Career pathways in science
Dr Robert Bowles
Royal Society of Chemistry
Career pathways in science
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Some thoughts on careers (in science)
Perceptions of science
Environmental careers
Professional recognition
Roles models and resources
Some thoughts
• Students now need to be preparing
for a 50 year career
• It WON’T be linear
• Today’s students will have 10-14 jobs
by the time they’re 38…..*
• Career ≠ Job
• Career = Lifelong learning journey
*Google: Did you know? Shift Happens 2014
Perceptions of science
Negatives
• Difficult choice beyond
GCSE
• Fear of making a mistake
• Stressful in the job and
getting the job
Positives
• Doing good
• Making an Impact
• For the future
BIS report: Project STEM book of insights: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/science-technologyengineering-and-maths-research-with-young-people
Environmental careers
Satellite Technology
Renewable energy technologies
Waste Management
Environmental Consultancy
Apprenticeship routes into
environmental careers
Advanced (Level 3)
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Higher (Level 4)
Access/Recreation Officer
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Ecologist
Environmental Management •
Officer
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Social Forester
Assistant Arboricultural Officer
Built Environment and Design •
Higher (Level 5)
Building & Surveying
Technician
Civil Engineering Technician
Built Environment
Sustainability
Environmental Supervisor
(Manufacturing Engineering)
Environmental Manufacturing
Planning Engineer
Project Manager
Higher (Level 6)
• Commercial Manager
• Quantity Surveyor
Professional recognition in the
sciences
• RSciTech: Registered Science
Technician
• RSci: Registered Scientist
• CChem: Chartered Chemist
• CSci: Chartered Scientist
– awarded by wide range of professional
bodies including the RSC, SOB
www.sciencecouncil.org
Examples of role models
Alastair Brownlee - Olympic Triathlete Gold medallist at London
2012 – degree in Sports Science and Physiology
http://www.rsc.org/careers/future/olympic-triathlete
Jessica Sales - a chemist at the beginning of her career, applies
her love for chemistry in an apprenticeship at SI Group-UK.
“I feel that apprenticeships are the best way into a science
profession as you gain practical as well as theoretical skills which
can help further your career and give you a starting point ahead of
people who may have just gone to university.”
http://www.rsc.org/diversity/175-faces/all-faces/jessica-sales-0
Dr Charles West - a professional footballer who became a chemist
http://www.rsc.org/diversity/175-faces/all-faces/dr-charles-westmrsc
Web Resources
• Chemistry
– A Future in Chemistry
www.rsc.org/careers/future
– 175 Faces of Chemistry
www.rsc.org/diversity/175-faces
• Biology
– societyofbiology.org/careers-andcpd/careers
• Physics
– www.physics.org/careers.asp
• All STEM: www.futuremorph.org
Get in touch!
• Robert Bowles
• Email: bowlesr@rsc.org
• Tel: 01223 432340
• LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbowles