Launch Of Award Scheme And Conference

Competitive, financial and other pressures mean that research and teaching in universities, commercial, Government, health sector and other laboratories have to achieve more with less. The 2014 Conference and Awards scheme of the S-Lab initiative will highlight best practice in achieving this through more effective management of science facilities, leaner and more productive lab design, improved processes and workflows, enhanced technical support, and more effective use of IT and other technology. 

The Conference will be held at King’s College London on September 2-3 2014 and will provide a unique forum for key stakeholders such as science managers, estates and facilities, technical support, specialist services, suppliers and others to hear the latest developments and to network with a wider range of people than they normally experience. 

The Awards scheme is in its third year and recognises good practice and innovation from around the world in a range of areas, including design of new and refurbished laboratories, laboratory effectiveness, laboratory environmental improvement, laboratory informatics, best new laboratory product and other areas. Past winners of the UK categories are Edinburgh, Liverpool, London South Bank, Loughborough, Manchester, Newcastle, Plymouth, Sheffield Hallam and St Andrews Universities; Imperial College, London; Oldham Sixth Form College and University College, London. The winners of the 2013 International categories were the New Zealand Forestry Institute and the University of California, Irvine. The closing date for applications is 3 February 2014.

more about Conference and Awards

About S-Lab 

S-Lab is a response to the need to create more effective laboratories arising from financial, customer, user, regulatory and other pressures. It has been mainly funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and has its centre of gravity in universities. However, it now has growing involvement by commercial and public sector laboratories. S-Lab outputs include assessment tools, benchmarking, best practice dissemination, networking and other activities. They provide a unique opportunity for different laboratory stakeholders to learn from each other, and to engage in cross-functional and strategic thinking about their activities.

more about S-Lab