Will Lav Lab develop new kinds of toilets and sinks?Not exactly. Already, lots of good technologies exist, here in the U.S. and globally. However, many have been limited in their geographical scope, and aren’t familiar beyond their current niche application. They may not be well-understood, and they may need to be adapted. Our work involves creating conversations among key players: we will clarify user perceptions and also regulator concerns. By planning conversations and opening lines of communication, we illuminate the human dimensions of lavatory technologies, and this builds a foundation for innovation.
Isn’t the market supposed to create innovative projects?
Market forces do a great job with some technologies but not others. The latest electronics (tablets, phones, etc.) come about through a healthy design process that links people, preferences, passions, and producers, for profit. When it comes to toilets, however, it is not so clear. Environmental costs and benefits rarely show on the spreadsheets. Prices don’t reflect the ‘full cost’ of using natural resources properly. And efficiency doesn’t count for much when pricing is all off. Just as with other specialized technologies that help meet some larger public policy goal (e.g. safety devices), innovators need to go beyond the limits of market models and for-profit firms.
Where is Lavatory Laboratory located?
Lav Lab exists as a multi-nodal operation with the headquarters in New York. Our test sites include public bathrooms in several places where collaborating partners are located. Planning and data analysis will take place in the Lav Lab headquarters on the SUNY-ESF campus in Syracuse, NY.
Who is Lav Lab?
Lav Lab is staffed by the founding director Sharon Moran, graduate students, and other researchers, based at SUNY-ESF. The larger set of co-conspirators includes an advisory group as well as partner organizations, and together these people and places help provide the input, advice, and test sites we need. Many kinds of professional expertise are represented by our collaborators, including: social science (e.g., opinion research), environmental engineering, industrial design, marketing, and public policy. Both scholars and practitioners help advise us, and this is pivotal to our success.