WorkFit Yorks & Humber has recently been working with the National Laboratory Service in Leeds to secure an employment opportunity for Ben (pictured, left).

Following a successful informal interview he began a work experience placement at the laboratory as a Laboratory Assistant, working for 10 hours a week over 2 days. Within a few weeks of him starting work, the team there were so impressed that Ben was offered permanent paid work and he is now an established member of the Sample Prep and Registration Team.

WorkFit Yorks & Humber blog April 2017

Think you have an excellent CPD record? Know someone who deserves recognition for keeping on top of their CPD?

The Science Council’s CPD Awards 2017 is now open for nominations. The awards are designed to celebrate the professional development efforts and achievements of registrants across Registered Science Technician (RSciTech), Registered Scientist (RSci), Chartered Scientist (CSci) and Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTeach) status.

Nominees can be from any discipline of science and be working at any level but they most hold Science Council professional registration.

Nominees’ CPD records will be assessed by a judging panel made up of experienced CPD assessors and further details of the standards and nomination process can be found on http://sciencecouncil.org/registrants/cpd-awards-2017/

The closing date for nominataions is 21st July and there will be an award for each of the RSciTech, RSci, CSci and CSciTeach registers. Winners will receive a certificate and a prize at an awards event in London on 21st September 2017.

Steven Hale from the University of Birmingham has been named overall winner of #TechniciansMakeitHappen, a campaign celebrating the UK’s 1.5 million technicians. Steve is a member of the IST and we offer our congratulations to him.

The winning image captures a sunrise over the world-famous Mt Wilson Observatory in Los Angeles. Steven who works on cutting-edge robotic telescopes like the one in his picture will receive £1000, as well as career mentorship from industry experts. Read More »

S-Lab’s next event is a two day Conference on ‘Science, Innovation and Translation: The Design and Operation of Research Laboratories, Incubators and Science Park Facilities’ in York on May 9-10 2017.

S-Lab: Supporting World Class Science is jointly organising a Conference, Exhibition and Gala Dinner at York Racecourse, in partnership with the United Kingdom Science Park Association (UKSPA) and others. This two day Conference should attract 400+ key stakeholders in the design, financing, managing and operation of life science, physical science and translational research and innovation facilities in universities and other sectors.

Read More »

Basil Boam BEM (centre) receiving his Honorary Fellowship from Terry Croft,
with David Smart (left)

There is so much in the news these days about apprenticeships and how they can lead to excellent careers. However, apprenticeships have been achieving these results for over 75 years. Basil’s story starts in 1943 at the age of 16 when he started on his career pathway and became an apprentice at the University of Sheffield. This was short lived as at 18 he was called up for active service, eventually returning to the University in 1948.

Over the coming years he learnt many skills in Physics, Genetics, and finally Botany. Basil rose to the top of the tree by becoming Laboratory Superintendent in the Department of Botany in 1972. He held this position until his retirement in 1986. However, he didn’t stop there and he continued working part-time for the University’s Environmental Consultancy Services bringing a wealth of experience to this fledgling company. One thing he is remembered for is the creation of UBMA (University Bioscience Managers’ Association).

In 1983 Basil and David Smart brought together bioscience managers from across the sector under the umbrella of “The University Biological Supervisors’ Association (UBSA)” eventually changing its name to UBMA in April 2000. Basil was very influential in the sector and brought great recognition to the technical community throughout the UK; hence the award of Honorary Fellow.

His is a great example of how a technician’s career pathway has gone from starting at the apprentice level and advancing to that of Laboratory Superintendent.

Terry Croft MBE FIScT CSci
IST Chairman

We would like to draw your attention to Alicja Kwade’s ongoing commission ‘Medium Median’ which is being displayed at the Whitechapel Gallery. The work is a 21st century mobile that uses technological apparatus and star mapping developed by NASA to explore our relationship to space and time. A real instance where art meets science & technology!!

For further details see https://goo.gl/7h7XFP