From 17 - 19 June 2026, technicians from Brunel - a proudly technical university with innovation and practical expertise at its core - took part in the Technicians Takeover at the Science Museum in London. This inspiring national initiative was delivered in partnership with the UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy and the Science Museum Group.
Representing Brunel were Sam McCormack (Principal Technical Specialist - Clinical Simulation), Soley Fletcher (Technical Manager - Health Sciences), Marta Straszkiewicz (Senior Technician - Environmental Sciences), Jolene Jalota (Technician - Environmental Sciences), and Safras Naleer (Intern - Environmental Sciences). Together, they joined technicians from across the UK to showcase the creativity, skill and real-world impact of technical careers.
The event provided a powerful platform to highlight the vital contribution technicians make within a technical university like Brunel - supporting cutting-edge research, delivering hands-on teaching, and bringing learning to life through practical expertise. As a proud signatory of the UK Technician Commitment, Brunel is dedicated to visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of its technical workforce, and events like this demonstrate that commitment in action.
Sam and Soley were proud to represent clinical simulation and bring something truly hands-on to the event. Their interactive workshop gave visitors the opportunity to create realistic silicone wounds - a brilliant demonstration of the technical innovation that underpins healthcare education. The response was phenomenal. Their stand quickly became one of the busiest in the space, with demand so high they even repurposed radiator tops as additional workspace to keep up with the incredible enthusiasm (and creativity!) of visitors.
Marta and Jolene, supported by Safras, delivered an engaging Environmental Sciences activity using grape Kool-Aid to separate red and blue dyes through Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) - a technique directly linked to real research applications. This hands-on demonstration sparked curiosity and opened up conversations about the role technicians play in research and discovery. Visitors of all ages were highly engaged, and the team relished the opportunity to step outside their usual environments and connect with such an enthusiastic and diverse audience.
Across the museum floor, the event was buzzing with activity. Technicians from a wide range of disciplines shared their expertise, demonstrated practical skills, and spoke passionately about their careers. Feedback from school groups and the public was overwhelmingly positive, with many gaining new insight into just how diverse, creative and impactful technical careers can be.
For Brunel, the event reflects a wider strategic commitment to championing technicians - recognising their essential role in delivering world-class education, driving innovation, and shaping future talent. It also reinforces the University’s dedication to widening participation, inspiring the next generation, and raising the profile of technical careers nationally.
Events like the Technicians Takeover are a powerful reminder of the expertise, passion and professionalism within the technical community. Brunel’s technicians were proud to contribute to such an important initiative - and will be encouraging even more colleagues to get involved in the future.
