We integrate sustainability into our research culture, infrastructure, and daily operations, recognizing the resource-intensive nature of life science research. Climate@MaxPerutzLabs, an ambitious group of institute members, supports this mission by promoting energy efficiency, waste reduction, and lower transport emissions. We ensure that world-class science is conducted with environmental awareness.
2025 was a big year for sustainability at the Perutz! From reducing energy use in the labs and promoting green mobility to many climate-focused lectures events – here’s a snapshot of how the Climate@MaxPerutzLabs initiative and the Perutz community turned ideas into action.
#MaxPerutzLabsGoGreen
It started as a small note of self-reflection on a poster at a conference, triggered a lively discussion about what "I as an individual" can do in terms of climate sustainability and led to a guest commentary invited by EMBO. In this article in EMBO reports Climate@MaxPerutzLabs discusses what is known about the negative impact of research on climate and how we can become part of a solution.
The Climate@MaxPerutzLabs initiative has received the Sustainability Award 2022 by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and the Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology for their work.
The prize is awarded every two years and recognizes innovative and sustainable projects at Austrian Universities and Higher Education institutions.
In order to share knowledge as well as learn from other universities, research institutes and companies, Climate@MaxPerutzLabs has kick-started the Vienna BioCenter Climate Lecture Series. Lecture topics covered by international speakers range from exchanging best practices on energy reduction, waste avoidance and other aspects of sustainability in the lab, covering all aspects of climate change.
The Climate@MaxPerutzLabs team has initiated various projects, ranging from analyzing plastic waste to reducing freezer energy consumption. Projects are generally part of a broader collaboration with the Vienna BioCenter Climate group and climate initiatives at other Austrian universities.
Teaching students of life sciences at all levels how to make lab work more sustainable, Climate@MaxPerutzLabs designs and leads practical lab courses. The course curriculum includes plastic analysis of the lab courses to show participants first-hand how to avoid, reuse, and recycle lab plastics. In cooperation with the Vienna BioCenter Scientific Training programme, Climate@MaxPerutzLabs also hosts the Climate Café for students, providing room for discussion on how labs can become more sustainable.
Pallavi Deolal
PostDoc 
+43 1 4277 52225
Room: 0.612
Lisa Kappel
Senior Lecturer
Room: 6.111
Lilian Nehlin
PostDoc +43 1 4277 56241
Room: 5.524
Katharina Schadl
Office Administration +43 1 4277 56200
Room: 5.115
Julius von Wirén
PhD Student +43 1 4277 54627
Room: 4.514
Nikola Winter
Technical Manager +43 1 4277 24065
Room: 3.501