A generation ago, careers in science led to involvement in groundbreaking technological advances that brought man to the moon and pushed back the boundaries of our knowledge.
Studying science was exciting and attracted the brightest and the best. Today, studying science is seen as a national duty, almost at the level of a moral imperative, which is my view, is totally off-putting to students. The idea of a big poster saying "Science needs you" does not appeal to today's students.
Why study science?
Take a science course if you enjoy discovery, innovation and understanding how the world works. Have you enjoyed studying the science subject or subjects you are currently taking for the Leaving Certificate?
If you have, it is a good bet that you will enjoy studying a science certificate or degree programme in college.
There are excellent opportunities for employment now and in the future.
Three different Government reports suggest that the demand for scientists here will grow much faster than supply over the next few years, which is good news for 2007 Leaving Certificate students.
Ireland may even need to double the number of scientists by 2013, which will be a tough challenge to meet.
The result is that when you graduate you will be in a buyer's market.
Career prospects?
Science graduates with the right subject combinations can expect to gain employment and command good starting salaries following graduation. Science faculties are constantly in communication with potential employers, seeking to recruit suitably qualified recent graduates.
Starting salaries for science, engineering and technology graduates are amongst the highest of all Irish graduates.
What are the benefits of a broad-based science degree?
Most universities and ITs have diversified the variety of science options available by offering small numbers of places on highly specialised programmes.
Details of all 237 courses on offer through the CAO can be found by entering "science" as the key word in the course search area of the www. qualifax.ie website.
These courses are suitable for students who have already determined the specialised options which they wish to study over three to four years.
For the majority of students who have not progressed beyond an enjoyment of the science subjects, they are currently studying at school; there is still great benefit to following a broad-based general science degree programme which continues to be offered by all colleges.
Employers' perspective
Most employers say that a range of broad scientific skills around numeracy and innovation are more important than the specific subjects chosen.
A broad-based science degree that allows specialisation as you progress through your degree is ideal in these circumstances. Firstly, you have real options to sample different aspects of science. Flexibility is a key attraction to these programmes.
However, you do need to be careful about your choices. For example, a company looking for a chemistry graduate will expect students to have studied core aspects of chemistry and may look less favourably on options or modules that are irrelevant to that area.
Students should have an eye to potential post-graduate and employment opportunities, when selecting their subject options as they progress.
Some popular science myths
"The only jobs for science graduates are as teachers or lecturers."
Not true; engineers and computer scientists are employed in all sectors of the economy.
Mathematicians are in demand by the financial sector and biologists and chemists tend to be employed in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Teachers and lecturers are very much a minority pursuit.
"You need to be a mad scientist type to succeed in science."
The image of the grey-haired male scientist working with a fiendish creation is a myth. Most scientists work in multi- disciplinary teams and are increasing female. You need to be hard working and innovative and, most of all, enjoy science.