• Question: What advice would you give to someone who is looking for a career in mathematics or the sciences?

    Asked by anon-335038 on 3 Oct 2022.
    • Photo: Mark McGrady

      Mark McGrady answered on 3 Oct 2022:

      Based on my own personal experience, my biggest piece of advice would be to keep all of your options open. Although I went to university to study Chemistry, in my first year I did elective classes in Maths and Physics as I had enjoyed those subjects at school. I decided to remain on the Chemistry degree after 1st year, but I don’t regret doing those other classes.
      Similarly I had always thought that I’d like to go into teaching, whether in a high school or university environment, once I graduated. And whilst I enjoyed the year I spent teaching in the undergraduate laboratory, I love the job that I do now. Yet at no point did I ever see myself in polymer chemistry for a career.
      There are lots of different routes and roles available to anyone who has an interest in any of the sciences, so by keeping an open mind on what career you’d like to pursue, you will open yourself up to a wide range of possibilities.

    • Photo: Miray Yasar

      Miray Yasar answered on 4 Oct 2022:

      Hi Sam,
      It may be useful to attend some activities or summer courses related to science or mathematics to understand if you are really enjoying it or not. By this way you can understand which area you are more interested in while learning lots of science.

    • Photo: Dan Day

      Dan Day answered on 4 Oct 2022:

      There are so many options for different careers in science and maths! And also many different career paths in general. If you are looking at going to university, have a look at the different courses there are on offer and think about what in particular you enjoy in those subjects – it’s really important to do something that you find interesting and like

      If you aren’t looking to go to university, look around for different jobs or apprenticeships within companies that give you training on the job

    • Photo: Justin Perry

      Justin Perry answered on 4 Oct 2022:

      If you are interested in a career in science, it is good to know not only what your current course is teaching you but also what else is out there both in your area and intellectually adjacent to it. This way you can work out what sort of jobs are recruiting as well as being enthused by the science! It is also a classic interviewers’ question to ask what science you know about which isn’t your exact field as it shows breadth and adaptability.
      I think one of the best ways to keep up to date with what’s happening in science is to listen to either of the BBC’s weekly science shows as a podcast… (and not be afraid to fast forward bits that don’t really interest you!)
      https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036f7w2 BBC Radio 4’s Inside Science
      https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct369k BBC World Services, Science in Action

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