Computing is an essential part of scientific research. From experimental to computational scientists and software developers, researchers rely, at different scales, on computing. However, the associated environmental impacts are a growing concern, especially considering the increased integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into research practices.

In this webinar, we will provide an introduction to the environmental impact of scientific computing, discussing questions such as: What are the different ways that scientific computing impacts the environment? How can we monitor and mitigate it for our own research? What are funders doing in this space? And is an efficiency-based approach really the best way to tackle this issue? 

We will then present two community-led initiatives: the Green DiSC certification scheme for sustainable computing and the ESCS (Environmentally Sustainable Computational Science) community forum, a recently established online community space for researchers across different disciplines who are interested in or working in sustainable computing. There will be a dedicated Q&A at the end of the talk.

The webinar will also act as an introduction to a series of free byte-sized events on sustainable computing, where we will dive into specific tools and attendees will have the opportunity to participate in short hands-on sessions. More details about the events can be found here: "Byte-sized green computing".

Funders

The organisation of this event is funded by Wellcome Trust (Green Algorithms Initiative), the University of Cambridge and NetDRIVE.

Who is this course for?

This webinar is suitable for everyone interested in the environmental impacts of scientific computing. No prior knowledge is required.

Outcomes

By the end of the webinar, you will be able to:

• Describe how computational biology has an impact on the environment
• Recall some actions scientists can take to reduce their environmental impact

DOI: 10.6019/TOL.impacts-sci-computing-w.2026.00001.1

This webinar took place on 12 October 2026. Please click the 'Watch video' button to view the recording.