Back in April, the world celebrated World Laboratory Day, and Starlab launched a very special campaign – “Colours of Science”. For the campaign, a 2.10 x 1.70-meter painting was created by Moritz Etorena, a Hamburg-based artist, which showcases portraits of lab technicians from around the world. The idea behind the bright and colourful artwork was to bring visibility to the lab employees who work behind the scenes, performing essential work.
But Starlab did not stop there. The shortage of skilled staff in laboratories is a problem that has long been a concern. To address the matter Starlab launched an urban campaign, displaying bold posters around the streets of Hamburg to draw greater attention to the laboratory as a workplace. The aim? To make laboratory professions more attractive to the next generation. Starlab believes that can be achieved with their social media and podcast platforms which discuss how exciting and important lab work is, and how much fun the world of science offers to young people. They want to show that lab work is not all white or boring – it’s colourful, vibrant and intriguing. Most importantly, it helps all of us to build a better and greener future.
As a liquid handling expert, Starlab acts to support science and lab workers. Their next step will be to further present the artwork to the world with an exhibition tour. People can scan the QR code and find out the story behind the project. The Starlab Deep Dive podcast will be hosting the bright minds from the painting, asking them why they chose life sciences as a career path, and what tips and tricks they may have for the future scientists.
