University technicians in the running for Papin Prizes

Staff from across the University of Plymouth’s Faculty of Science and Engineering have been shortlisted for the biennial Papin Prizes. 

The awards, to be presented at the 2019 Higher Education Technicians Summit (HETS), aim to recognise the skills, talent and experience of technicians in higher education and research, across the UK and Ireland.

There are a number of categories for both individual and team awards, and University staff have been recognised for the support they provide to both staff and students.

The finalists come from both the School of Biological and Marine Sciences, and the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. They are:

• Marie Palmer, Senior Technician in Marine Biology, is a finalist for the Teaching category. She coordinates activities for the Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre (MBERC), and supports teaching and research activities both on the main campus and also at the Marine Station, while also undertaking her PGCAP qualification and supporting students pastorally;
• Jane Thorning is a Senior Technician who manages the LABplus facility, and is a finalist in the Outreach category. She supports undergraduate teaching and learning across the science disciplines, and also delivers outreach workshops promoting STEM subjects and careers. Over the last 12 months these workshops have reached 2,500 primary and secondary school students;
• Dr Jodie Fisher, Earth Science Technician, is also a finalist for the Outreach category. She manages the earth science research laboratories, supporting students, teaching and research. Jodie also takes an active role in outreach, and over the last six years has co-founded and managed the award-winning Girls into Geoscience initiative;
• Tim Absalom, Shaun Lewin and Jamie Quinn, who make up the GeoMapping team, are finalists for the Technical Team award. Supporting the geospatial work of the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences and the wider University community, they work across a range of topics including data capture, spatial analysis, cartography and visual communication, helping both staff and students in research and teaching.

The Papin Prizes are named after Denis Papin, a 17th century technician who worked with Robert Boyle. He invented the steam digester and was one of the first technicians to publish in his own name.

HETS 2019 is being held at the University of Birmingham on Tuesday 25 June.