With two in five students saying they are interested in science related careers why do we need to worry about the scientific competitiveness of the UK on the global stage?
Findings from the Wellcome Trust’s Science Education Tracker show that this number comes from some specific demographics and there is still work to be done in communicating to all young people that science and other technology, engineering and mathematics careers are for them. In particular young white women are much less inclined to pursue a science related career.
This is where aspirational role models, like STEM Ambassadors, become very important – if an individual can meet someone who is doing an interesting job related to science and is “just like me” then the barriers to achieving a similar career path start to break down.
Additional motivation for studying science further and into a career can come from extra curricula science vents or having strong family science networks.
Science capital development is a contributor as well in influencing a young person’s understanding and enjoyment of science. Families, and in particular mothers, facilitate access to science centres and museums which all help to develop science capital.
It’s also worth understanding that studying science won’t close any doors – capable individuals with analytical minds are sort after in many job markets and sectors. The global job market is dynamic with new and emerging industries entering all the time – many jobs common today did not exist ten years ago. Studying science subjects will allow young people to stay flexible and adapt to working in new industries.
Future careers could involve designing and installing offshore wind turbines, research and development into new types of antibiotics, being part of a team bringing the next generation of vacuum tube trains to Europe, working on UK cyber defence or contributing advancements in safely taking humans back to the Moon or beyond.
Even jobs not traditionally associated with STEM increasingly have STEM requirements. In marketing, for example, knowledge of big data, digital or code is becoming ever more relevant to the job.