint, and come learn about Penn's Green Labs commitment. Hear from lab staff who have gone through the commitment process about their experiences and specific sustainability initiatives within their labs. Our panel represents diverse labs across campus and will be comprised of:
Emily is a 4th year PhD candidate in the Microbiology department. She works in the Abt lab where she studies host epithelial defenses against the intestinal pathogen, Clostridioides difficile. Her lab was Green Labs certified about a year ago and she currently serves on the Steering Committee. She also serves on the board for the Penn Society for Psychedelic Science and is highly involved in the Fontaine Society and Restorative Practices at Penn. Apart from school, Emily spends much of her time playing with her cats and gardening.
Lab description: The Abt Lab investigates interactions between the microbiome and the immune system in the context of infectious disease.
Sevile G. Mannickarottu is the Director of the George H. Stephenson Foundation Educational Laboratory and Bio-MakerSpace (https://belabs.seas.upenn.edu) in Penn Engineering's Department of Bioengineering. Sevile is also a Penn Engineering alumnus, and received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Penn.
The Bio-MakerSpace combines Bioengineering's educational lab space with an open MakerSpace, encouraging a free flow of ideas, creativity, and entrepreneurship between Bioengineering students and students throughout Penn. This interdisciplinary lab is designed for work involving testing and prototyping for biomolecular, chemical, electrical, materials, and mechanical engineering. While the lab has scheduled classes, it is open to all Penn students to work on their own projects.
Sarah Reidell is the Margy E. Meyerson Head of Conservation in the Penn Libraries where she leads and manages the Steven Miller Conservation Laboratory. received an MLIS and Certificate of Advanced Studies in the Conservation and Preservation of Library and Archival Materials from the University of Texas and a BA in Anthropology from Bryn Mawr College. A conservator of rare books, paper, and parchment and Fellow of The American Institute for Conservation (AIC), she held previous appointments at The New York Public Library and in the Harvard University Library’s Weissman Preservation Center. Sarah created and co-leads an Ivy Plus Conservation alliance for conservation programs at 13 major research universities and the informal CLAMP (Conservators at the Library and Museum at Penn) which fosters cross-campus information sharing and collaboration.
LAB DESCRIPTION: Established in 2016, the 3200sqft state-of-the-art Steven Miller Conservation Laboratory is responsible for the long-term protection and stability of the Libraries' impressive special collections. Our facility is the first conservation lab in the history of Penn Libraries and is equipped with specialized tools and equipment that conservators need to treat collections, create mats and mounts for exhibits or loans, prepare fragile materials for digitization, and support Preservation program activities like disaster response and recovery. The lab has adjustable work tables for improved ergonomics and flexible arrangements; vented fume extraction trunks and hood; dedicated chemical room for working safely with solvents and acids; vacuum suction table to perform tasks such as flattening or removing disfiguring stains from a manuscript or print; stereo binocular microscope; digital cutting machine; and repurposed historic craft tools and equipment like book presses and sewing frames. The lab plays a unique role in the Libraries' vibrant pedagogical activities with the Penn community by enriching a deeper understanding of materials and structures through class visits, symposia, workshops, and events. The Steven Miller Conservation Laboratory was an early partner of the Penn Green Labs initiative and is committed to greening our laboratory practices to support Penn’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 3.0.