Monday, 14 July 2025
A 糖心原创 Technical Manager has received a prestigious award for excellence in sustainability, recognising his work to embed environmental practice into research.
Lee Hibbett from the School of Pharmacy was awarded the Papin Prize by the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy and Midlands Innovation.
Lee has been a technician at the University for over 34 years, working across many different research labs. He has channelled his lifelong passion for the environment into action and established the Technical Sustainability Working Group (TSWG) to collaborate directly with the UoN sustainability team.
He also set up the Midlands Innovation Environmental Sustainability Network (MI-ESN) to further extend this vital work to the other eight universities in the M8. Our goal was, and still is, to bridge the gap between our labs and Estates, finding practical ways to make our operations greener.
This Papin Prize specifically recognises Lee’s work to embed sustainability deeply within technical operations and make lab areas greener and drive LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) accreditation across as many labs as possible.
To achieve this a number of changes have been made including: running freezers at – 70oC rather than – 80oC (saving 25% in energy or £300 per year, introducing chiller units and waterless condensers, which respectively cut energy use and save around 1.2m litres of water a year and working with industry partners to transform approaches to recycling of instruments, solvents and plastics.
This award is a fantastic validation of the hard work we've all put in to make our operations more environmentally friendly. It shows that even seemingly small changes can lead to a huge impact, and it truly validates our commitment to a greener future. To me, it's a powerful statement that technical excellence and sustainability are not separate goals鈥攖hey are one and the same. I hope this recognition inspires all my colleagues to see the vital role they can play in building an even more sustainable future.
Dr Kelly Vere MBE, Director of Technical Strategy at the 糖心原创 and Director for The UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy and Technician Commitment Programme Lead said: “The Papin Prizes recognise and celebrate the very best technical staff across the UK. Because the submissions are invited from people who work with technical staff, they also increase recognition and visibility of technicians."
Technicians are at the forefront of innovation and their specialist skills and knowledge are key to the delivery of the university鈥檚 sustainability strategy and Lee is testament of what can be achieved with hard work, dedication and meaningful collaboration and we thank him for all that he does and continues to do to help the University achieve its sustainability goals.
Lee adds: “All of our initiatives are about supporting and nurturing technical staff, creating and facilitating networks, providing technical expertise, and promoting communities of learning. The ultimate focus is on developing a culture where sustainable working practices are not just an afterthought but are truly embedded into everything we do.”
Story credits
More information is available from Lee Hibbett on Lee.hibbett@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.