Erase the stereotypical image of the scientist wearing a white lab coat from your mind - although this representation does exist in the sciences, occupations in STEM fields far exceed this perception. In today’s world, there is dimensionality when it comes to the modern day scientist. Whether you are an innovator looking to change the world or a researcher wanting to explain the world, there are all sorts of careers that can come out of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The Science Council has recognized 10 different types of scientists: the Communicator, Developer, Entrepreneur, Explorer, Investigator, Service Provider, Policy Maker, Professional, Regulator and Teacher. Read on to find out more about these different types of scientists:
This individual communicates messages about scientific and technological knowledge to the world. They are effective communicators who enthuse and inform people while understanding how the media and other communication channels work.
Communicators are involved in areas including TV and radio, marketing and advertising, as well as regulation and public affairs.
This scientist transforms the knowledge discovered by others into something that is more practical. A problem-solver, the Developer works on creating new products and services, technology development and the application of existing technologies to new settings.
Find them in research environments and potentially working alongside the Entrepreneur and Business scientists.
The Entrepreneurial scientist uses their science knowledge and connections to create opportunities for innovation. This person has a strong understanding of business and uses scientific invention for profit and job creation.
They work across different sectors and industries.
This scientist is a risk-taker who takes a fresh approach to research in hopes of scientific discovery. They “boldy go where no one has gone before” in hopes to discover scientific understanding and knowledge.
The Explorer will be found working in Research & Development (R&D) for an organization/company, a research centre or university.
The Investigator pieces together in-depth knowledge and data to better map out the scientific landscape for others. They see connections between ideas by observing and understanding the unknown.
Similar to the Explorer, they can be found in a university, research centre, or doing Research & Development (R&D) for an organization.
Service Providers are those that perform key scientific tasks and provide operational scientific services in special labs. They generally test, set up or are the ones who carry out experiments.
This scientist works in laboratories and other support service environments across sectors and industries. These scientists are essential to health services, research, education, food science and forensic science.
Described as part scientist and part politician, this scientist uses a combination of science and technical knowledge along with an understanding of government and policy to ensure that law and policy are based on reliable evidence. Their skills involve strong communication, people and negotiation skills and decision-making.
Find this scientist involved in various environments including government and parliament, non-government organizations (NGOs), charities and campaigning groups.
This type of scientist has exceptional skills when it comes to science, technology and business. They make use of their technical knowledge across a varety of roles and thrive in a business environment.
There is a high demand for the Professional scientist across different industires, from pharmaceuticals to IT and product development.
Through monitoring and regulation, this scientist uses scientific knowledge to reassure the safety and reliability of certain science and technologies to the public. They work with other scientists to understand the processes involved in the use of certain applications to communicate to the public.
The Regulator scientist be found working in regulatory agencies such as the Food Standards Agency, as well as a range of testing and measurement services.
The Teacher scientist has a passion for science and uses their knowledge and understanding of the subject to inspire others. Trained in science, they develop tools for teaching and learning to instruct the next generation of scientists.
They work in schools, colleges, universities and other educational institutions.