6 Ways To Use Your Science Degree

Studying for a science degree could end up being a very good financial investment - according to a 2005 study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, a degree in physics or chemistry has the potential to earn you 30% more throughout your working life than someone with just A-levels. The difference for students of humanities degrees was much lower - only up to 15%.

What sort of career awaits the science graduate, though? If you're stuck for ideas and you're looking for something a little bit more exciting than simply becoming a science teacher, we have a few ideas that you might not have thought of.

Computer Games Design

You could put your degree and a love of computer games to a great use at the same time -the computer games industry is predicted to keep growing over the coming five years, and science graduates are more than welcome to join the team. In this fast-moving industry it's estimated that around 20% of graduates have a science or maths degree.

If you're lucky enough to have a degree in physics, you will be even more demand with the games designers because they like to use the type of skills demonstrated by physics graduates to help make their games look more realistic. As such, physics graduates tend to get paid more than most other types of graduate.

Alternative Energy Development

Be a part of the revolution in renewable energy - the renewable energy sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK, and your degree may well be in demand here. If you have an engineering degree, you don't just have to stick to the obvious areas like construction or manufacturing - there are a plethora of interesting career opportunities for graduates in the alternative energy sector, where you can use your skills to help develop the energy of the future, and come up with effective methods to produce solar, wind or tidal energy.

As an engineer you could become involved in anything, from designing wind turbines to finding ways of turning landfill gases into green fuel.

DNA Research and Testing

If you have an interest in DNA and genetics and a have degree in one of the sciences, you might also consider pursuing a career in genetic counselling. This involves advising couples looking for genetic testing to determine whether their child is likely to inherit a disease or disorder.

If you prefer the research side of genetics to the person-facing side, you could also look into a career as a clinical molecular geneticist, as this is mainly a lab-based job. You would be working on analysing and testing DNA specimens using DNA sequencing and other genetic research techniques. The NHS, universities and government agencies employ geneticists, but the competition for these jobs is fierce.

Forensic Science

If you work in the field of forensic science, the majority of your work will be in a laboratory, looking for traces of specific substances like blood, semen or explosives. You'll have to be meticulous and thorough as most of the time you're trying to prove or disprove a suspect's link to a crime of some description.

This type of career suits science graduates with an analytical mind and a curious nature, who enjoy working in a laboratory. It also helps if you have good interpersonal skills and are able to deal with difficult situations, as you'll be expected to gather evidence from crime scenes and sometimes give evidence in court.

Toxicology

You could work for a hospital, an agency like the Health and Safety Executive or Environment Agency, or as a specialist consultant in toxicology, if you have a good degree in one of the biological sciences, or chemistry. Toxicologists use analytical and scientific techniques to identify toxins (chemicals, radiation and naturally toxic substances) and to assess their potential risks.

You'd be spending most of your time working in a laboratory, carrying out controlled experiments and tests, and you'll need to be good at interpreting data as there is a lot of research and analysis involved. Depending on who you find yourself working for, you could even find yourself being called upon to give evidence in court.

Environmental Management

Most organisations now have to have someone tasked with the responsibility of ensuring environmental compliance and awareness, so there are plenty of opportunities for environmental managers.

In this role, you would be responsible for overseeing the environmental performance of an organisation or company, and also for coming up with workable environmental strategies, implementing them and making sure they are complied with. You can also expect to have to write reports and compile statistics for your company. If you have an interest in the environment and an aptitude for understanding legislation, this could be the career for you.

Who said that your career options would be limited if you studied one of the sciences? There's a world of jobs out there waiting for you!

Editor's Note: Written by Michael Palmer, an Oxford based business graduate.

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