Monday, 14 July 2025
A University of Nottingham 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—they 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 University of Nottingham 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’s 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 University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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