A career is more than a job, it includes your of living, goals in life, and may determine who are your friends. Would you like a career that pays a good income, involves fame, adventurous, or is on the cutting edge of technology? Or probably a job that offers security and chances for achievement. Some careers relies on your personal abilities such as talent, workmanship, intelligence, dexterity, reading comprehension, or mathematical skills. Others stress your personal qualities such as honesty or friendliness. The interests that you identified plays a key role in choosing your career.
If one of your interest including science, a career in science may be right for
you. A scientist's character generally includes:
When we mention the word scientist, we are referring to people working under the major heading of science. There are other scientist such as chefs, that employ science into their everyday life. Science generally consists of three major headings: biology , chemistry, and physics. In recent years, the lines among these heading have usually blurred creating interdisciplinary sciences such as biochemistry and biophysics. The scientific process consists of observing the physical world, formulating a hypothesis, interpret ing the results, forming a conclusion, and in some cases applying the end results.
Biology includes a broad spectrum of subjects including identification and classification of living organisms, molecular events in cells, and the environment. Chemistry can be separated in five subdivisions: inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry. Inorganic chemistry look at all chemical elements except hydrocarbons, whereas organic chemists concentrate on mainly hydrocarbons. Analytical chemists identify substances and separate mixtures. Physical chemists deal with the structure and chemical nature of matter. Biochemists study chemical reactions and pathways in living organisms. Physics is divided between an experimental and theoretical areas. Interdisciplinary areas include biochemistry, biophysics, geochemistry, and astrochemistry.
Other areas of science includes mathematics and computers. Most mathematicians generally work in schools, colleges and university. The few that work in industry work to problems using applied math and may placed on a team with engineers and scientists. Computer scientists works with computer technology in the form of computer programming, systems analysis, and developing computer networks.
Scientist use the scientific method on a daily basis. It is a general guide for conducting science. The scientific method includes observation of a problem or feature, generalization, forming a hypothesis, performing an experiment, and developing a theory. At all of these steps, communication is vital. Communication can come in the form of papers, symposiums, and lectures.
For scientists, publications and experience helps to build their reputation. It should be noted in some cases the reputation of a scientists who is continually publishing papers can have a greater reputation than the scientist who seldom publishes a paper. Presenting your work at scientific conferences and knowing that you are contributing to your field is what brings enjoyment to many scientists. The pure joy of making a scientific discovery or finding out something new is what drive many scientists. For others, it is knowing that their work will benefit others, save lives, or help the planet. A common goal for all scientists is to contribute to the existing knowledge base.
Professional headings in science includes engineering and medicine. To enter medicine, specialized education is required after college, whereas engineers are constantly continuing their education to keep up with technology.
Engineers general work in industry and government in agencies like NASA, defense, and transportation. Electrical engineers work in communication, storage of electronic data, and computers. Aerospace and Aeronautical engineers work in aircraft and spacecraft industries. Chemical engineers design and operate chemical plants and equipment. Civil engineers are involved in the construction of roads, bridges, and transportation areas. Some fields such as robotics combine science and engineering. General ly engineers are analytical and creative in nature, and are continually in education to keep with the latest technology.
Careers in medicine include physicians, family doctors, surgeons, medical scientists, pediatricians, and radiologists. These doctors use their knowledge of medicine to provide an accurate diagnoses of their patients. Doctors generally are people who want to help others, solve problems, and lead a team.
The supply and demand for scientists has moved back and forth like a wave throughout history. Recently, in the 1980's, NASA established a hiring freeze. Many scientists and engineers who would have gone to or were cut from NASA had no jobs. Instead, some created jobs for themselves (e.g., setting up a toy factory, running an airplane repair shop, designing and creating a new product), took teaching jobs, or went to work for industry. Today, a big problem for new scientists with Ph.D.s is the lack of a teaching position at a university or college. Most professors in colleges now have Ph.D.s dating into the late 1960's to the early 1970's. Most professors tend to keep their jobs for a very long period of time. The hottest scientist in demand today is probably computer scientists. The computer field has made leaps and bounds technology wise and is moving at a fast pace.
Here a general breakdown of employers who hire scientists and engineers:
Most scientists face a life long financial struggle. Research scientists also spend a large portion of their time look for financial funds and writing for grants to back their work. Some scientists do another job to fund their work. If you are person who is looking to make a lot of money and have intellectual interests, being a scientist may mean that you will have to compromise both.
We hope that by reading this you will have gained a general idea of the road that lies ahead as a scientist. If the road seem bleak, we did not mean to scare you. In today world, the general stereotype of scientist is constantly fading. If you enjoy the science classes you are taking now, the risks of being a scientist will seem negligible. That same excitement that you are feeling now will stretch into years as a scientist, engineer, or a medical doctor / researcher. We think that science is fun and exciting. To see for y ourself chose an area of science on the next page, entering it on a search engine, and ride the train of the world wide web into the world of science. We hope that this has exposed or offer a glimpse into the world of science.
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