The 3rd edition of the University of Chicago Research Safety Scavenger Hunt
At the University of Chicago, our diverse scientific endeavors are constantly blending between biological, physical, material, and social sciences. In the month of October, coinciding with the ABSA Biosafety and Biosecurity Month, ORS is hosting a campus-wide scavenger hunt to highlight all aspects of safety and security in a research laboratory. We invite you to join us in the 3rd edition of the award-winning* "Safety Games": S-Pop Hazard Hunters, to fortify safety culture at UChicago, and seal away the unsafe culture in the lab.
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the Safety Games to a screeching halt, in the shadows of UChicago’s labs, the demons of dangerous research practices awoke from their slumber—cackling, conspiring, and unleashing chaos with every unlabeled vial and uncapped chemical. The age of caution had ended… and the lab safety must rise again.
Calling all Hazard Hunters! Rally your Safety-Pop band, grab your goggles, and prepare to battle the lurking lab hazards threatening our realm! Only you can seal them away and defend your lab kingdom from accidents and incidents. Researchers of all ranks—faculty, staff, and students—are summoned for an epic scavenger hunt packed with daring challenges, brain-bending safety puzzles, and chances to flex your creative, caution-powered brilliance. Suit up. It’s time to hunt hazards and save science!
The lab may know you as mere researchers... but you are so much more! You are guardians of good science, warriors of wisdom, champions of caution! Now is the time to rise and banish the chaotic forces of unsafe research culture—back to the shadowy depths from whence they came! Grab your gear, rally your Safety-Pop Band (team), and let safety reign supreme!
Timeline
9/9/2025 - Team (Safety-Pop Band) signup/registration open
9/30/2025 - Registration Closes
10/06/2025 - Challenges open to participants at Noon
10/31/2025 - Challenges close to participants at 5:00PM
Week of November 10th - Awards Ceremony with Prizes presented to winners. Time/Date/Place TBD.
To Join
Step 1: Assemble your band of UChicago researchers (max. 4 team members). It is highly encouraged to have a diverse team across multiple scientific disciplines and teams of 4 to aid in challenge completion.
Step 2: Register your team by completing this form link or at https://forms.office.com/r/XMTWfWfJq2.
Step 3: You will receive an email with instructions of how to participate.
Note: this will involve downloading and using the free Social Scavenger app.
General Rules/Info
- Researchers are defined as anyone working for, or as, a Principal Investigator in BSD, PSD, SSD, or PME laboratories, regardless of their position in the lab.
- Challenges can be completed anytime between Oct 6th @ Noon and Oct 31st @ 5:00PM CDT. The speed of completing the challenges does NOT affect the final score. Challenges with bonus points will be clearly indicated with criteria noted on each challenge.
- Some Challenges are only unlocked by completing other tasks, so time does matter and don’t leave everything until the last day, or you may run out of time.
- Teams will compete in a 4-week scavenger hunt in groups of up to 4 researchers. Each team will require at least 1 (one) Android or Apple smart phone or tablet with internet connection to complete the challenges. The download instructions for the free Social Scavenger app will be sent in the confirmation emails.
- All team members will receive an email with instructions and info on the Social Scavenger app. Each team will have a captain and team members will login with the team captain’s email address and the password assigned by ORS which will be provided in the confirmation email. You will receive an email no later than Oct 6th @ 10:00am.
If fun and contributing to improving the UChicago Safety Culture aren’t enough incentives, how about the chance to win up to $25 per team member? Top 3 teams will be awarded prizes:
- 1st place: $25 gift cards per team member + ORS-hosted lunch + ORS swag
- 2nd place: $25 gift cards per team member + ORS swag
- 3rd place: $20 gift cards per team member
* “Safety Games-Safety Oriented Scavenger Hunt, University of Chicago” ABSA International 2018 Biosafety Promotional Award
* “Safety Games, University of Chicago” CSHEMA 2019 Marketing and Communications Award