Sustainability Working Group

Working Together for a Sustainable Future

About us

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Who We Are

Sustainability Working Group is a grassroots cross-institute initiative of the Biology Centre CAS. We are a passionate group of scientists and staff dedicated to making the Biology Centre a more sustainable work place.

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Our Mission

We bridge the gap between management and the lab. By working with both directors and individual teams, we suggest and implement sustainable changes.

Our Core Goals​

Energy & Water

Implementing smart solutions to reduce our daily consumption in labs and offices.

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Waste & Recycling

Shifting from “disposable” to “circular”—improving recycling systems and lab waste management.

Volunteers organize recyclables into glass, paper, and plastic bins to promote eco-friendly practices.

Biodiversity & Campus

Turning our campus into a living laboratory with flowerbeds, flowering lawns, small pools, biowaste solutions, and eco-friendly green spaces.

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Conscious Procurement

Prioritizing recycled materials, local vendors, and ethical workshops.

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Sustainable Commuting & Travel

Encouraging colleagues to choose to bike, walk, or use public transport, and prioritizing virtual meetings to reduce our carbon footprint.

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Personal Impact & Lifestyle

Empowering every member of the BC to make high-impact daily choices—from reducing meat consumption at the canteen to eliminating single-use plastics in our breakrooms.

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Our team

  • Anne Daebeler (ISBB)
  • Petr Macek (HBU)
  • Andres Alberto Salazar Fillippo (ISBB)
  • Vojtěch Tláskal (ISBB)
  • Irena Vacková (TAS)
  • Magdalena Wutkowska (ISBB)
  • Veronika Prantlová (PARU)
  • Jan Kubečka (HBU)
  • Jitka Farská (ISBB) 
  • Hendrik Andreas Küpper (UMBR)
  • Maria Alícia Lemus Toledo (HBU)
  • Jiří Tůma (ISBB)
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our work

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  • Preparation of a sustainability checklist for laboratories and PIs
  • Analysis of the checklist results and preparation of recommendations for the directors’ meeting
  • Contributions to the BC newsletter to promote more sustainable everyday practices (e.g. Freezer Challenge, Fume Hood Challenge)
  • Promotions and activities of an Earth Day  to raise awareness of environmentally responsible everyday decisions
  • Participation in the Green Challenge initiative to support people who choose to travel to and from work in more eco-friendly ways than their own car
  • Proposals (and implementation) of modifications to the BC area into a species-rich, more climate-resistant, and environmentally and relaxation-friendly place.
  • Searching for (and participating in) projects that bring environmental bonuses, PR attractiveness, and financial support for BC.

Get Involved

Do you want to help transform BC into a more sustainable institution? 

We are looking for motivated colleagues to help us:

  • Think if our activity is done in the most nature friendly way.
  • Bring their own ideas on how to improve sustainability at the BC.
  • Minimize waste and maximize recycling in our labs.
  • Save energy through better habits and technology.
  • Improve the work environment with more greenery and well-being.
  • Promote sustainable food options on campus.
  • Make our voice heard in strategic negotiations with management.

Whether you have a specific idea or just want to help with ongoing projects, we want to hear from you!

Sustainability isn’t just a management strategy—it is a collective culture built on thousands of small, daily decisions. Whether you are at the lab bench, in the office, or at the canteen, your individual choices define our institutional footprint.

Every Action Counts

We believe that a sustainable institution is built from the bottom up. By joining Sustainability Working Group, you aren’t just signing up for meetings; you are becoming part of a community that values:

  • Individual Empowerment: Discover how your small daily decisions contribute to the change of the way of thinking. 
  • Collective Impact: Help us prove that scientific excellence and environmental responsibility go hand-in-hand.
  • Shared Knowledge: Learn new, efficient ways to run your lab and office that save time, budget, and resources.
  • Influence: Have your voice heard. We actively bridge the gap between staff ideas and management strategy, ensuring your suggestions for a sustainable campus reach the right ears.

We need your ideas, your energy, and your voice. 

JOIN US:

greenbc@bc.cas.cz