Advancing Safety in Teaching and Research
Workshop on Laboratory Safety
Virtual, May 3-5, 2021
About the Workshop
The 2021 Workshop provided a unique forum for researchers from academia, government laboratories, and industry to work together with EH&S experts and administrators from funding, regulatory and other organizations with the common goal of developing ideas to improve laboratory safety.
The specific objectives of the Workshop were:
- Identify means of engaging researchers in laboratory safety
- Identify best safety practices for teaching labs
- Explore ways in which graduate students can lead research safety efforts
Proceedings of the workshop are published in the Journal of Chemical Health and Safety.
Day 1 (May 3, 2021)
Introductory Remarks by Craig Merlic, Ph.D. (Executive Director of UC Center for Laboratory Safety and Professor of Chemistry, UCLA)
Laboratory Biosafety: The Leader's Role, Keynote Talk by David Franz, Ph.D. (Retired Army Colonel, Former Commander, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and former Deputy Commander of the Medical Research and Material Command)
Engaging Researchers in Safety by Colin Dimock (Assistant Vice Chancellor, EH&S, UCLA)
A Human Factors Perspective on Safety Culture by Caren Wenner, Ph.D. (Senior Manager, Weapons Infrastructure Program, Sandia National Laboratories)
Day 2 (May 4, 2021)
Welcoming Remarks by Imke Schroeder, PhD (Research Project Manager, UC Center for Laboratory Safety, UCLA)
Integrating chemical safety into the undergraduate curriculum: Can one person make a difference? by Sammye Sigmann (Senior Lecturer, Appalachian State University)
Using psychological science to promote a healthy safety culture in the laboratory by Stephanie Payne, Ph.D. (Professor, Psychological & Brain Sciences, Texas A&M)
Panel discussion on Student Safety Engagement
Moderated by Jessica Martin (Graduate Student, University of Connecticut)
Taysir Bader (Graduate Student, University of Minnesota)
Mario Cosio (Graduate Student, Texas A&M University)
Kate McKnelly (Lecturer in Chemistry, University of California at Irvine)
Megan Wasson (Graduate Student, Northwestern University)
Computational methods to predict physicochemical properties and toxicological endpoints of chemicals by Kamel Mansuri, Ph.D. (Staff Scientist, National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods)
Day 3 (May 5, 2021)
Welcoming Remarks by Colin Dimock (Assistant Vice Chancellor, EH&S, UCLA)
Summary Presentations by Workgroups:
Team A Laboratory Safety in the Teaching Lab
Team C Safety of Undergraduate Student in Research Labs
Team D Student-led Lab Safety Initiatives
Team E Laboratory Safety Coordinators/Managers
Team G-1 PI Engagement in Safety
Team G-2 PI Engagement in Safety
Team H Lab Inspections
Team I Laboratory-Specific Emergency Preparedness/Response Plans/ Planning for Research Continuity After Emergencies
Team L Academic-Industrial Laboratory Safety Initiatives
Team N Interdisciplinary Research
Team O Safety in Maker Spaces and Core Facilities
Conversation on the long-term impact of COVID-19 on academic life, research, and lab safety with Ken Smith (Executive Director, EH&S, UC Office of the President, Craig Merlic, Ph.D. (Executive Director of UC Center for Laboratory Safety and Professor of Chemistry, UCLA) and Mary Kirchhoff, Ph.D. (Executive Vice President, ACS Scientific Advancement Division)
Closing Remarks by Imke Schroeder, PhD (Research Project Manager, UC Center for Laboratory Safety, UCLA)
Safety Leadership Award by the UC Center for Laboratory Safety
Recognition of Lori Seiler, Director for Global Research & Development Environmental Health & Safety for The Dow Chemical Company, for leading the “Dow Safety Academy” which initiated and helped sustained the student grass roots safety organization at universities across the US.
Organizing Committee:
Michael Blayney (Executive Director, Research Safety, Northwestern University)
Marta Gmurczyk (Manager of Safety Programs, ACS)
Mary Kirchhoff (Education Division Director, ACS)
Jessica Martin (Graduate Student, University of Connecticut)
Craig Merlic (Executive Director, UC Center for Laboratory Safety)
Derek Newcomer (Chief, Technical Assistance Branch, Division of Occupational Health and Safety, NIH)
Imke Schroeder (Senior Research Project Manager, UC Center for Laboratory Safety)
Ken Smith (Executive Director, EH&S, UC Office of the President)
A big Thank You to:
Beth Kellman and Berni Fitzsimmons (UCOP Events) for hosting the Virtual Workshop
We are grateful to our sponsors who make the 2021 Workshop possible!
