Technicians: The Front Line of Impact

Technicians are often the driving force and front line of action in reducing the environmental impact of scientific operations. Their roles are key to the delivery of sustainability in science and the roadmap to net zero. So, what is a technician? How visible and vital are the skills and roles of the technical workforce to sustainability in science? What potential is still to be unlocked, and what role do organisations, across the sector, play in ensuring opportunities provided by the technical workforce are identified, supported and maximised to deliver on environmental sustainability in scientific organisations? This chapter highlights the connection between the parallel focuses on technical careers in the UK and the challenge to achieve net zero in science. Shining a light on technical roles and the vital importance of technicians, we present evidence and rhetoric for the crucial role of technicians for environmental sustainability in science.