CGC-ebook Sample Edition 4.0

Chemistry

What kind of person do I need to be? As a chemist you’ll need tenacity and perseverance especially if you intend to work in scientific research. You’ll need to have an analytical mind and be capable of communicating your findings in writing or through presentations. Knowing where your passion lies will help. Do you want to develop new medicines, investigate climate change, protect the environment, or perhaps analyse crime scenes? Your chosen career path could require you to have a genuine interest in the welfare of people, industrial processes or even in preserving works of ar t. How do I get there? To work successfully in the field of chemistry you will need a relevant degree and possibly a master’s qualification or a PhD. Universities offer a wide range of chemistry based degree subjects to suit your area of interest. Equally there are undergraduate courses that have links to chemistry such as medicine, dentistry veterinary science, geology and engineering. As an alternative a variety of diploma and apprenticeship routes are available. Depending on your are of interest you could train for a relevant qualification at level 2 or level 3 such as a Diploma in Laboratory Science or a Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants. A good star ting point is to achieve a minimum of 5 GCSEs including English, mathematics and science at Grade C or above.

What skills will I learn? As with other scientific disciplines, chemistry has the potential to help you acquire a diverse skillset. If you decide follow a career in scientific research you will learn how to solve problems through creative thinking and systematically record chemical proper ties, events and changes. You’ll also develop the ability to examine and interpret results while evaluating outcomes. In health care you may learn how to make a diagnosis, prescribe treatment or dispense medicines. In other job roles you could be discovering how to teach chemistry, provide veterinary care, manage environmental impact or assess commercial viability.