The Papin Prizes are dedicated to celebrating the very best technical staff and teams in academia and research and applications are now being encouraged from individuals who work with technicians.
Nine awards will be presented at the UK Higher Education Technicians Summit (HETS), which is taking place on 4 July 2023 at the University of Warwick, across the following categories:
Contribution to Infrastructure
A member of technical staff who has made a significant contribution to day-to-day infrastructure to support research and/or teaching – for example, roles may include technical staff who look after building facilities or technicians that provide key services.
Contribution to Knowledge Exchange
A member of technical staff who has made a significant contribution to delivering knowledge exchange and innovation activities on behalf of their institution.
Contribution to Research
A member of technical staff who has made a significant contribution to research.
Contribution to Teaching
A member of technical staff who has made a significant contribution to the student teaching and learning experience.
Core Research Facility
A member of technical staff within a central research facility/platform who has provided exceptional skills/expertise.
Best Newcomer
An individual who has embarked on a technical career within the past four years and shown exceptional promise - for example, this may be a trainee or apprentice technician.
Outreach and Community
A member of technical staff who has made a significant contribution to delivering community or outreach activities.
Technical Team
A technical team which has worked together to deliver excellence.
The Professor Lord Bhattacharyya Lifetime Achievement Award
An award to recognise continued excellence and/or significant achievements across an individual's technical career.
Kelly Vere, University Director of Technical Strategy for the University of Nottingham and HETS conference co-chair, said that the Papin Prizes had grown from strength to strength, with an increasing number of nominations being received from more institutions.
“The Papin Prizes recognise and celebrate the very best technical staff across the UK. Because the submissions are invited from people who work with technical staff, they also increase recognition and visibility of technicians,” she explained.
“Activities like this help to improve research culture within organisations and align with the work of the Technician Commitment to ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research.
“A recent report published by TALENT highlighted the critical role technicians play within knowledge exchange activities, particularly those who work within cutting-edge research facilities. To recognise this critical role, we have created a brand-new award category to celebrate individuals whose specialist expertise has a huge impact on innovation, commercialisation and the economy.”
Applications are open across the nine categories until 28 February 2023. Applications can be submitted online via the Midlands Innovation TALENT website. Click here to view categories and submit a nomination.
For the first time, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has partnered with HETS and the acclaimed Papin Prizes.
All submissions will be reviewed by an independent judging panel of technical staff from the Midlands Innovation partner universities. Shortlisted submissions will then be reviewed by the Midlands Innovation Executive Management Group, comprising of Pro-Vice-Chancellors.
