Dr. Maya Singh, a marine biologist studying coral reef health, embarked on a mission to minimise her research’s environmental impact. Her efforts yielded mixed results.

She successfully transitioned to using solar-powered underwater monitoring equipment, significantly reducing her reliance on fossil fuel powered vessels for data collection. She also implemented a strict “leave no trace” policy during fieldwork, minimising physical disturbance to delicate reef ecosystems.

However, challenges arose when attempting to reduce the environmental footprint of sample analysis. Shipping samples to distant labs often involved significant carbon emissions. To address this, she explored local lab partnerships, but found limited capacity and expertise.

Furthermore, her efforts to minimise plastic waste in sample collection were partially successful. She switched to biodegradable sample containers, but found they were not always suitable for long-term preservation, leading to potential data loss.

Dr. Singh also tried to implement a citizen science programme to reduce the frequency of her own field trips, but participation was lower than anticipated, requiring further outreach and engagement strategies. Her experience demonstrated that while sustainable research is achievable, it requires a flexible and adaptive approach, with ongoing evaluation and refinement of methods.