By SHS ES co-leads Harriet Bickley and Stephanie Greenwood-Davies The School of Health Sciences (SHS) Environmental Sustainability (ES) Champions Network, comprising staff and students, runs events throughout the year to help staff and students live, work and study...
Category: Environmental Sustainability (ES)
Why we’re warming up: a review of the freezer Chill Up movement
Why did some labs increase their ULT freezer temperatures? The move to raise ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezer temperatures began after the Faculty’s Environmental Sustainability Showcase 2023, which featured Martin Farley, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)...
The sustainable transition toward FBS alternatives: Greening cell culture
Blog by Helena (Huiyuan) Meng, third year PhD candidate, School of Biological sciences Trigger warning: This article discusses foetal bovine serum (FBS) sourcing and includes references to animal slaughter and animal welfare impacts. Have you ever stopped to wonder...
The RECLAIM project for sustainable healthcare and medical training
Tucked away on the third floor of the Stopford Building is the Manchester Surgical Skills and Simulation Centre (MSSSC), a state-of-the-art surgical theatre that supports training for medical students, resident doctors, and even experienced surgeons. Beyond its nine...
Students reimagine the future of healthcare at the Sustainability in Healthcare Conference
According to the NHS, 4 to 5% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the healthcare system. From excessive plastic packaging of medication to drugs used in anesthesia, there are many ways for hospitals, medical practitioners and patients to move...
Supporting sustainability in labs: reflections from LEAF auditors
What is LEAF? The Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) is a sustainability programme helping labs reduce their environmental impact without compromising research quality. Labs can earn Bronze, Silver or Gold awards by meeting criteria across areas like...
It’s In Our Nature: Celebrating Wildlife in April 2026
This April, the Social Responsibility Team is exploring how we can appreciate and enjoy biodiversity, wildlife and green spaces, and how it is In Our Nature to do so. From local wildlife to active travel, there are plenty of events and observances this month that...
Making Manchester into a Swift City
Blog written by Rachel Zanetti, final-year Environmental Sustainability Project student. The University has set a target that by 2028, we will have increased the number of bug, bat and bird boxes on campus by 20%. This is listed in the in the University’s ‘Valuing...
262 kg donated through the Reverse Advent Calendar Campaign 2025
Most of us are probably familiar with the concept of advent calendars, where we receive something each day during the countdown to Christmas. But what happens if we flip the idea around and use it to give back to the community instead? The ‘Reverse Advent...
March Towards Zero Waste: Global Recycling Day and International Day of Zero Waste 2026
Waste is inevitable, and it arises from all parts of life – leftover food, broken electronics, packaging and containers, out-grown clothes, and the list goes on. As we enter the second half of March, two important days highlight the severity of this global...