I²SL Goes Virtual

Because the health and safety of the sustainable lab community is our top priority, the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I²SL) has made the decision to offer our Annual Conference and Technology Fair virtually this year. And to ensure the safety and sustainability of our members’ labs, we’re bringing you the most topical presentations on ventilation, design, and resiliency to help current and future research facilities face the COVID-19 challenges ahead.

With two jam-packed days October 6 and 7, 2020, the I²SL Annual Conference offers over 80 presentations on the latest lessons learned and best practices for advancing safe and sustainable lab design and operation, including the following hot topics:

• Following a live plenary sessions on the unique mechanical considerations labs are facing during COVID-19, you’ll hear from industry experts during a session about how they are working to better prepare labs across the United States from future disruptions, from climate resiliency to the next pandemic, through planning, design, and construction processes.
• Research labs are at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19. During the conference you will have the opportunity to learn about one of the first research facilities in the nation to receive authorization from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to obtain specimens of SARS-CoV-2. The presentation will cover the key concepts and principles associated with ABSL-3 Biocontainment, as well as the unique design elements that make up a sophisticated animal research facility.
• Ventilation is essential for any laboratory, but you don’t have to give up energy efficiency and sustainability to have a high-quality ventilation system. Laboratory professionals from college campuses to private research facilities will share best practices for integrating safety, sustainability, and efficiency in lab ventilation systems through case studies and analyses during several ventilation and HVAC technical sessions.

If you can’t choose between two technical sessions, don’t worry! All presentations will be recorded and archived for later viewing. Access to recordings is included with your pre-conference registration, which means you can also earn Continuing Education Credits at your convenience. But you must pre-register now to get the early bird discounted rate, as recorded session access will be more expensive after the conference. Plus, your payment now helps I²SL plan the conference and keep our community connected.

If you have a particular design or equipment challenge, you can spend some one-on-one time with our dedicated vendors in the virtual Exhibit Hall. Online booths will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern October 6 and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern October 7, including six hours devoted just to exhibitor information. Utilize the audio or video chat functions to hear about the latest innovations in controls, cold storage, exhaust systems, and ventilation. Or fill up a virtual “swag bag” with documents, presentations, and videos for future reference.

Attendees still have the opportunity to network with other lab users, owners, facility managers, engineers, and designers throughout the conference. Visit the Virtual Lounge, open all day October 6 and 7, to connect with speakers you enjoyed for follow up questions on their presentation or engage in in-depth conversations with peers about your sustainability or COVID concerns.

No matter where or how we meet, I²SL will make sure the laboratory community remains connected in our commitment to sustainability. Register for the conference today to ensure you don’t miss out! Please check out the Conference FAQ page or email I²SL if you have any questions. We can’t wait to connect with you at the conference!