The Professional Body for Technical, Specialist, and Managerial Staff Earth sciences Earth sciences BiomedicalMaterials BiomedicalMaterials Criminology Criminology Physical sciences Physical sciences Interdisciplinary Interdisciplinary EngineeringApplied science EngineeringApplied science Marine biology Marine biology Food TechnologyGraphic design Food TechnologyGraphic design Chemistry Chemistry ForensicsSoftware ForensicsSoftware Textiles Technology Textiles Technology Production: touchpointdesign.co.uk Production: The Official Journal of the Institute of Kingfisher House, 90 Rockingham Street Science & Technology Sheffield S1 4EB The Professional Body for Specialist, T: 0114 276 3197 [email protected] Technical and Managerial Staff F: 0114 272 6354 www.istonline.org.uk Spring/Summer 2019 ISSN 2040-1868 Contents n Editor’s welcome Ian Moulson 2 n Chairman’s view Terry Croft 3 n President’s view Helen Sharman 4 n New members and registrations IST Office 6 n IST organisation IST Office 8 n How to switch “bad science” for “good science”? Tim Sandle 14 n Infusion devices: vision and future Sumant Gadge 22 n Philip Harris of Birmingham Alan Gall 26 n Analysis of volatile organic compounds Raffaele Conte 36 n Applying cognitivist theories to science & technology teaching Kevin Fletcher 40 n The Appley Bridge meteorite Russell Parry 42 n Making old television technology make sense – Part one Paul Marshall 46 n From the archives - The misfortunes of John William Bell Alan Gall 50 n New research result from CERN is a milestone 54 n Scientists use ultrafast laser to weld glass and metal together 55 n Hens that lay human proteins in eggs offer future therapy hope 56 n Space worms set to help researchers understand muscle loss 57 n Powerful new particle accelerator will drive huge physics experiment 58 n Leading Your Technical Team programme Kevin Oxley 59 n Technicians make it happen at Manchester Metropolitan University Kate Dixon 60 Cover images credit: Technicians Make it Happen For more information go to: technicians.org.uk The Official Journal of Spring/Summer 2019 The Institute of Science & Technology The Professional Body for Technical, Specialist, and Managerial Staff ISSN 2040-1868 Editor’s welcome Chairman’s view Welcome to the 2019 spring/summer edition of Back issues (from 2006) of our bi-annual publication Hello and welcome to the with our board, co-opted members and advisors, who the IST Journal. of The Journal have now been converted so that they spring/summer version of represent working technicians, specialists and technical are viewable online in pdf format. Some of the files are The Journal. managers from across the UK and representing all Thanks go to our contributing quite large, so calling up individual Journals may take a disciplines from arts, media and digital, to science authors. minute or two to load. See our web page istonline.org. Since the last journal engineering and medicine. We are reviewing and In this edition we feature an uk/resources/ist-journal-publication/ edition, the IST and making recommendations to improving the support and array of excellent articles, for our valued volunteers benefits of being a member of your professional body. example a really interesting If you are interested in publishing in our Journal or in have been up and one by Tim Sandle that our blog articles section we would be happy to hear Terry Croft, MBE, down the country both examines what makes for bad from you; please email [email protected] FIScT, CSci, promoting the Technician science and contrasts this with IST Chairman Commitment Initiative, Ian Moulson some examples of good science. Our e-Newsletter has had a change … tell us what you keeping our members up IST Vice FIScT The article also looks at what think and contribute to future editions. Take a minute to speed with the rapidly changing environments that President makes for a good science paper, to check out the new look of IST’s regular e-Newsletter we work in and supporting members on completing and provides advice for those and get up to date news of what is happening in the professional registration opportunities. We have also wishing to try their hand at writing a science article. technician community. Subscribe free at istonline.org.uk made changes to our e-newsletter and I encourage all and follow the links to a series of periodic newsletters our members to take advantage of publishing their work Sumant Gadge tells us about his vision and future that we generate quarterly – please feel free to browse in future e-newsletter and journal publications. I would like to personally thank Joan Ward and John- of infusion devices, Raffaele Conte describes the our newsletters and see what we have been doing and Paul Ashton for their work on updating and developing analysis of volatile organic