S-Lab 2015 Conference and Awards highlighting world class science

7th July 2015

The 2015 S-Lab Conference will be held at the University of Leeds on 16-17 September. It is a unique not-for-profit initiative that showcases global best practice and improvement in laboratory design, operation and management.

Many of the conference sessions will be based on the 40 shortlisted applications for the 2015 S-Lab Awards, drawn from countries such as Australia, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, UK and the U.S.A.

Other significant features include an Awards Dinner celebrating the winners from the 40 entries representing 9 countries in 8 categories, an exhibition of 30-40 stands covering all aspects of laboratory design, operation and management, and tours of several University of Leed's laboratories.

Peter James, S-Lab Director, said that “The 2015 Conference and Awards show that laboratory design, management and operation are changing in response to new knowledge and technologies, competitive, financial and other pressures, and user expectations. The result is better research and teaching, more cost-effective operation – which can create more resource for actual science - and reduced environmental impact”.

Estates Staff

S-Lab's are able to offer free tickets to Estates staff if booked before 17 July. Both days have Estates/Facilities content to provide valuable information and CPD, whilst 16 September has senior manager content that is specifically aimed at Estates Directors and senior colleagues.

The three Conference keynotes on 16 September AM will all involve senior Estates/Facilities figures, from AstraZeneca (on their new Research & Development facility at Cambridge), NASA (one of the world’s largest employers of scientists and engineers), and the University of Leeds.

They are followed by a private senior managers working lunch hosted by the University of Leeds, and discussing topics of relevance to Estates Directors. Afternoon breakouts then include a HEFCE-led session on ‘Efficiency Agendas for Labs’, Michael Johnson – leader of the major Pirbright Institute redevelopment – on ‘Effective Project Management’, and Roger Bond on UEA’s new Medical Research and Education building.  

More generally, over 20 parallel sessions provide case studies of new and refurbished laboratories from all branches of STEM research and teaching (aquaria and marine science, biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, neuroscience, marine science, and physics) and include sessions from Australia, New Zealand and the USA as well as the UK (Cambridge, Cardiff, East Anglia, Edinburgh, Glasgow, King’s, Leeds, Lilly, Oxford, Pirbright and more).

Other Estates related sessions cover BIM and BMS in labs; containment and ventilation (including two masterclasses); effective briefing; energy efficiency in labs; designing for biosecurity; designing for industry collaboration; improving laboratory space utilisation; effective laboratory project management; space utilisation; specialised equipment needs e.g. autoclaves; and whole life costing. CPD certificates are available.

Bookings are now open for the Conference, Awards Dinner and the Exhibition. For more information, visit www.effectivelab.org.uk. View the full awards shortlist for 2015 here.