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Jonah
Student
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What kind of career is good for someone interested in the sciences.?
I am a 10th grade high school student. I have always been very interested in science and I dont really know what kind of science I am interested in because I like them all. I really like working with people as well and am wondering if there is a career that involves that as well.
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Tony Riccobono
Technical Program Manager
18
Answers
Huntington Beach, California
Updated
Tony’s Answer
Science is about understanding the world and how things work, and that is why many science careers involve research. If you are not sure which kind of science you would like to study, start by getting exposed to as many different science classes as you can in high school - not just "classic" sciences such as biology, chemistry and physics, but also sciences that deal with how people interact. While I always preferred science and math classes in school, my favorite course in high school was a philosophy class. And if you are still not sure once you enter college, consider colleges with strong and broad scientific offerings where you can get further exposure to different sciences before declaring a specific major. One way to find out more about what is involved in a particular science would be to look up the required courses for a major in that science (be sure to look up requirements for Masters and Doctorate degrees, not just undergraduate!).
As far as careers in science go, research is a common career path. Reasearch careers could be academic (at a university), commercial (at a company) or government (US government labs and agencies such as EPA, CDC, NSA, and DARPA all have research programs). But there are also careers that may not directly involve work in science but require or can leverage scientific knowledge (sometimes after a career in research). Medical doctors are one example where a scientific background is required. There are lawyers who focus on a scientific discipline in their practice, salespersons who require some scientific background to sell products that are highly scientific in nature (especially if they are selling a product to other scientists or engineers), and managers and executives of companies that sell highly technical products. And of course, there are science teachers at the high school and college level.
Some science-based roles will have more natural interaction with people than others, but any scientific role will interact with people at some level. If you are doing research at a university, you may also be a professor teaching undergraduate courses or advising graduate students. You will have the opportunity to author papers that you can present at academic conferences where you will interact with other scientists. If you are a scientist in the corporate world, in addition to papers and conferences you will be part of a team involved in product development, and as your career progresses you will have the opportunity to lead such a team or advise more junior persons on that team.
If you want to work with people, sometimes it's more about taking the initiative to make it happen than the role you are in. Be the person who volunteers to present at conferences or to be a spokesperson for your team - other team members may not want to do that. In both the academic world or the corporate world, you can reach out to other departments to understand what they do and to identify any synergies between your groups. And sometimes people interaction comes with the setting you are in rather than the role - companies and universities have various committees and clubs, not necessarily related to science, where you can participate and interact with other people.
Finally - to get more examples of different scientific careers, try looking up some job listings on sites like LinkedIn or Indeed. Your searches will yield a lot of "junk" that you will have to mentally filter out (just like Google), but you may find some interesting examples of jobs that require a scientific background.
As far as careers in science go, research is a common career path. Reasearch careers could be academic (at a university), commercial (at a company) or government (US government labs and agencies such as EPA, CDC, NSA, and DARPA all have research programs). But there are also careers that may not directly involve work in science but require or can leverage scientific knowledge (sometimes after a career in research). Medical doctors are one example where a scientific background is required. There are lawyers who focus on a scientific discipline in their practice, salespersons who require some scientific background to sell products that are highly scientific in nature (especially if they are selling a product to other scientists or engineers), and managers and executives of companies that sell highly technical products. And of course, there are science teachers at the high school and college level.
Some science-based roles will have more natural interaction with people than others, but any scientific role will interact with people at some level. If you are doing research at a university, you may also be a professor teaching undergraduate courses or advising graduate students. You will have the opportunity to author papers that you can present at academic conferences where you will interact with other scientists. If you are a scientist in the corporate world, in addition to papers and conferences you will be part of a team involved in product development, and as your career progresses you will have the opportunity to lead such a team or advise more junior persons on that team.
If you want to work with people, sometimes it's more about taking the initiative to make it happen than the role you are in. Be the person who volunteers to present at conferences or to be a spokesperson for your team - other team members may not want to do that. In both the academic world or the corporate world, you can reach out to other departments to understand what they do and to identify any synergies between your groups. And sometimes people interaction comes with the setting you are in rather than the role - companies and universities have various committees and clubs, not necessarily related to science, where you can participate and interact with other people.
Finally - to get more examples of different scientific careers, try looking up some job listings on sites like LinkedIn or Indeed. Your searches will yield a lot of "junk" that you will have to mentally filter out (just like Google), but you may find some interesting examples of jobs that require a scientific background.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6193
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Jonah,
Science should be a beacon of hope, a tool for bettering the lives of people, providing sustenance and shelter for those less fortunate, and addressing the issue of poverty - isn't that a noble cause?
Imagine an army of passionate young individuals, equipped with the knowledge and skills to alleviate the hunger of nearly a billion people worldwide, rather than being embroiled in conflicts like Putin's wars.
The choice is yours! Whether you choose to heal as a doctor or nurse, guide others towards better nutrition as a dietitian like myself, or extend your reach to remote areas through the World Health Organization, the possibilities are endless.
Embrace a career that uplifts others, one that enhances the quality of life, reduces illness, fights against disease, and nourishes the young. There is no greater calling than serving in healthcare institutions, a pursuit that truly validates the essence of our existence.
Thank You,
Jim.
Science should be a beacon of hope, a tool for bettering the lives of people, providing sustenance and shelter for those less fortunate, and addressing the issue of poverty - isn't that a noble cause?
Imagine an army of passionate young individuals, equipped with the knowledge and skills to alleviate the hunger of nearly a billion people worldwide, rather than being embroiled in conflicts like Putin's wars.
The choice is yours! Whether you choose to heal as a doctor or nurse, guide others towards better nutrition as a dietitian like myself, or extend your reach to remote areas through the World Health Organization, the possibilities are endless.
Embrace a career that uplifts others, one that enhances the quality of life, reduces illness, fights against disease, and nourishes the young. There is no greater calling than serving in healthcare institutions, a pursuit that truly validates the essence of our existence.
Thank You,
Jim.