Out of the LabIf your passion lies outside the lab it’s important to get as much experience as possible in your chosen area. In addition to the information below we also have a pdf factsheet Out of the Lab. Science CommunicationScience communication is an enormously rewarding but increasingly competitive field to enter. If this is where your interest lies it is important to get as much experience as possible because employers in this sector will be looking for evidence that you are enthusiastic and proactive. Volunteer to help out with your universities outreach events or some of the Science Festivals, British Science Festival, The Times Cheltenham Science Festival for example. There are a huge number of these events each year and some of the larger ones will pay expenses for travel and help out with finding accommodation. SGM's external relations department has a wide range of outreach activities. If you're a member, and are interested in helping out we'd love to hear from you (contact Vicki Symington). Offering your time to Science Centres and Museums in your area will also help you gain valuable experience. |
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Science WritingAgain experience is key; write for your university paper or department newsletter, submit a piece to a scientific writing competitions. The Biochemical Society, Medical Research Council and Society for Endocrinology run essay competitions. Your local paper may be interested in a piece if you are writing about something big in the news at the time. The worst case scenario is your piece gets rejected, and if at first you don’t succeed, try try try again! Become a member of the Association of British Science Writers, look into internships at science magazines New Scientist, Nature and BBC Focus Magazine. Setting up your own blog is another good way to get your writing out there and possibly get your name known. |
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Science PolicyScience policy aims to inform and influence government by providing accurate scientically sound information to aid policy decisions. If you are interested in getting involved in Science Policy apply for a Policy Placement. These placements (usually lasting a few months) are designed to give you a taste of what is involved in working in science policy. The British Ecological Society offers policy internships, there are also policy placements available to PhD students sponsored by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). LawIntellectual property or patent attorneys work with businesses and scientists to protect their inventions, products and ideas. As well as a strong scientific background you need further qualifications in law. Some law firms accept exceptional science graduates onto in-house training schemes. The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, together with the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys has responsibility for running these examinations. Once you've completed the qualifications you will be a member of the Register of Patent Agents and the Register of Trade Mark Agents. For more information visit the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and Intellectual Property Office. BusinessIf your interested in a career in business, most employers look for evidence of 'commercial awareness'. BBSRC runs a competition called Biotech YES (Young Entrepreneurs’ Scheme) which gives students a taste of what is involved in commercialising a research idea, complete with a dragons' den style panel that will assess your 'company'. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) are also a good way of getting some experience in a business setting. A KTP is a three-way project between a graduate, a business and a university/research organization. The projects are paid and generally last 1-2 year depending on the project. |
