1. Neuroimmunology-Munich
  2. Sustainability

Sustainability

grINIM is a volunteer-organized initiative that aims to make research at the Institute of Neuroimmunology (INIM) more sustainable.

As a sub-organization of the BMC Green, we implement relevant local changes that are applicable to the laboratories in our institute. Specifically, we focus on raising awareness and reducing consumption of energy, water, plastic materials as well as toxic reagents. To raise awareness, we introduce a sustainable action of the month (SAM) every month as a means to provide information and offer locally applicable solutions to reduce our consumption. For instance, closing the sashes of biological safety cabinets can reduce energy consumption significantly and prolong the lifetime of the ventilator (further details and other past SAMs are described in the following section). Precisely because research requires tremendous amounts of energy, water and other resources, it is our mission to find alternative solutions to reduce our environmental impact.

Please do not hesitate to contact us via email (grinim.bmc@gmail.com) if you would like to join our team. We are also grateful for your feedback and suggestions in person.

grINIm Team 2025

Current Team

Selia Baier - PhD Student

"Lab Smarter, Live Greener!"

I became part of grINIM to discover ways to make lab work (and home) more sustainable and to contribute to a greener work environment. When I'm cold at home, I swap a heating pad for my cat - she's the perfect eco-friendly heater.

Jan Bartosch - PhD Student

"Green is the new Black!"

Since my early study times, I became aware of the immense environmental impact of our Life Science sector and was happy to join grINIM to tackle these issues. It is amazing, how much we could already achieve at our institute to decrease our consumption of energy, water and plastic materials. Let's keep this ball rolling!

Victoria Böck - Lab Technican

"Because sustainability is important for our wonderful nature, allowing us to fully enjoy it."

I joined grinim to promote sustainability in my role as an institute technician and safety officer, helping others appreciate its value and, above all, to reduce plastic waste. Outside of the lab, I cycle a lot to enjoy nature. I want to contribute to preserving this wonderful world and freeing it a little more from environmental burdens every day.

Janine Kövilein - Postdoc

“Change often begins with the smallest adjustments and requires nothing more than choosing a starting point.“

Realizing how much waste is generated in scientific research, I joined grINIM to contribute to solutions that reduce this burden. By implementing sustainable research practices and innovations that minimize resource consumption, I am happy to be part of this team that is driving change within our field.

Sarah McGrath - Postdoc

"Because good science should not cost the earth."

I joined grINIM because I was becoming increasingly aware of how much waste my research was generating. I wanted to find practical, lower-waste ways of doing good science. Outside the lab, I grow some of my own fruit and veg to keep snacks fresh and very local.

Sophia Klein - Medical Student

„As researchers, sustainability is our responsibility.“

I joined grINIM because sustainable practices are essential in clinical and experimental research. As researchers, we carry a particular responsibility to critically reflect on our use of resources and to minimize environmental impact. Especially in everyday laboratory work, I see many opportunities to contribute to sustainability through more conscious use of materials and energy, as well as through small structural changes.

Alumni

 Alina Huth

Daniela Beckmann

Emily Russell

Kataryzna Plesniar

Paula Sanches

Samantha Ho

Shinjini Bandopadhyay

Stephan Winklmeier

Tanja Habereder

XiaoQian Ye

Our Institute received the My Green Lab Certification in Platinum Level!

MGLC

The My Green Lab Certification program provides scientists with actionable ways to make their daily work in the laboratories more sustainable, to reduce costs and to preserve resources. It awards laboratories and research institutions that are driven to reduce their environmental impact for their efforts and helps them to keep their actions going as well as to implement more meaningful measures.

Recognized by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign as a key measure of progress towards a zero-carbon future, My Green Lab Certification is considered the gold standard for laboratory sustainability best practices around the world.

So far, more than 3.400 laboratories worlwide participated in the program. Within the LMU we are among the first institutes who received this certification.

grINIM Logo