After nearly a decade, the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) Annual Conference will return to Boston, September 13-16, 2026, at the Encore Boston Harbor. Hundreds of lab owners, operators, designers, engineers, managers, builders, developers, and green labs professionals will gather for technical sessions, take local lab tours, engage with vendors at the Technology Fair, network with peers, and explore what Boston has to offer. With a record number of abstracts submitted, we are excited to offer four different tracks featuring over 100 presentations on system optimization, sustainable lab design, decarbonization, and sustainable science practices. Register for the conference by July 10 to take advantage of our early-bird rates!

I2SL’s Circular Economy for Labs Community of Practice (CoP) hosted the first I2SL Student Showcase to spotlight the work students are doing to promote sustainable laboratory practices at campuses, companies, or other organizations. Seventeen students gave brief, virtual presentations over Zoom on April 17 about how they are making laboratories more energy-efficient, resource-efficient, or environmentally sustainable. The showcase was also a friendly competition to win a scholarship to attend the I2SL Annual Conference. The winning presentation, Decarbonizing Process Steam at Stanford University, will be expanded upon by Stanford Ph.D. student Rachel Porter during a green labs in action session at the 2026 Annual Conference in Boston!

This spring, I2SL launched a free professional accreditation for those who wish to champion energy efficiency measures and Labs2Zero tools for improving lab buildings. I2SL’s first class of Labs2Zero Champions includes representatives from I2SL’s chapters across the United States, Australia, and the U.K. These 23 laboratory professionals are helping spread the word about how to save energy and operating costs at their own organizations and beyond.

PetroChina’s innovative Shanghai Research Institute Technology Research and Development Center received the I2SL Sustainable Laboratory Award for Excellence in Low Carbon Construction last year due to its innovative design and construction techniques. Using a modular mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) system and robotic technology, along with building information modeling (BIM), helped the project achieve a total reduction of 53.7 metric tons of carbon emissions compared to traditional construction methods while improving construction safety.

Most reflux condensers in laboratories require a continuous flow of cooling water to condense solvent vapor. The source of this water is often directly from the tap and is sent back down the drain, which can waste over 13,000 gallons of water per year per device. During the I2SL Student Showcase April 17, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), Anisha Karunakaran, described her work to reduce water waste from reflux condensers. Anisha’s solution was to develop a cost-effective water recirculating system that saves water and promotes safer lab operations.