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Quest for the best – West Midlands begins search for the super-technicians

Professor Peter Sadler - University of WarwickThe search is on to find the West Midland’s best Chemistry technicians in a competition that could be a pilot for a future national competition

The University of Warwick, the Royal Society of Chemistry, Advantage West Midlands, the University of Aston and HEaTed (Higher Education and Technicians Educational Development), have joined together to recognise and reward the unsung heroes who underpin chemistry across the region.

The working group, led by the University of Warwick, has set up a series of awards open to any individual who provides technical support in the chemical sciences in any sector including business, industry, education, and/or research within the West Midlands regions.

The awards will form part of the West Midlands contribution to the British Science Festival at the University of Aston in September. They will recognise technical contributions in support of:

  • research in chemical sciences
  • education in chemical sciences
  • exploitation of chemical sciences

There will be a winner in each of these categories, and one overall winner who will receive the “West Midlands Chemistry Technician of the Year” (aka “ChemisTrY”) award.

Professor Peter Sadler, FRS, Head of Chemistry at the University of Warwick and chairman of the organising group said:

“Technicians make things happen. Without their support, chemistry would not progress. This award has been set up to recognise that contribution and to draw attention to the excellence we see on a day-to-day basis in support across the wide spectrum of chemistry-related activities. It is a high profile award, which recognises the high standard of technical work in support of chemical sciences across all sectors, including business, education, research and government in the region.”

The award will recognise and draw attention to key characteristics demonstrated by chemistry technicians including, amongst others,  professionalism, organisational skills, accuracy, and consistency.

The organising group now invites nominations from employers, colleagues and/or those whose careers have been supported, inspired or have otherwise benefited directly through the support of chemistry-based technicians.

Nominations are to be made by managers and those who have benefitted directly from technical support in the chemical sciences. Nominations should be made by email to wmcty@rsc.org via an application form that is also available from that email address.

The closing date is 31st May 2010 at 4pm.

The organising committee will be gathering at the University of Warwick to formally launch the competition on the evening of Thursday 4th of February.

For further information please contact:

Peter Dunn, Head of Communications, University of Warwick 
Tel: 024 76 523708  Mobile 07767 655860  email p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk

Peter Sadler, Professor of Chemistry

University of Warwick and Head of the Department of Chemistry 
Tel: 024 7652 3818  e-mail: p.j.sadler@warwick.ac.uk

Jon Edwards, RSC Press Office

Tel: 0207 440 3322, 07770 431013   email: edwardsj@rsc.org

 PR11   PJD  4th February 2010