David Ferguson awarded 2021 Institute of Physics Technicians Award

David Ferguson from Uppingham School has been awarded the 2021 Institute of Physics Technicians Award in the Senior School category.

The Institute of Physics (IOP) is the professional body and learned society for physics, and the leading body for practising physicists, in the UK and Ireland.

Its annual awards proudly reflect the wide variety of people, places, organisations and achievements that make physics such an exciting discipline.

The IOP awards celebrate physicists at every stage of their career; from those just starting out through to physicists at the peak of their careers, and those with a distinguished career behind them.

They also recognise and celebrate companies which are successful in the application of physics and innovation, as well as employers who demonstrate their commitment and contribution to scientific and engineering apprenticeship schemes.

David Ferguson has received their award for his outstanding contributions he has made to not only his working environment at Uppingham School but also to the whole physics teaching community. He has been helping teachers and fellow technicians for more than 20 years.  He is always keen to share his knowledge and develop ideas, contributing significantly to TalkPhysics.org and the Nuffield Foundation Practical Physics.

Within Uppingham School he has been responsible for the school’s weather station, telescopes and gets involved with physics classes, helping students with projects too numerous to name. His application to the diffusion of physics knowledge is exemplary. David is approachable, kind and more than willing to assist all involved at any level in the teaching of physics.

David Ferguson said, “I am honoured to have been nominated for this award.  I am fortunate to have worked for approaching 25 years with some excellent teachers, and talented young trainee physicists. To be recognised by my peers for my work means a great deal to me.”

Congratulating this year’s Award winners, Institute of Physics President, Professor Sheila Rowan, said:

“On behalf of the Institute of Physics, I warmly congratulate all of this year’s Award winners.

“Each and every one of them has made a significant and positive impact in their profession, whether as a researcher, teacher, industrialist, technician or apprentice.

“Recent events have underlined the absolute necessity to encourage and reward our scientists and those who teach and encourage future generations. We rely on their dedication and innovation to improve many aspects of the lives of individuals and of our wider society."