Next month, science technicians all over the world will pay homage to the god of the blue flame.
Yes, on March 31 they’ll don their white coats and goggles to honour the Bunsen burner . . . and Robert Bunsen, the man who invented it.
Anyone who’s ever studied science will remember this staple tool of every school lab and how its misappropriation could derail many a chemistry lesson.
The fact there aren’t more classroom catastrophes is largely down to the expertise of science technicians. They’re the backroom staff who watch everyone’s backs, especially when flames and explosive compounds are in the same room as teenagers.
A look on s1jobs reveals science technicians are to be found mostly in secondary school science departments working across chemistry, physics and biology, but also work in colleges and universities.
In schools, technicians do the preparatory work hard-pressed teachers don’t have the time to do. Well, to do safely, at least.
Making up chemical compounds, maintaining all those beakers and test tubes, checking electrical equipment, renewing goggles and safety aprons, and ordering stock are just some of the duties on a lab technician’s roster.
Probably the most fulfilling – and fun – part of the job is setting up experiments for pupils, then helping carry them out.
Anyone up for building a model volcano that really erupts, a spectacular mint and cola geyser, or the slightly less dramatic but no less important ripple tank?
In colleges and universities the demands are much greater, involving a more varied workload, complex experiments, and opportunities to work with individual students on research projects.
As IT continues to play a bigger part in secondary education, IT technicians are also becoming more commonplace.
Like science technicians, their primary role is to ensure the smooth running of lessons by keeping IT equipment running well and troubleshooting when necessary.
This involves setting up computer servers and networks, running diagnostics, patching and repairing systems as well as ensuring internet systems offer full child protection.
For school science technician roles, working hours mirror those of teaching staff, though earlier starts to get equipment ready for classes and later finishes to tidy away experiments can be necessary.
Exposure to school life and the classroom is never boring – remember you’ve all those newbie Newtons and budding Bunsens to deal with.
It can also provide the foundation and inspiration for career development, including moving on to teaching roles.
Take an experimental look at s1jobs.com today and discover the best roles in Education.