Chemistry as a Career
One of the most important considerations in chemical education is the viability of chemistry as career for future graduates or postgraduates. We describe below some favorable and unfavorable considerations about chemistry.
Cons:
- low social standing of Chemistry and Chemists
(comparable to tax inspectors, traffic wardens, journalists)
- decline in the traditional chemistry jobs
- decline in the morale in academic chemistry (funding problems, department closures)
- more than half of chemistry graduates are employed outside traditional chemistry areas
Pros:
- Chemistry still operates at the "cutting edge" of Science
(but the new breed of chemists work at the fringes of traditional chemistry)
- emergence of new jobs for graduates & postgraduates (in financial, IT sectors)
- demand for flexible working attitudes, lateral & creative thinking
(in which the graduate's training should be most useful)
- demand for new skills (critical, analytical skills, communication skills)
Consequence: a need for greater diversity in chemical education, leading to several types of chemistry degrees in the future???
We present a brief description of awareness courses for the new profile of science graduates and postgraduates at National University of Singapore.
Courses & students:
- SF1100 "Science Foundation" module
(400 1st year science undergraduates, predominantly web based instruction)
- CM5181 "Scientific Methodology" module
(60 chemistry postgraduates)
Method of assessment:
Several written, open book tests containing multiple-choice questions.
Examples of assessment questions:
(correct answers are in bold):
What is the greatest benefit that Chemistry has conveyed to modern Society?
(A)
invention of plastics
(B)
synthesis of agrochemicals
(C)
manufacture of pharmaceuticals
(D)
processing of fuels
(E)
none of the above
Which of the following is not the source of gases producing acid rain?
(A)
volcanoes
(B)
burning coal
(C)
burning oil
(D)
burning propane
(E)
none of the above
When in 1918 F. Haber was awarded Nobel prize for chemistry, some scientists protested about it. Why?
(A)
Because Haber was German and Germany started WWI
(B)
Because he did not merit the award
(C)
Because he was of Jewish ethnic origin
(D)
Because he initiated the development of chemical weapons
(E)
Because his ammonia synthesis was crucial for manufacture of ammunition/weapons
Which scheme describes best the relationships between Science (SCI), Society (SOC) and physical environment (E)? The double-headed arrows designate mutual interactions.
