Lancaster University has received an award for its progress in recognising the contribution of technicians to scientific research.

The Technician Commitment aims to ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.

Universities and research institutes are invited to become signatories of the Technician Commitment and pledge action against the key challenges affecting their technical staff.

John Dwyer, Superintendent & Safety Officer for the Faculty of Health and Medicine and Fellow of the Institute of Science and Technology, was presented with the award at the Signatories meeting held at the Royal Society in London by Helen Pain, Chair of the Technician Commitment Steering Board and Chair of the Science Council & Deputy Chief Executive, Royal Society of Chemistry.

He is also the Champions co-ordinator for the Institute of Science and Technology, which has campaigned to raise the profile of technicians for several years.

He said: “It was an honour to receive this Award of Submission on behalf of Lancaster University, which is a milestone in the progress that has been made in submitting a three year action plan towards the Technician Commitment Initiative.”

John Dwyer is among several people at Lancaster University who have been trying to improve the profile of technicians and ensure they are recognised for their highly skilled contribution towards research and teaching.

He was involved in creating termly technician forums in 2015 and two years later, Lancaster became one of more than 35 UK universities and research institutions to back the Technician Commitment.

A Steering Group was then formed at Lancaster which set a three-year Action plan covering Visibility, Recognition, Career Development and Sustainability.

John Dwyer said: “This award recognises the hard work and many hours input by the Steering Group, with the recent launch of the Technician website at Lancaster which was one of the priorities of the Action Plan and where technicians are now able to showcase their highly valuable contribution to research and teaching, including the complex skills required.”

Professor Rich Haley, Chair of Lancaster University’s Steering Group for Technician Commitment, said: “This award is testament to the importance of our university technical staff who are essential to our success in teaching, research and engagement. I would like to thank John and the rest of the Steering Group, including key support from HR and Organisational Development, for their achievements. We now have a really strong platform to drive our Action Plan forward.”