IRR promotes wellbeing and sustainability for those who work at the Institute. Wellbeing at Work programmeThe Institute for Regeneration and Repair has developed a varied and inclusive programme of activities, all designed to promote and improve wellbeing in the workplace. This includes:Mental Health First AidersA trained group of staff and students, representing all areas of the Institute (group leaders, postdocs, students, core services, professional services), who are available to support, signpost and promote good mental health practise.Wellbeing at work eventsA monthly events programme promoting wellbeing. Current event topics include, ‘IRR Celebrates...’, Coffee Club and Crochet Club.Walking for wellbeingWeekly walks around the BioQuarter campus, departing from IRR North.YogaWeekly morning yoga classes for staff and students.IRR Kitchen GardenVolunteers regularly tend the IRR garden, growing a range of fresh produce. The IRR garden includes bee-friendly wildflowers and bird feeders to encourage wildlife. Organic waste, including fruit and vegetables, is collected and used as compost in the IRR garden.Sustainability Image The IRR North building was named the best new laboratory building in the 2013 S-Lab Awards, which recognise laboratories for sustainability, safety and success. IRR North was awarded the GOLD (OFFICE) Sustainability Award 2019.Sustainability and maximizing ways to reduce energy consumption were key in the design and construction of the building. For this reason, the plant has been located on a mezzanine level between the laboratory areas on the ground and first floors to maximise efficiencies within these heavily serviced spaces. Other features include daylight linking of light, heat recovery, rainwater harvesting, solar panels, and ground source heat pumps.The Tissue Culture team were awarded a 2018 bronze laboratory sustainability award. The award recognises labs which have demonstrated compliance with a wide range of sustainable lab practices. This article was published on 2024-11-25
