RSC commitment to technical excellence in evidence at 2026 National Conference for Science Technicians

Lisa Alford

The National Conference for Science Technicians returned to celebrate the skills, expertise and ambitions of the technical workforce at the We The Curious science museum in Bristol and online.

Technicians and apprentices from a wide range of sectors attended to share experiences, learn from one another and explore new opportunities for professional growth.

As a supporter of the Technician Commitment, the RSC showcased how technicians can develop their careers, gain recognition and build connections across the wider scientific community.

Daria Berezina

Dozens of delegates travelled from across the UK to attend the conference

Thought-provoking talks offer inspiration

The day began with a talk from HEaTED, a partner organisation of the RSC. JP Ashton-Kinlin, who represents HEaTED, the National Technician Development Centre and the Institute of Science and Technology, encouraged delegates to think about the transferable skills they use every day. The strengths possessed by technicians can open doors to new opportunities, he said as he pointed to his own diverse career path and range for experiences.

Catherine Perry

Dr Ilaria Meazzini, Senior Programme Manager for Inclusion & Diversity at the Royal Society of Chemistry

In the second keynote, Dr Ilaria Meazzini, Senior Programme Manager for Inclusion & Diversity at the RSC, highlighted the importance of creating laboratory environments that are accessible for all. Technicians, she noted, are often at the forefront of this work.

Her presentation - based on our Disability-Inclusive Laboratories in the Chemical Sciences research - examined the barriers that disabled scientists, students and staff can encounter. It also offered practical recommendations for building more inclusive laboratory spaces and workplaces.

The emphasis on professional development continued throughout the afternoon, as delegates chose from workshops tailored to different career interests and aspirations. Sessions explored professional registration pathways, technician visibility and advocacy, career planning and mentoring, and the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence in the workplace.

"There were some good tips on managing and overseeing my professional profile in terms of both social media and CV updates. I also enjoyed and appreciated the awareness that was drawn to what the RSC can do to support workplace adaptations/adjustments to overcome disability based obstacles including the living library and budgets on offer."

Keir Garrett, Laboratory Technician at UCL

One of the most popular sessions was a panel discussion, Stronger Together: Shared skills and stories from technicians across sectors. Panellists Maureen Wade, Mark Withers, Tyler Harvey-Cowlishaw and Sarah Allen shared insights from their careers and reflected on the skills that unite technicians working in different settings.

Their discussion also saw the quartet highlight the diversity of technical roles, as well as covering the common challenges and opportunities technicians face throughout their professional journeys.

Lisa Alford

Catherine Perry

Recognising achievement and excellence

The event also celebrated achievement within the profession. Delegates heard from recipients of the RSC Technical Excellence Prizes, which recognise the outstanding contributions technicians make in supporting teaching, research and innovation.

All of this year's Technical Excellence Prize winners - Dr Gwilherm Kerherve, Dr Robert Crapnell and the Carbon Neutral Laboratories for Sustainable Chemistry Technicians - were presented with their awards at the event. Each of the honourees also delivered a presentation on their respective piece of work for the audience to share their experiences and knowledge with their peers.

"The awards at the end were great to see what other people in other fields have achieved and is interesting. This also creates visibility of other scientific work ongoing and creates contacts/networks."

Rachel Donald RSciTech, R&D Lab Technician at Mativ

Networking was a key feature alongside the formal programme. Attendees connected with colleagues from across the technical community. They also had the chance to learn more from the exhibitors and sponsors of the conference.

"The conference was informative, engaging and a valuable opportunity to learn from other technicians, share experiences and build professional connections.

"The best aspect was the opportunity to meet and network with technicians from different sectors, share experiences and learn about different approaches to our roles. The sessions were relevant and provided useful ideas that can be applied in the workplace.

"The conference highlighted a range of opportunities for professional development and helped me better understand how technicians can develop their skills and progress in their careers."

Athira Aravind, Quality Assurance Technologist at Jardox

The next conference, scheduled for 2028, will be directly influenced by the experience and feedback of this year's delegates.

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