Meet the My Green Lab Team: Christina Greever, Sustainability Program Manager

We're thrilled to introduce you to Christina Greever, My Green Lab's Sustainability Program Manager! Science has been a constant in Christina's life since working through her bachelor’s degree at Lewis & Clark College, and for the past five years she's spent a great deal of time learning how to motivate behavior change to promote sustainable actions. "Moving the sustainability needle in the scientific sector is a sure-fire way to have a positive impact."

Along with her work as in lab sustainability, Christina is an avid hiker and reader, and loves spending time outdoors - especially with her Goldendoodle Artemis! Read on to learn more about Christina and her sustainability journey.
 
Please tell us a little bit about yourself & your background

Howdy! I’ve been a part of the lab sustainability community for just over five years now, starting out as Program Assistant and Outreach Coordinator for the Green Labs Program at the University of Colorado Boulder. In 2018 I relocated to Salt Lake City while continuing to work remotely for CU Green Labs, while also starting part-time work for My Green Lab doing social media marketing. My role has changed a lot with My Green Lab over the past two years, landing me on our programs team currently. Prior to joining the green labs world I did some undergraduate molecular biology research at Lewis & Clark College, and had a Howard Hughes Medical Institute internship at Oregon Health and Science University, which led to my first job out of college. I’ve also tried my hand in the research compliance world, supporting the animal research ethics committee at the University of Colorado Boulder before being hired by CU Green Labs. Science has been a constant in my life since working through my bachelor’s degree at Lewis & Clark, and I’m thrilled to remain engaged with this community by helping scientists see the many possible ways to change their behaviors and protocols so science and research have less environmental impact.
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I’ve spent a great deal of time over the past five years learning about how to motivate behavior change to promote sustainable actions. I have also embarked on a project with my colleague Star Scott of the University of Georgia to explore the many connections between social justice, equity, and the global scientific enterprise, which we hope will shed light on how green labs programs can better address the social impacts of how science is conducted today.  

Christina In Helsinki, Finland

What is your role at My Green Lab?
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I am our Sustainability Program Manager. I coordinate the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge, help with the MGL Ambassador Program, support Green Lab Certification, give talks at various public events, and overall support our many programs. I’ve been with My Green Lab for two years now, since January 2019, and within that time I’ve also done social media marketing for us, communications, and served as Operations Manager for a year. I just moved to the programs team in the last couple of months.

What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?

For me, it’s all about making the world a better place in whatever way I can. To foster and usher in a more hopeful future by being a part of robust solutions to large-scale planetary issues. Moving the sustainability needle in the scientific sector is a sure-fire way to have a positive impact – and I’m so thankful for the many wonderful people I’ve met along this journey.

What are your personal sustainability goals?

I try to be a conscious consumer, valuing items that are well-made and will last over the cheapest option. And I strive to reduce the plastic packaging I bring home with me from the grocery store. I try to lead by example within my social network by being conscious about what I buy and how I dispose of waste. I’d love to harness the wonderful sunshine we have in Utah by installing solar panels on my house in the next couple of years. I have a goal to compost as much of my organic food waste this year as possible – though of course reducing food waste is even better!

Christina with her Goldendoodle Artemis in Salt Lake City

What are your hobbies outside of work? 

I love getting outside into nature as much as possible, hiking year-round in Utah. I also enjoy camping, fishing, backpacking, spending time with my dog, traveling, mixing up a wicked cocktail, and continuing to learn about the world. I dabble in music, am re-learning to rollerblade (so much harder as an adult!), and hope to have my very first garden this year.

What are your favorite books?

I really enjoy reading. Some of my favorite books are:

• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
• Eva Luna and The Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
• Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
• The Kingkiller Chronicles (The Name of the Wind, Wise Man’s Fear) by Patrick Rothfuss – when will book three be published??
• Cod by Mark Kurlansky – I know, I know, a book about fish. It’s so good though! And a cautionary tale.

Where do you call home?

Home is now Salt Lake City, but I was born in Sunnyvale, CA, went to college in Portland, OR, and have also lived in Boulder, CO.

Hiking between Crested Butte and Aspen in Colorado