6 May 2015
The annual SCI Day of Science and Careers event, held on Monday 27 April at SCI in London, was again a very successful event and we were delighted to receive thanks from several participants for organizing the meeting. Almost 40 people attended to find out about the wide range of careers covered in the chemical, chemical using and related industries and to network with each other. The day was split into three sessions of presentations and ended with a wine and nibbles networking session.
The first session began with how to start out in academia and in industry. Dr Samantha Alsbury (Greenwich University) spoke about her experience in academia, described her career path, pros and cons, how to get a job in the sector and how to prepare for the job. Dr Kevin Back (Pfizer) discussed his experience starting out and working in industry and the advantages of having a PhD or not. The session continued with Chloe Booth (ProMetic Biosciences) describing what it is like to work for her organisation, a Biosciences SME, and she also gave advice on how to further one’s career. At the end, Tim Reynolds chaired a lively half hour of questions, suggestions and discussion.
Lunch was a great opportunity for delegates to network and chat with each other as they discussed what they had learned that morning. Many delegates swapped the pre-prepared business cards, which had been given to them earlier, so that they could keep in contact with each other after the event.
The second session started with an insight into working for both a chemical SME and a big Petrochemicals organisation. Trevor Rhodes (Harman Technology) described what SME’s are and what it is like to work for one of them, while Dr Andy Greenhall (Shell) explained the recruitment process in a big Petrochemicals corporation and his experience working in it and as Shell’s liaison officer with Ferrari on the F1 circuit! After this, we heard from Marie Connor (Innospec) who told us about managing health and safety in a chemical plant. At the end of the session delegates had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss what they had learnt.
In the third and final session Dr Inna Baigozina-Goreli (A.T.Kearney) gave her view on the type of work a consultant for the chemical industries can expect to perform. After this Dan Woollaston (Harrison Goddard Foote) spoke about his career as a Patent attorney and described what the job entails. The final presentation, about how to apply for a first job, was given by Dr Ben Carter (St Andrews University). Ben also included the meta-academic related options and gave advice on what makes a good application and where to look for jobs.
The day ended with a wine reception, which gave opportunities for further networking and offered delegates a further chance to ask questions and chat with the speakers.
The next Day of Science and Careers event will take place on 1 June 2015 in Aberdeen, Scotland and we look forward to welcoming you there!
A selection of the presentations is now online and available to download, via the link below.
Alan Heaton
Prof Alan Heaton
Chair of Early Careers Support Sub Committee
Principal of College of Scholars
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