How Lisa Alford inspires students and celebrates technicians

When asked to reflect on her career, Lisa Alford, Science Coordinator and Ambassador at Tonbridge School, pauses. ‘I actually had to pull up a presentation I prepared for the RSC National Conference for Science Technicians,’ she admits with a laugh. ‘It’s easy to forget how much you’ve done until you look back.’

Over the course of 15 years, Alford has quietly reshaped the way science is taught, communicated and supported at Tonbridge and beyond. In recognition of her efforts, she was recently awarded the Royal Society Hauksbee Award. Named after Issac Newton’s laboratory assistant, Francis Hauksbee, the award acknowledges technicians, research staff and other unsung heroes ‘behind the scenes’ whose work is essential to scientific progress.