Change the world: study chemistry
Prizes and awards series
In the third of our series, some of our prizes and awards winners share words of wisdom for anyone who is considering further study or a career in chemistry.
Did you know that chemistry is already a vital part of your day-to-day life? It’s all around us.
From the oxygen you breathe to the food on your plate, chemistry underpins everything you can see, hear and feel.
This is why studying chemistry enables you to learn about the world around you like no other subject.
You could be #MakingTheDifference
Society’s biggest challenges need chemical scientists to develop solutions. Climate change, human health, sustainable energy… these issues impact us all.
Chemical scientists all over the world are working on these challenges, not just in isolation, but working alongside other disciplines, like biology and engineering. Teams of researchers are making important discoveries all the time and we recognise many of these through our prestigious Prizes and Awards.
What if you could work on ground-breaking chemistry research?
Just imagine. You could help develop a life-saving vaccine. Or invent a new way to cut air pollution. Or create a new type of biodegradable plastic. Studying chemistry can take you down many different paths, some of which are featured on our careers website, A Future in Chemistry.
Find your inspiration
Are you curious about the world around you? Do you like to know how things work? Do you ask questions?
If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these, the chances are that studying chemistry is a good choice for you. And, like any professional scientist will tell you, conducting your research before coming to a conclusion is essential.
A Future in Chemistry is great starting point. It’ll help you to explore your study options and the different jobs you can do with a chemistry qualification.
You can also take inspiration from others, like our community of Prizes and Awards winners. For this article, we asked them what advice they would give to a young person considering chemistry as a career (and they were only too happy to help!)
Look beyond the classroom
Katty O’Brien Quilty is studying towards a BSc in chemistry at the University of Greenwich. She says, "The best advice I could give to someone considering a career in chemistry is to see what extra-curricular activities and events are happening throughout the year – the RSC and other organisations are really eager to garner the interest of young people!"
"As well as being a good way to network and meet other people interested in chemistry, you can meet people in the industry and see what types of careers actually exist within the subject."
Chemistry was Katty's favourite subject at school and after her A-levels she spent a year travelling and researched different career options. And it paid off. In her crucial role as an analyst at Thames Water, Katty ensures that water is safe to drink and to release back into the eco-system. This year, she was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry Chemical Sciences Apprentice of the Year.
There are lots of ways to get involved with chemistry outside of the classroom.
After-school clubs, local events, online games (check out the resources on our website) are fun ways to explore your interest further.
Radha Boya, winner of the 2020 Marlow Award, was inspired by the story of Marie Curie and her discoveries. After completing her PhD, Radha secured a number of prestigious international research fellowships. Today, she works with her research group at the University of Manchester’s National Graphene Institute.
Like Marie Curie, Radha is driven by a passion for science.
"Pursuing what you love is a reward all of its own. Take up opportunities early on to get exposure to research and scientific methodology; for example, an internship or a research project. This will help you decide in a practical way whether a career in science is a way forward," says Radha.
Identify what it is that you care about
Understanding how chemistry can be used as a force for good is a powerful motivator. As we’ve already touched upon, we need chemical scientists to create a more sustainable and better world, for everyone.
How would you make the world better? What do you care about the most?
"What gets me out of bed in a morning is the motivation to make a tangible difference to the world…," says Vernon Gibson, visiting professor at Imperial College London, "whether through science or through scientific policy or a combination of the two."
Vernon's interest in chemistry flourished during his A-levels. He realised there were so many unanswered questions about how and why chemical reactions happen the way they do.
His curiosity led him to specialise in inorganic and organometallic chemistry. Vernon’s work in this area helped earn him the Royal Society of Chemistry 2020 Lord Lewis Prize.
Throughout his distinguished career, Vernon has held some high-profile roles, including that of chief scientific adviser at the Ministry of Defence. During his four years there, his knowledge of chemistry was put to good use in contribution to the safe elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons stockpile in 2013.
His advice is "don’t hesitate for a second before choosing a career in chemistry. Global challenges, such as climate change, antimicrobial resistance, health more generally, or environmental sustainability all have enormous need for chemical knowledge and practice."
Research different career paths
You might be surprised to learn that not all chemistry-related jobs involve wearing a white coat and safety glasses. In fact, you can explore job profiles at A Future in Chemistry. You could work in law, finance, journalism, the government, become a teacher… studying chemistry can set you on a path that leads to many different career options.
Amanda Hardy, winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry 2020 Inspirational Member Award, agrees.
"A career in chemistry is a great aspiration, the skills you learn are very transferrable and you might end up working in a cross-disciplinary team," she says.
Amanda combined her love of chemistry and biology and went on to study biochemistry at university. As Senior Outreach Officer for the Royal Society of Biology, Amanda uses her knowledge and passion for bioscience to educate, entertain and engage people of all ages, at festivals and community events.
"Whatever you do, if you love chemistry you should follow this up by learning as much as you can and seeing where opportunities take you. Future career options after studying chemistry can go beyond lab work, from becoming an astronaut or a Member of Parliament!
"If you work hard almost anything is possible. It does not matter where you start from or where you are from, if you have a lucky break and work hard, your future career can potentially take you in any direction you want."
Continue your research…
Visit our chemistry careers website, A Future in Chemistry. It will help answer some of the questions you might have, like:
- what are my study options?
- which qualifications do I need for university?
- what jobs can I do?
- what will I earn?
Explore real-life case studies and find inspiration in our #MakingTheDifference videos.
You can also find online games and resources on our dedicated education website.
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