Applications have opened for an awards programme to recognise technical excellence in higher education and research.

The Papin Prizes celebrate the skills, talent and experience of technicians in higher education and research, across the UK and Ireland.

Nominations are invited from universities and research institutes for technicians across all disciplines. Awards will be issued across a range of categories, including:

• Newcomer
• Teaching
• Research
• Core Research Facility
• Infrastructure
• Outreach/Community
• Lifetime Achievement
• Technical Team

The Papin Prizes will be awarded at the 2019 Higher Education Technicians Summit (HETS 2019), which is taking place at the University of Birmingham on 25 June 2019. The largest event of its kind in the country, HETS is dedicated to promoting a professional identity for technical staff working in UK and Ireland higher education and research. Sessions in the conference will focus on professional development and networking opportunities with a range of “hot topics”.

The conference will also discuss broader issues around technical skills and education, including the importance of technicians in driving forward innovation, and the latest initiatives to ensure the future provision of technical education to young people.

Speaking about the nomination opportunity, Kelly Vere, Higher Education and Technician Commitment Lead at the Science Council, and Director of Technical Skills and Strategy at the University of Nottingham, said:

“At the University of Nottingham we have an incredibly diverse range of technical talent across all disciplines. We strongly encourage the nominations of technical colleagues across the institution for recognition in the 2019 Papin Prizes, it’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the vital contributions, skills and expertise of our technicians.”

To apply for the Papin Prizes, and for more information about HETS 2019, visit http://www.midlandsinnovation.org.uk/programmes/hets2019.aspx.

The closing date for nominations is 31 January 2019.