Meet the … technician: David Robinson

What’s one piece of kit in your lab that you couldn’t live without?

There are a few pieces of kit I couldn’t live without (the dishwasher being the main one), but I would have to say my magnetic stirrer. Some things, such as albumen powder or sodium hydroxide, just do not like dissolving, so being able to run the stirrer at high speed to cut the prep time down is so useful.

What do you wear to school? Do you have a favourite outfit for work?

For work, I wear either a polo shirt or white button-down shirt, black leather trainers and jeans. I know that jeans may shock or surprise some people, but I need something that protects me if something spills and that keeps me warm. My favourite outfit is when students are doing the cross-country run as I get to wear my Arsenal shirt to work.

How do you relax?

Music has always been a big thing to help me relax. Lorde and Queen are my favourite singer and band respectively, but my taste is very eclectic. I’ve been lucky to see some of my favourites in the last few years, including Busted, Lana Del Rey and Katy Perry later this year. I also like to game (some of my first pay packet went on a PS5), with Pokémon being the series I return to every year. I’m also a wrestling fan (mainly AEW) and try to get to as many events as I can. Cardiff has a really good scene and independent companies.

Imagine you can only share one piece of advice with your fellow technicians, what would you say?

Keep a note of what equipment is called and where it’s stored. I spent two hours looking for spring balances before finding out the teacher meant newton meters.

… And imagine you can only share one tip with teachers about making a technician’s life easier, what would you say?

Look at the requisitions or practicals already ordered before adding yours to the list. Dealing with one practical is easy; dealing with four at the same time isn’t. If needed, move your practical to a different time instead of adding it and assuming it’s the most important.

What’s on your bookshelf? Or a favourite current read?

On my bookshelf is a mix of old classics and modern books. At the time of writing, I’m reading the new Clive Cussler book and re-reading The Girl Who Played with Fire for the first time since 2016. I try to keep up to date with the news so tend to have the BBC website open on my work computer along with my emails. I also enjoy my audiobooks (especially those narrated by Stephen Fry) and am currently listening to Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros when walking to and from work.

What is your favourite experiment to set up? Why?

Tell us about your most memorable moment as a school science technician

Two spring to mind. The first was a teacher (now retired) who requested the disappearing cross practical 11 times in 10 days and insisted that he did need it that often, so each class did it about four times. The other was helping our additional needs class carry out that practical. Although it’s a simple practical, the fact that there is clear and obvious change amazed them and made the lesson delightful.

If budget was no object, what’s one piece of kit you would love to have in your lab/prep room?

If money were no object, a fume cupboard for the biology prep room would come top of my list as it would allow me to have a dedicated space to prepare the chemicals (instead of just a space of worktop) and have a foul water drain for disposal. Otherwise, something that can really powerfully clean would be great. Cleaning beakers of a mix of zinc powder and copper sulfate is a nightmare.

Who’s your hero?

If I had to pick one person, then I would have to choose Muhammed Ali. He was blessed with amazing strength, the grace of a ballerina, a comedian’s quick wit, an intelligence that was at odds with his profession and a wrestler’s ability to talk. His opposition to the Vietnam War was one of his most outstanding moments. He took all the punishment dished out rather than change his beliefs.