Careers in science and engineering

By Mary Bigelow

Posted on 2018-05-09

The April edition of NSTA’s Science Scope includes the article Classic Lessons 2.0: What kind of person becomes a scientist?

Some teachers have used the draw-a-scientist activity to ascertain the (mis)conceptions students have about who scientists are and what they do. It’s encouraging to read studies such as U.S. Children Are Drawing Female Scientists Now More Than Ever and What We Learn From 50 Years of Kids Drawing Scientists

As the Science Scope Editor notes, “It is important that students are aware of the careers available to them and to have experiences that mirror the tasks a scientist performs when doing research and conducting experiments.”

Unfortunately, our students may not be familiar with the variety of career opportunities in the 21^stcentury. (Indeed, may of our students will participate in careers that don’t exist right now!)

For students of any age who are interested in careers in science and engineering, NSTA’s The Science Teacher features a “Career of the Month” column. This two-page article includes interviews with professionals who use science in their work, a description of the job (work overview, career knowledge, and skills), and career advice in a student-friendly, easy to read format.

Here is a sample of careers described in the 2013-2018 journals (access other years for more careers). Note that many are cross-disciplinary, incorporating not only science and engineering but also writing, creativity, technology, and the social science.(I personally was intrigued by Ethnobotanist and Forensic Entomologist!)

For more, see the SciLinks topics Biology Careers, Careers in Chemistry, Careers in Earth Science, Careers in Life Science, Careers in Environmental Science, Careers in Physics, Geologists, Paleontologists, Pharmacologist, Physiologist, Public Health Careers, Wildlife Biologists

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glaciernps/4427417055/in/photostream/

Careers in science and engineering

You may also like