As technology and science advance, the workplaces that are making these advances are also evolving. The automation of routine laboratory work has reduced the physical footprint of the laboratory, and as more laboratory work can be done and analyzed with technology, this will only continue to grow in the coming years. This also means that scientists will no longer need to spend a lot of time in the laboratory, they will have more time for collaboration and idea-based work projects. Future laboratories will need to reflect this change and choose a working environment to replace the space previously used for traditional laboratories. Here we summarize the ways in which the laboratory may change and adapt in the future, and what this means for scientific progress.

Automatic analysis software

The advancement of technology makes the advancement of science easier, and automated analysis software is one of the technologies. Because a large amount of laboratory work requires repeated tests to consolidate the results, it usually takes a long time to prove that the experimental results are not accidental. This becomes even more difficult, because human error can affect the replication of results, causing scientists to question successful results. Automated analysis software can complete this work faster, allowing scientists time to analyze results and develop ideas, while ensuring that they are accurate every time. As the science laboratory moves into the future, automated preparation and analysis will become more common, accelerating scientific progress in a range of fields.

data collection system

The Internet of Things is big news in scientific research. Advances in data collection will enable scientists to obtain unprecedented amounts of data. The accumulation speed of these data not only exceeds the speed at which scientists generate data themselves, but also exceeds the speed at which they analyze data. In a laboratory environment, advances in collecting data through sensors and other technologies will accelerate the process between the development and completion of any new product or hypothesis. To some extent, competition between laboratories will be tied to this technology, and faster acquisitions and analysis will put laboratories in a leading position in obtaining patents and approvals. Ultimately, this technology may bring a huge leap in scientific progress in the coming decades.

Virtual laboratory

Another feature of future science laboratories is that they may no longer need to conduct experiments in the laboratory. Some schools and universities have begun to use online laboratories, such as iLab, to obtain equipment they cannot use. In the future, this may mean that scientists can obtain laboratory equipment that exceeds their research budget. It allows users to remotely access actual equipment and provides real tracking data, which can be used to teach the next generation of students and conduct next-generation experiments.

Scientists have more time

Technological advancement means that scientists will have to spend less time in the laboratory, which will change many work patterns in the industry. In the next 10 years, it is estimated that scientists will spend 30% of their time in offices or meetings and reduce their time in laboratories by 20%. The laboratory will undoubtedly be developed in a concentrated way that reflects this shift, creating collaborative and personal workspaces with laboratory working environments. Less time is spent collecting data in the laboratory, and more time is spent collaborating and developing ideas independently, which may lead to increased scientific progress.

Laboratory design

As millennials begin to enter the field of scientific work, it is clear that many of the outdated designs of the laboratory are an obstacle in attracting the best and brightest young people. Flexible workspaces are designed to improve employee happiness and comfort, which has become the norm in many industries, especially digital and technology start-ups. More and more young people want to work in such an environment, which encourages innovation, collaboration and flexibility, which are needed to keep up with the modern world.

In the future, we may see many scientific laboratories being redesigned to reflect this shift, focusing more on natural light, comfort and workplace choices. Interdisciplinary campuses may also become more popular, allowing collaboration between researchers to promote innovation and progress.

Flexible work

Another cultural change in the influx of young scientists entering the industry is the shift to more flexible ways of working. Work-life balance is becoming more and more important for young people who are engaged in their careers. This is something that science laboratories must reflect on in the future. With automation, robotics, and computational research making such changes to the laboratory environment, laboratories no longer need to support the needs of human workers to the same extent. This also means that scientists can do most of their work outside the laboratory, whether in an office, a coffee shop, or a different working environment at home. A smart work environment that allows a highly mobile workforce may become a common feature of science laboratories, promoting collaboration, innovation and improving work-life balance.