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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Is your lab ready for the Challenge?
  2. What are the benefits of participating in the Freezer Challenge?
  3. How do we win?
  4. How and when can I register?
  5. How do I earn points?
  6. Who do I contact if I have additional questions?

 

Is your lab ready for the Challenge?

If your lab uses ultra-ultra low temperature freezers (above -96°C), ultra-low temperature freezers (-96 to – 40°C), lab freezers (-40 to -20°C), refrigerators, or cold rooms, you can participate in  the challenge.

What are the benefits of participating in the Freezer Challenge?

Environmental impact:

  • Reduce energy consumption and environmental impact of freezers

Free up rack space:

  • Remove unneeded or unviable samples from cold storage units, allowing space to be consolidated or eliminated.

Cost reduction:

  • Reduce costs associated with maintaining extraneous cold storage units.
  • Extend the life of cold storing units.

Long-term samples viability:

  • Improve researchers stability and access to viable samples.

Apply good management practices:

  • Learn and apply proper cold storage maintenance & management techniques. Increase efficiency and maximize lab space utility.

Be recognized by your peers:

  • Receive institutional and international recognition on your effort and awards.

How do we win?

The lab that earns the most points for existing and new cold storage best practices will take home the UNC Freezer Challenge Trophy and win $5,000 to be applied to their next ultra-low freezer purchase! Participating labs will register and submit an online score sheet and record tasks as they complete them.

Some point categories are normalized based on the number of refrigeration units in the lab. An additional award will be given to the lab that encourages the most labs to participate in the challenge!

How and when can I register my lab?

Registration is now open! 

Register Here

You may register at any time between now and the end of the Challenge on May 1, 2019.

How do I earn points?

Here is the 2021 Freezer Challenge point value table.

Visit the Challenge page for a full list of tasks you can do to win the UNC Freezer Challenge!

IMPORTANT: When adding more completed tasks to your lab’s score sheet, be sure to hit NEXT until the last page of the form and then hit SUBMIT to save your information!

Who do I contact if I have additional questions?

Please contact freezerchallenge@unc.edu with any additional questions or comments.