Biosafety Month

October is Biosafety and Biosecurity Month

Biosafety Month at the University of Miami returns this year in October.  Started in 2014 by the National Institutes of Health, the National Biosafety and Biosecurity Month is a period during which institutions are encouraged to reinforce their attention to biosafety and biosecurity practices, policies, and procedures. Every October we observe Biosafety Month at the University of Miami with multiple events geared towards engaging our research base and providing educational opportunities. We’ll be hosting a number of events throughout the month which will include free food and awesome prizes.  In addition to online events, we also host physical events on each campus so everyone has a chance to join in and participate, see below for details and don’t forget to RSVP so we can plan food accordingly.

RSVP: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/3a03b3c38cd2481b816e8e9952e0c6cd

Planned events include the Annual Biosafety Month Kickoff Webinar where we cover essential topics on biosafety straight from your EHS Biosafety Team and we offer opportunities to win prizes, including the rare and highly sought after EHS designed Lab Research Notebooks.  Lunch & Learn events will feature presentations from a service provider to the University of Miami and typically includes lunch with even more opportunities to win prizes!

Lab Safety Champions of the Year Awards

During the Annual Biosafety Month Kickoff Webinar we’ll also announce the Lab Safety Champions of the Year awards, naming a winning lab for each campus.  To nominate a lab please submit a nomination via email to biosafety@miami.edu noting the lab you want to nominate and the reason why you believe they’re worthy of the award.  Note that labs that have previously won the award (Lab of the Year) are not re-eligible to win the award for 3 years.  While you may nominate your own lab, we do encourage labs to consider nominating colleagues that exhibit an exceptional safety culture. Nominations are due by October 1st at noon.

Schedule of Events

• October 3^rd Annual Biosafety Month Kickoff Webinar
  • Event Slide Deck
• October 10^th – Lunch & Learn Safety Presentation on the Medical Campus
  • Location: Lois Pope 7^th Floor Auditorium
  • When: Noon (12pm) to 1pm
  • RSVP: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/3a03b3c38cd2481b816e8e9952e0c6cd
• October 17^th – Lunch & Learn Safety Presentation on the Coral Gables Campus
  • Location: Nursing School 1^st Floor Conference Room
  • When: Noon (12pm) to 1pm
  • RSVP: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/3a03b3c38cd2481b816e8e9952e0c6cd
• October 24^th – Lunch & Learn Safety Presentation on the Marine Campus
  • Location: SALT Restaurant Conference Room
  • When: Noon (12pm) to 1pm
  • RSVP: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/3a03b3c38cd2481b816e8e9952e0c6cd
• October 30^th – Biosafety Month Keynote Speaker Event
  • Presenter: Daniel Eisenman
  • Topic: TBA
  • Zoom: https://miami.zoom.us/j/94469810642?pwd=0v6lMHYtGeYjkmxMqm54MxFkNpCovV.1

Annual Biosafety Month Lab Challenge

New this year is the Annual Biosafety Month Lab Challenge.  Every lab has a chance to complete the bingo card linked below and submit it by the end of the month of October for a chance to win the Biosafety Month Lab Challenge award.  Completed entries can be emailed to biosafety@miami.edu.

• 2025 Annual Biosafety Month Lab Challenge Card

Biosafety Month Keynote Speaker Event

One last new addition to this year's activities is the Biosafety Month Keynote Speaker Event.  For this event  invite well-known and influential members of the biosafety community to present on a topic pertaining to biosafety.  This year the event will be online through Zoom.  We look forward to seeing you on the 30th.

• When: October 30th, 2025
• Who: Daniel Eisenman
• Where: https://miami.zoom.us/j/94469810642?pwd=0v6lMHYtGeYjkmxMqm54MxFkNpCovV.1