🎙️ Technicians at the heart of research culture: insights from Tech Exchange at Leeds

In this special episode of Research Culture Uncovered, Dr Emily Ennis hands over the mic to Lily Caprioli, a student ambassador at the University of Leeds, who interviews colleagues across the annual Tech Exchange Fair — a showcase of the people and skills powering research behind the scenes.

What you’ll hear:

Research is a team sport. From senior leadership to lab specialists, contributors emphasise that technicians are fundamental — the people who keep systems running, solve problems, and help teams think differently.

Visibility matters. Events like Tech Exchange create space to showcase expertise, connect across departments, and ensure technical contributions are recognised beyond individual labs or teams.

From “hidden roles” to recognised expertise. Conversations highlight ongoing work around fair attribution, technician profiles, and recognition — with real progress, but more still to do.

Collaboration within and beyond institutions. From cross-faculty working to initiatives like the White Rose Consortium and Yorkshire Technician Exchange Partnership (YoTEP), sharing knowledge strengthens both individuals and the wider research ecosystem.

Diverse careers, shared impact. Whether in labs, libraries, collections, or engineering workshops, technicians bring specialist expertise, creativity, and adaptability — often shaping research in ways that go unseen but are essential.

🎙️ People featured in this episode

• Professor Nick Plant (Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, University of Leeds)
• Claire Knowles (Acting Director of Library Services, University of Leeds)
• Lesley Neve (X-ray Technical Specialist)
• John Warwick (Technician Champion)

🏛️ Projects, initiatives & organisations referenced

• Technician Commitment
• White Rose University Consortium (Leeds, Sheffield, York)
• Yorkshire Technician Exchange Partnership (YoTEP)
• Fair Attribution Policy
• CREDIT taxonomy
• ORCID identifiers
• Institute of Technical Skills and Strategy (ITSS)

This episode is a celebration of the people, skills, and community that make research possible — and a reminder that strong research culture depends on recognising every contribution.

Please note

This episode was recorded live at a busy event — you may hear background noise, but we hope it captures the energy and enthusiasm of the Tech Exchange Fair!