Green*tips at the INP: sharing good laboratory practices in sustainable development

The INP: The Institute of Neurophysiopathology, based on the Timone campus in Marseille, is very interested in sustainable development issues. The laboratory, which includes more than a hundred employees, convened an action group on this subject, globally supported by the staff, at the origin of various ecological initiatives. Just like Thomas Chaigne from the Fresnel Institute, whom we interviewed for the March newsletter, the INP’s Sustainable Development representative, Louise Greetham, regularly makes proposals to the management!

Louise agreed to be part of the NeuroMarseille “NeuroGreen” working group which gathers all the SD managers of the 9 laboratories, plus those of the associated teams of the MMG, the ISM and the Fresnel Institute!

When we talk about ecology, we have to keep in mind that the challenge is to set up actions simple enough to carry out so as not to be painful. Thus, at INP, recycling containers for cardboard have been placed in each wing at strategic points to facilitate sorting. The laboratory also recycled its plastic bottles until recently, thanks to the collaborative platform YoYo Marseille which rewarded its members with a points system. But this one had to suspend its activity in 2021 during the containment. The community of members is hoping for its return soon.

To learn more about the willingness of everyone to participate in the lab, Louise has also surveyed the potential of more recycling (paper, cardboard, batteries or light bulbs…). Obtaining a majority of positive votes on most recycling proposals, she observed that the desire to collaborate is reel at the INP!

In addition to the recycling part, the poll also dealt with the proposals to calculate the energy cost of specific experiments, install a bicycle shelter on the Timone campus and participate in a “Fresque du climat” workshop (a fun quiz to raise awareness of climate change issues). If the calculation of the energy cost and the workshop only received a part of the votes, the idea of installing a secure bicycle shelter received the consent of nearly 60% of the voters. The presence of locked devices can definitely have an incentive effect on the adherence to cycling and thus increase it.

Very often, projects are restricted by the cost and the infrastructure that must accommodate them: the lack of space on the Timone campus is problematic. Nevertheless, the results of the survey (carried out not only at the INP but also at the INT, INS and CRMBM) were transmitted by NeuroGreen to the Dean who validated the project: the DEPIL (Direction d’Exploitation du Patrimoine Immobilier) is currently working on it.

Louise continues: “when the central services cannot act, the ideal would be for the laboratories to mutualize their actions to benefit the greatest number. There are also alternatives on the association side, and organizing a “village of associations” could be interesting”. We will see why.

Motivated and dynamic, Marseille’s environmental associations are numerous in organizing awareness-raising events, as was the case the “Festicités” festival of the Marseille en Transition collective or for the LOOK UP Marseille climate demonstration last March, for example. Well-known associations such as Greenpeace or Les Villes en transitions are often present to promote these actions, but they are not the only ones. Alternatiba, the citizen movement for climate and social justice, is also a prominent actor in raising awareness about climate change in Marseille, with many resources, news and members organized in groups throughout France. The Zero Waste association (present in Marseille), which pursues the objective of zero waste and zero waste on the territory, organizes regular meetings with its members and raises awareness of recycling with networks such as schools or shops. Finally, the group of scientists Atécopol (for Atelier d’écologie politique) also has a branch in Marseille with a dedicated group. Its objective is to build a community of scientists and conduct studies to work with society on ecological methods.

If all these associations have a widespread impact through their initiatives, they are also open to partnerships with public institutions. An associative event at the university could thus be an opportunity to raise awareness and motivate laboratories in their ecological aspirations. Even if, according to Louise Greetham, who knows these associations, many of their members already come from Aix-Marseille University.

NeuroMarseille and its laboratories have the will to get involved in changing behaviour in the face of climate issues. With its new format, Green’tips offers to disseminate information on what is being done, what can be done and raise awareness through the neuroscience community. Come back soon for a new article on good practices in laboratories! To join the NeuroGreen think-tank, write directly to gabrielle.gallon@univ-amu.fr.