compounds, and Kevin what we have planned for the near future. This work has been well received and has brought about our website. We are keen to ensure that our website Fletcher continues his series by looking at cognitivist (positive) change by increasing visibility and allowing provides our members with resources necessary for theories. Alan Gall gives us an insight into the history of more recognition for vital technical skills. It is also evident their careers – if you have any suggestions, opinions pharmacist Philip Harris and the company he created, that steps are being taken in the right direction to provide or would just like to tell us what you think about the and in his “From the Archives” series he tells us about career development opportunities as well as sustainability website then feel free to contact Wendy at the IST Office. the misfortunes of John William Bell. for technical jobs across the Higher Education sector. Our work with our official nominated charity WorkFit Russell Parry relates his fascinating story of the Appley As we are starting to approach early summer I am and the National Laboratory Service is continuing Bridge meteorite while, in a two-part series, Paul pleased to announce the team has been working hard to to make progress on working towards a bespoke Marshall looks at making old television technology deliver yet another exciting conference this September. laboratory qualification for people with Down’s make sense. We are happy to include short articles and news items in Not only will our president Helen be chairing the day’s Syndrome. My thanks go out to James Trout and the IST’s e-Newsletter that you feel would be of interest to events, but she will also be giving an inspiring workshop Philippa Nobbs for their efforts on this. Lastly but not least Kate Dixon tells us about the technical community, or if you would like to promote on astronaut training and maintaining CPD. Please how “Technicians Make it Happen” at Manchester a technician event, or advertise a job vacancy. Please do do book your place as soon as possible, as we had to Metropolitan University. get in touch with any of the newsletter’s editors below, or disappoint a large number of technicians last year due through our IST Office. E: [email protected] to venue capacity limits. This year we have increased the We would love to hear about you and your technician venue capacity to over 300 attendees, to let even more journey, or your work, or your interests – so please do e-Newsletter Editors people attend, but please secure your place now as it is get in touch and tell us about it. a popular event. You can find out more information at: istonline.org.uk/ist-conference-2019/. This year we are holding our conference in Birmingham. Take a look at our website for more details istonline.org. uk/ist-conference-19-18th-september-birmingham/ I want to also extend my thanks to the editors John-Paul Natalie Kevin And save the date: and contributors of the Ashton Kennerley Oxley Journal, who have worked j.p.ashton@ n.j.kennerley@ k.m.oxley@ hard to ensure the content IST One-day Technical Conference 2019 istonline.org.uk istonline.org.uk istonline.org.uk remains relevant and Birmingham Conference and Events Centre To ensure a broad perspective of members views we are useful for our members. Wednesday 18th September 2019 Twitter (@istonline) – we encourage ideas, feedback, working on our future strategy and marketing options to and discussions using #istforum improve the visibility and support for our members from If you wish to play an active role in your professional the whole of the IST community. We have met already body please contact me at [email protected]. Ian 2 3 We would like to give members the opportunity to Once again, many thanks to all our volunteers and our work with and influence the executive but also gain members who make the IST what it is today. experience and benefits from opportunities to develop IST Journal Publication current and new skills. I encourage you to really get all the best, involved and contribute to your community. Terry. Back copies of our bi-annual journal publication are We can provide subscriptions for hard copies of our viewable online. Journal, rates for 2019 are as below. For further details please contact ([email protected]): President’s view The Journal Back Issues istonline.org.uk/ist-journal-publication UK – £25 per year (2 editions per year) EU – £40 per year (2 editions per year) Non EU – £55 per year (2 editions per year) As I write, news about its technicians and technical skills base to be, is the Brexit being postponed investment of £546,000 into the NTDC by the former The guidelines for article submissions to the IST until the end of October is Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Journal are: coming in.