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The University of NottinghamWhy do Alevel Science?I want to make the right decisions

Understanding science will help you make informed decisions

I want to understand my planet

I want to change the worldThen you need to understand it!

If you want to be influential you need to have some grasp of science. Weapons inspectors, biofuels, climate change (acificiation of oceans is buzz this week)5I dont know what I want to do laterYou could do these subjects with Alevel maths and physicsand some science will make you stand out from the crowd at interviewPoliticsEnglishArt historyAmerican studiesAncient historyMany of these subjects have NO preferred alevels.6I dont know what I want to do laterThese subjects all need maths and/or science or even several sciencesEngineeringEconomicsArchaeologyComputer scienceAstronomyVetAgriculture (2 sciences)Environmental science (2 science inc. Biology)American and Canadian literaturePoliticsFrench (french)Ancient historyArcheology (1 science)Viking studies (english, history)Art history and english (english)Classical civilization and art historyBiochemistry (Chemistry + science)Medicinal and biological chemistry (3 sciences)Chemistry and molecular physics (Maths + Physics and chemistry)Classical civiliationsEnglish studies (English)Economics (maths)ClassicsAncient GreekPPE Civil engineering (Maths + physics)Computer science (science maths or CS) Creative writing Fine art (foundation)Design engineering (Maths)Electronic engineering (maths and sicence)Film studies

Finance and Accounting Management studiesFood science (2 science chemistry)Genetics (biology)Geography (geography)History (history)International relationsLatinLawMaths (maths)Mechanical engineering (maths)Midwifery (science)Music (music)Neuroscience (Biology + science)PhilosophyPharmacy (Chemistry + biology)PsychologyMedicine (Chemistry and Biology)SociologyTheologyVeterinary medicine (Chemistry and biology)Zoology (Biology + science)

7I dont know what I want to do laterDo physics and keep your options openMany of these subjects have NO preferred alevels.8I want to get a good jobLots of jobs use maths

Doing physics shows you know how to use maths in the real world.. (more than maths does!)

Climate change, acidic oceans is topical today. Mrs Thatcher was not only our first female prime minister, she was our first scientist prime minister. Although there are many mixed opinions on her legacy it is clear she did one thing she was the first politician to put climate change on the international agenda, in a shocking talk to the UN in 1988.9I want to get a good jobLots of jobs use maths

Doing physics shows you know how to use maths in the real world.. (more than maths does!)

What is the risk of the Trent flooding? How much will this cost the insurance company?

If we change this car from running on ethanol to petrol, how much will it cost and how much will it change its carbon footprint?

If we need to deliver 30 mg of morphine to this patient per hour, and the bottle of morphine I have here contains 150 g in 500 ml, how fast must I set the syringe pump?

Climate change, acidic oceans is topical today. Mrs Thatcher was not only our first female prime minister, she was our first scientist prime minister. Although there are many mixed opinions on her legacy it is clear she did one thing she was the first politician to put climate change on the international agenda, in a shocking talk to the UN in 1988.10Do physics Alevel to make your CV stand out from the crowdEmployers know physics is harder than other subjects, people with physics are assumed to be clever!

Why do a degree in physics?

Technical JournalistReactor physicistAir Traffic ControllerResearch and Design Engineer(Formula 1)AuditorAnalyst ProgrammerRoyal Air Force NavigatorWeb DeveloperEngineerEnvironmental modellerChartered AcoountantRAF AirmanIntegration EngineerComputer AnalystCivil ServantRoad Safety ResearcherSystem AnalystAudiology TechnicianComputer ProgrammerMedical PhysicistAccoustics EngineerBBC Executive EditorHealth PhysicistRadiotherapy PhysicistPatent AttorneyQuality EngineerGeophysicistHeadmasterLecturerAerospace EngineerSoftware ScientistBank ManagerRadiological EngineerAccountantTax InspectorSoftware EngineerTechnical ArchitectAvionics InstructorSenior MetalurgistInvestement BankerElectronic EngineerPrincipal BioengineerTeacherHead of DerivativesMeteorologistPlasma Heating PhysicistClinical ScientistOil TraderFreelance CamermanPilotProfessorWhere our students have gone recently

Jonathan Neale Physics (1984)Managing Director, Mc Laren Racing21: joined Phillips Defence Systems and worked on electronic systems for submarines. 28: moved to BAE systems as Project Design Engineer on turboprop aircraft32: got MBA (Business management degree)36: made Managing Director of the Hawk Fast Jet Programme38: joined McLaren Racing, as Operations Director taking responsibility for manufacturing, supply chain, transport and logistics and purchasing41: appointed Managing Director, became more involved in the technical strategy and direction of McLaren Racing.

Jacquelyn CounterPhysics (1991)Squadron Leader for RAFGained her wings in 1996Two childrenFlies Nimrods, P3 Orion aircraft Has worked in Scotland, London, The Gulf, Malaysia, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand and USAPhysics helped with principles of navigation, flight characteristics, and use of complex technical equipment, particularly for recent Research and Development Post with US Navy.Be a physics student!

Make sure you do the right AlevelsMinimum of physics and maths(Ideally physics and double maths)

Do you want to well paid and interesting job?People with physics degrees are the highest paid graduates after only doctors and lawyers

Current annual salary of physics graduates (living in Scotland 2009)More than 50% of physics graduates earned more than 40,000

Work all around the world!(living in Scotland 2009)Climate change, acidic oceans is topical today. Mrs Thatcher was not only our first female prime minister, she was our first scientist prime minister. Although there are many mixed opinions on her legacy it is clear she did one thing she was the first politician to put climate change on the international agenda, in a shocking talk to the UN in 1988.24Yes, physics is HARD but rewarding!

PhD students taking a rest from a conference in Hawaii

Even if you arent interested in physics, make absolutely sure that the post 16 course you are doing Is compatible with what you want to do in the futureWont limit your options in the future

Also make sure you have the right GCSEs (eg do you need a grade B in maths for your chosen degree?http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/media/informed-choices/InformedChoices-latest.pdfDont use next slides- not apprpriate for year 10 I think unless someone aske the questionI want to be a doctorI asked a doctor who had done a physics degree

It helped him to devise a method of studying how the brain works understand the body, from walking to blood flow understand how science works and how to use it in medicine

To understand how science works: science creates models of reality rather than establishing immutable truths, and that models differ in their utility in different circumstances. I think this has helped me immensely as a scientist and also as a doctor. To understand physiology, from gait analysis to pharmakokinetics

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