Earth Day was founded in 1970. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin called for a nationwide demonstration in the spring of 1970 aimed to raise awareness of environmental issues. It worked. The first national Earth Day was April 22, 1970.
In November 2023, the Green Lab Initiative of the WCM Postdoctoral Association, RockEDU Lab and the Sustainability Committee of Rockefeller University, and the Climate Action Committee from MSKCC Postdoctoral Association joined forces to organize a Tri-Institutional (Tri-I) sustainability-themed Escape the Lab game.
The two leaders of the initiative, Juan and Fernanda.
Spearheaded by Weill Cornell Medicine’s Juan Rodríguez-Alcázar, Postdoctoral Associate in Pediatrics, and Fernanda Teixeira Subtil, Postdoctoral Associate in Medicine, the event took place at the RockEDU Lab - Rockefeller University, after many months of preparation. The goal was to increase researchers' awareness of the environmental footprint of labs and incentivize them to adopt more sustainable research practices.
The game consisted of six challenges that each team had to solve within 45 minutes to escape the lab. Each team had to make connections between clues and puzzle pieces to find solutions that led them to the next challenge and eventually escape the lab. The tasks demanded some wit, effective teamwork, eco-knowledge, and an open mind to rethink how we perceive the world of science.
Seven teams of 3-4 members representing the Tri-I community competed to be the fastest to escape the lab and win eco-friendly gifts. Congratulations to the winners: The Vandy Crew, the Liu Lab, and the Simonites! Big shout out to the rest of the teams: the Adiposcientists, the Prisoners of the Lab, the KRG Ladies, and the Lee Team, who also brought home some sustainable treats. The gifts were proudly sponsored by the WCM Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Rockefeller University Sustainability Committee, and MSKCC Postdoctoral Association.
Escape the Lab was not only a fun occasion to bond with fellow Tri-I colleagues but also a way to learn and adopt daily gestures that make us more sustainable at work! The event showcased that when science is coupled with teamwork and sustainability, it can break barriers to define a healthier and more equitable future for us all.
We look forward to the next edition!
