Exploring the different careers in science University of Leicester 1 st February 2012 Diana Garnham Chief Executive, The Science Council www.sciencecouncil.org
The Science Council A membership organisation for learned societies and professional bodies across science and its applications that works m to represent this sector to government and others. Currently 37 member bodies with 500,000 individual members Our priorities are to: • Foster co-operation and collaboration amongst member bodies • Influence science policy and strategy • Advance professionalism in science • Promote enhancement in the level and quality of scientific education, knowledge and skills in the UK • Encourage and stimulate the exchange of expertise by developing of collective approaches to the needs of the economy and of society www.sciencecouncil.org
Science Council Member Bodies Association for Clinical Biochemistry Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine Association of Neurophysiological Scientists Institute of Physics Association for Science Education Institute of Professional Soil Scientists British Academy of Audiology Institute of Science and Technology BCS/Chartered Institute for IT Institution of Chemical Engineers British Psychological Society Institution of Environmental Sciences Chartered Institution of Water and London Mathematical Society Environmental Management Mineralogical Society Energy Institute Nuclear Institute Geological Society of London Oil and Colour Chemists’ Association Institute of Biomedical Science Physiological Society Institute of Brewing and Distilling Royal Astronomical Society Institute of Clinical Research Royal Meteorological Society Institute of Corrosion Royal Society of Chemistry Institute of Food Science and Technology Royal Statistical Society Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Society for General Microbiology Technology Society of Biology Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining Society of Cardiological Science and Technology Institute of Mathematics and its Applications Society of Dyers & Colourists Institute of Measurement and Control
Professional recognition in science • Chartered Scientist (CSci) introduced in 2004 – Over 15,000 people registered across 25 professional bodies – Chartered Scientists are at the forefront of professional practice in science – Required to demonstrate professional competence through monitored CPD • Committed to professional development for those working in science at all levels – Introduction of professional recognition at graduate (RSci) level and technician (RSciTech) levels in 2012 www.sciencecouncil.org
Why professional? • Professional registers ensure expertise is properly recognised by employers and the scientific community • Provides individuals with a clear professional pathway • Ensures the progressive advancement of standards in the practice of science to underpin public trust and confidence in the practice and application of science • Builds a strong, connected and committed science workforce - crucially important in an innovation economy with high demand for those with science and technical skills at all levels – from technician to research director www.sciencecouncil.org
What is science? Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence Scientists are people who pursue and apply science – so not just about academic science and not just about post-graduates
Different types of STEM degrees chosen for different reasons? • Vocational – Medicine, dentistry, nursing, architecture and where qualification is often a license to practice • Occupation facing – Biomedical science, engineering, sports science, forensic science, physics with law, computer science • Generic or Academic – Core sciences, mathematics • Inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary degrees www.sciencecouncil.org
Where do STEM graduates go? • 51% STEM graduates not in STEM employment? Is that really true? If so, why? – CRAC research for BIS - STEM Graduates in Non-STEM job research indicates decision to leave STEM is active choice • Graduates not in graduate jobs? Is this really true? – Are there issues around the classification of jobs and employment sectors • STEM graduates all go to Financial Services? • But demand for STEM graduates and postgraduates continues (the ‘science mindset) www.sciencecouncil.org
Types of scientists • Career can be as a scientist, in science or from science – A scientist in a STEM environment – In science – combine with other skills to influence, support, promote, manage, lead, shape = science plus – From science – using STEM skills in a tertiary or other non-STEM environment
Just as not all footballers are the same…
… 10 types of scientist • Explorer • Investigator • Developer/Translational • Service provider/operational • Monitor/regulator • Entrepreneur • Communicator • Teacher • Business/Marketing • Policy maker
Developing a broader and thematic approach to employment sectors • Tendency to talk about industry rather than employers – Don’t forget non commercial and public sectors (including health, education and regulation) • Look beyond the global and leading national brands – Many of the ‘in’ science jobs are in their supply chains • Consider small and medium size enterprises – 58% of STEM graduates are employed in SMEs www.sciencecouncil.org
An over view of the Food Sector Water use Allergens Plant breeding Product Product handing Food safety Maintenance of Development the chill chain Cooking + Soil science Quality control preparation Transportation Pest control Catering outlets Primary Producers Food & Drink Consumers Wholesalers Agriculture + Manufacturers Horticulture Retailers Shelf life Display Storage testing (Ambient and chilled) Packaging Animal breeding Storage and Nutrition and Processing Transportation labelling & engineering Crop storage Food Sensory
The Current and Future UK Science Workforce • Research undertaken by TBR for Science Council and published in September 2011 – based primarily on the APS • New analysis considering science workforce across the entire economy rather than the traditional approach of employees in traditional STEM industries • Industry/occupation matrices used to produce new definition of: – core, related and non-science sectors – primary, secondary and non-science workers
Workforce Research methodology Employment Sectors • Core science sectors - primarily science based in their core activity. • Related science sectors - primary activity is not necessarily science based, but has a strong relationship to science. • Non science sectors - no science based or related activity. Workers • Primary science workers – occupations that are purely science based requiring the consistent application of scientific knowledge and skills in order to execute the role effectively. • Secondary science workers – occupations that are science related and require a mixed application of scientific knowledge and skills alongside other skill sets, which can be of greater importance to executing the role effectively. • Non-science workers – occupations that are not science based and have no requirement for science based knowledge or skills.
Science Workforce at a glance In the Workers related sector Primary 335,410 Secondary 2,624,170 Non-Science 7,974,400 Total 10,933,980 In the non-science Workers sector Primary 135,170 Secondary 584,150 Non-Science 11,610,100 Total 12,329,420 In the Workers core sector Primary 733,980 Secondary 1,378,490 Non-Science 3,267,710 Total 5,380,180
Shape of the UK Science Workforce • 20% of the workforce is employed in science roles – 5.8 million people – 1.2m primary science workers, 4.6m secondary science workers • Primary science occupations make up the largest share of the workforce in Research & Development. • Secondary science occupations make up the largest share of the workforce in the Education (46%), ICT (45%), Health (30%) and Consultancy (25%) sectors. • The Health and Education sectors employ 60% of the science workforce and the remaining 40% of the science workforce is distributed across a range of sectors . www.sciencecouncil.org
Shape of the UK Science Workforce • Science workforce is more complicate and disparate than previously understood • Only about 130,000 primary and secondary science workers in R&D • 72,000 primary science workers in education • 5.8million science workers in the economy, expected to rise to 7.1million in 2030 • Regional science employment distribution is very similar to total economy averages - 37.4% (2.1m) is located in the East, the South East and London. www.sciencecouncil.org
Core Science Workforce qualification profile 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 Graduate Postgrad 100,000 0 www.sciencecouncil.org
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