why study science and maths?

Why study science and

maths?

Why study science and maths?

Keep your options openScience and maths:• Provide an excellent foundation• Enable you to study science or other

subjects further• Maximise career options in science but

also far beyond...


Become someone• Increase your chances of future

employment• Gain a highly respected and well paid

job• Become whoever you want to be in your

future…


BecauseScience and maths can help you:• Make sense of the world• Understand current issues• Develop transferable skills you will need

throughout life• Gain useful knowledge for many

different jobs, not just those in science


Making sense of the worldFrom mobile phones, computers and MP3 players

To papers, magazines, and adverts on TV

Asking advice from experts – doctors, dentists, vets, teachers

Making choices about the food we buy and eat

Driving cars and travelling on trains, buses, boats and planes

Managing our finances

Why study science and maths? Understanding current issues

• Alternative, sustainable energy resources• New communication technology• Combating climate change and global

warming• Genetically modified foods• New medicines and vaccines• Gene therapy• Bird flu


Transferable skills• Teamwork• Problem solving • IT • Communication • Numeracy

Why study science and maths? Teamwork skillsIn school• Working together during a chemistry

experimentAt work• A nurse – working to treat and monitor

critically or terminally ill patients• A lighting technician – setting up

equipment on stage at a concert venue

In school• Carrying out an investigation in maths

to prove a rule true or falseAt work• An architect – designing a building to

withstand vibration from heavy road traffic

• A computer games designer – working out the technical specifications behind the game


Problem solving skills

In school• Making a PowerPoint presentation to

the class of a project you’ve researchedAt work• A marketing manager – presenting the

latest sales figures of the competitor market

• A health records clerk – designing a database to hold confidential patient records and data in a hospital


IT skills


Communication skillsIn school• Explaining how to re-wire a plugAt work• Naval officer – training a team on

how to respond to an emergency • Civil engineer – directing

construction engineers in the building of a new bridge


Numeracy skillsIn school• Calculating mean (average) valuesAt work• Criminal intelligence analyst –

analysing statistics and data on patterns of crime

• Retail (shop) manager – estimating and forecasting future sales figures


You can do anything!

?painter decorator

carpenter

armed forces

vet

engineer

lawyer

hairdresser

forensic scientist

pilot

physiotherapist

nurse

journalist

electricianpop star

nursery nurse

fashion designer

secretaryoptician

primary school teacher

weather forecasterand endless others …

for more examples www.futuremorph.org


Job profiles

http://www.futuremorph.org/

Suresh uses science and maths …… laws of physics, to work out how to move heavy props… knowledge of materials’ properties, to deduce what to make the set from

Suresh works and communicates with people, such as: lighting engineers, sound engineers, set designers and set builders


Suresh Chawla, Theatre technician

Emma uses science and maths …

… knowledge of food science to test and develop foods… knowledge of sterilisation and other hygiene methods

Emma works and communicates with people, such as … factory workers, food standards agencies, health inspectors and ingredient suppliers


Emma Snead, Bakery manager

Campbell uses science and maths …… data collection and sampling, and analysis of results… knowledge of animal behaviour, diet, mating habits

Campbell works and communicates with people, such as … veterinary surgeons, farmers, bird staff and other biologists


Campbell Murn, Raptor biologist

Nina uses science and maths…… knowledge of coefficient of expansion, for fusing glass… maths knowledge to work out kiln programmes for firing glass

Nina works and communicates with people, such as … glass makers, electricians, other craftsmen and accountants


Nina Gronw-Lewis, Glass artist


Your GCSE options 1

1. Core Science GCSE

In addition to Core Science you should also take:

• Additional General Science GCSE or• Additional Applied Science GCSE


Your GCSE options 2

or:

2. Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSEs – as three separate GCSEs


Your GCSE options 3

or:

3. Applied Science Double Award – worth two GCSEs


Beyond GCSE

If you are hoping:• To study science beyond GCSE or• To pursue a career that is science-related

– it is advisable not to take only Core Science, as this could limit your options.


Maths GCSE

If you want to study any of the sciences at a higher level then

– a good grade in Maths GCSE is important.


Standard grades 1 – Scotland

You must take at least one of the following Standard grades:

• Biology• Chemistry• Physics• General Science (combines Biology,

Physics and Chemistry)


Standard grades 2 – Scotland

• If you take just one science Standard grade, your options for many careers using science will be limited

• You should take at least two science subjects from:– Biology– Physics– Chemistry


Standard grade maths

If you want to study any of the sciences at a higher level then

– a good grade in Maths Standard grade is important.


Where to find out more

• Teachers• Careers advisers• www.connexions-direct.com• www.futuremorph.org


Become someone• Keep your options open• Stay flexible and maximise your career

options• Increase your chances of future employment• Gain a highly respected and well paid job• Become whoever you want to be in your

future…

why study science and maths?

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