Facilities around the world celebrated International Laboratory Animal Technician Week January 31–February 6, 2010. Thanks to all those who took the time to offer special recognition to those hardworking individuals at your institution. This year’s theme was “Technicians...The Heartbeat of Research.”

Tech Week Celebrations

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Here at UT Southwestern Medical Center, we had a wonderful Tech Week 2010. Events included costume contests, cage change races (using balloon animals!), and blindfolded PPE races. Technicians were awarded Peer Awards, and everyone received a goodie bag. The week ended with a pizza party and a North Campus vs. South Campus basketball tournament, refereed by our director and one of our veterinarians. It was the best Tech Week here in years!

WuXiAppTec

Here at WuXiAppTec, we love to celebrate Tech Week. It's a great time to thank our staff for all their hard work and dedication to research and bettering the lives of others. As is our tradition, we have a scavenger hunt that lasts through the week; we offer clues every morning until someone finds the grand prize, which this year was a Visa gift card. Tuesday morning our management team hosted a breakfast for all our technicians, with pancakes, sausage, fruit, juice, and coffee. We also made up goodie bags with items donated by our product vendors. Wednesday, we set aside time in the afternoon for our staff and played bingo. Thursday, we had a potluck lunch. We also had the technicians who wanted to get in teams and put on funny skits. We all voted on our favorite, and the winning team got a prize. Overall, it was a fun week, and our technicians could see how much they are appreciated.

Columbia University—Institute of Comparative Medicine

On the last day of Tech Week, a full luncheon was provided for the technicians. All of the veterinarians and supervisors made speeches showing our appreciation for the technicians. A PowerPoint presentation with pictures of our technicians from various events from the last 2 years was displayed throughout the luncheon. Prizes and conferences were raffled off at the end of the luncheon. It was a fun time for all.

Univ of Texas Health Science Center—Houston

During Tech Week I work closely with the local Houston Metro Coordinator to pull together a bowling event—this year's event involved 104 participants from 6 institutions. I spoke to the technicians on the benefits of becoming a TBAALAS member; afterwards, we all set out to enjoy some pizza and bowling. In-house, we passed out goodie bags and held an ice cream social with gift card door prizes and a PPE costume contest

University of Michigan

My institution planned a different activity each day of the week for the technicians. We played group board games during lunch time and providing dessert (cakes) during the activities. Goodie bags filled with a variety of candy were distributed to each tech. We also hosted a continental breakfast, an ice cream social, and a Movie Day complete with popcorn and ice cream (we played the new Star Trek movie).

Novartis

Novartis presented their technicians with a cake bearing the Tech Week logo.

Penn State Hershey, Comparative Medicine

We celebrated Tech Week with a different activity or gift each day of the week. We gave out Tech Week buttons on Monday to get the week started. On Tuesday, we gave out computer calendar strips, provided breakfast, and gave a tour of our clinical laboratory.

We had a technician party on Wednesday, where we gave out Tech Week certificates, survival kits, and door prizes. Our director, a clinical veterinarian, and the facility manager gave speeches and thanks to the technicians.

Our veterinary residents gave presentations on Thursday. We distributed 3D glasses, and the technicians took turns guessing at medical 3D images. Then we played Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, with questions about the facility, ALAT study information, and recent training sessions. Prizes were awarded for winners of both games.

Friday was “a day at the movies.” Two of our clinical veterinarians showed a bonus feature from the movie Ratatouille. While enjoying popcorn and candy, we were rewarded for our knowledge of laboratory rat history with treats—a fun way to incorporate learning into the celebration.

Tech Week celebrations are extremely important. Technicians are the heart of the facility; without their hard work and dedication, we would not be where we are today.

Washington National Primate Research Center

The Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) celebrated International Tech Week with potluck events and presentations for the Center’s more than 60 animal, research, veterinary, and engineering technicians.

Lisa Jones-Engel, senior research scientist in the Center’s International Programs Division, discussed how her career started as a laboratory technician and described how the knowledge gained from her early experience informed her later research and fieldwork. Shiu-Lok Hu, core staff scientist in the Center’s AIDS-Related Research Division, discussed recent progress in AIDS vaccine research and how work conducted at the Center more than 20 years ago is contributing to some promising results in human clinical trials.

“The technicians’ hard work and commitment to supporting research deserve special recognition, and I appreciate all who contributed to this effort,” said Dave Anderson, Center director.

2010 Tech Week Items and Celebration Ideas

Technicians…the Heartbeat of
Research poster
Display these eye-catching posters (11 x 17 inches) throughout your facility and in public areas to promote the 2010 Tech Week event.

Updated for 2010! “Suggestions for Recognition of Technicians” document
Want to do something really special for your techs during Tech Week this time? Check out this list of ideas! Updated every year with suggestions from AALAS members around the world, this tool is perfect for sparking ideas of how to celebrate the event at your facility. Don’t plan your event without it!

Tech Week Certificate

2010 Tech Week Logo

If you need the logo in a format not offered here, please email
webmaster@aalas.org.

“BAIT”—Branch Activities, Information, and Tips
A cool web page of tidbits for AALAS technicians and branch members. Includes presentations, articles, activities, and guidelines on personal and professional development, animal care and facilities, public outreach training, and branch meeting resources.

“Reach Out!” Public Outreach Materials
AALAS’ Reach Out! materials are perfect for planning a company-wide or community-based public outreach event during the 2008 Tech Week event. These downloadable materials offer motivation and encouragement for technicians interested in learning “how” to reach out to the public about the need for animals in biomedical research and provide the tools and resources needed to conduct successful public outreach sessions within their communities.

Other outreach materials:
AALAS Camp (4.25 mb)
 Public Outreach Downloads