Diamond Light Source backs Prospect's technician registration project

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Diamond Light Source backs Prospect's technician registration project

Congratulations to Katie Winter, a surface science technician at Diamond Light Source, who won a Kindle Fire HD in July.



Katie’s name was entered into a prize draw when she completed a Prospect union survey about technician registration.

Prospect is working with Diamond and a range of employers on a project funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation to raise the status of technicians.

The two-year project will work with professional bodies and institutes to educate individuals and employers about the value of technician registration programmes. The project will also provide:

  • workplace surgeries for technicians
  • online technician support via email
  • a free, half day training programme for RegTech advisors
  • help from a dedicated team.

The project has got off to a flying start. Diamond Light Source has agreed to invest in individuals’ vocational development by paying registration and membership fees for technician registration with one professional body.

Katie has worked in the Surface Science Laboratory at Diamond for more than two years. Her job involves helping users to prepare and transfer samples and training them on how to use the equipment.

Katie joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2003 as it was really the “expected thing to do”.

Since joining Diamond, she has maintained her membership and uses benefits such as the magazines/journals, careers advice and job adverts.

Katie had heard of RSciTech registration. But was unaware that it could apply to her and that the Royal Society of Chemistry offered it.

She has asked for further information about the upcoming RegTech project activities at Diamond.

Prospect has a range of activities in the pipeline including:

  • RegTech advisor training in mid-July
  • professional body workshops/surgeries in the autumn and
  • a potential ‘Science Council day’ explaining the full benefits of professional registration for science technicians and scientists.

If you would like to find out more about professional registration and the RegTech Project, please visit our dedicated website or email [email protected].