The number of second-level students studying the hard sciences to Leaving Certificate has been dropping steadily over the past few years. Third-level colleges are thus finding it increasingly difficult to attract students into courses which are physics or chemistry-based.
This is particularly true at certificate and diploma level. The irony is that these courses afford excellent job prospects.
Dr John Hines, head of the school of science at Letterkenny IT, says there is a perception that science is a difficult profession.
Students see information technology as the way forward but they do not appreciate the extent to which science interacts with IT, he says. You still need the bench skills but high-technology instrumentation and data analysis are now an integral part of the process.
The Fate Of Primary Degree Graduates
The Higher Education Authority's report on the first destination of 1997 science graduates with primary degrees shows just more than half went directly into full-time employment. Almost 40 per cent went on to further education, training or research while 2.2 per cent were seeking employment on the date of the survey - April 30th, 1998.
Forty-four per cent went into private services such as insurance, financial, social and personal services while 39 per cent went into manufacturing and non-service industries such as food-processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electricity, mining and metal industries. A further 15 per cent found work in the public service.
Certificate/Diploma Graduates And The Workplace
The picture at certificate and diploma level reflects the increasing continuation of studies, often to degree level and beyond. More than 70 per cent of science students who graduated with certificates in 1997 went on to further study, presumably to diploma level. A further 22 per cent found full-time employment while 2 per cent were seeking work on April 30th last year.
At diploma level, just over half of the graduates went on to further study, presumably to degree level, 44 per cent went directly into full-time employment while 2.6 per cent were seeking work.
Climbing The Ladder
Maria Davoren is a Ph.D. student in the ecotoxicology unit in Athlone IT. She waxes lyrical on her work on agri-chemicals used to disinfect spent mushroom compost, so lyrical that she won the best speaker award at the third science research colloquium hosted by Tallaght IT.
The mushroom industry in Ireland is worth £70 million annually and employs 5,500 people. It generates 300,000 tonnes of spent compost which has to be disposed of. Maria began her studies at certificate level. She took a year out after her certificate in applied biology to work in industry and then returned to college to do a diploma in toxicology. From there, it was onwards to her Ph.D. It is very important for would-be science students to look carefully at the options offered by the institutes of technology.
In the CAO handbook you will find a column headed "qualification" after the course name. This may say +DP or +DG which means an add-on diploma (+DP) or degree (+DG) is available to eligible students. You should turn to the college prospectus and find out about the courses.
Choosing A Course
Choosing a science course can be daunting. The CAO handbook offers courses such as food science, earth science, biotechnology, human genetics, theoretical physics, sports and exercise science, equine science and pharmaceutical science.
To narrow your interest down to any one area, you should look at the common-entry programmes such as science/applied science in DIT, UCD, NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth and TCD. It is essential to read the college prospectuses to find out which subjects are offered and what combinations are permitted.
Dr Kingston Mills, dean of science at NUI Maynooth, says the college offers a double honours as well as single honours programme. "It is one of the universities where you can take a combination of biology and physics or chemistry and maths." DIT's applied science degree, FT222, is a two-subject degree, says Dr Siobhan Daly, first-year course director. In the first year, students take maths and two science subjects, as well as management studies and a language. In second year, they can choose maths and one or two science subjects. In third year, the options widen to include food science and food technology.
If you are interested in computer science, you should apply for FT225, the college's applied science-computing degree. Biology is not on offer under FT222 or FT225.
Dr Daly says there is a route to a degree for students who do the college's three-year applied science diploma. If they opt for physics they can transfer into the third year of the applied science degree. There are separate add-on programmes for those who take biology and chemistry to diploma level.
Science In The ITs
There are lots of exciting options in the ITs. IT Tralee offers certificates in applied biology, applied chemistry, photonics (electronics and optics) and aquaculture. Students of applied biology and chemistry can progress to a degree in analytical science which prepares them for a career in the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry and any sector which carries out biological and chemical research.
Graduates of the applied biology course can also progress to the college's diploma in food analysis with quality assurance. Photonics course graduates find work in electronic and telecommunications companies where sensor and scanning technology is used.
Diploma graduates who wish to progress to degree level can opt for the college's B.Sc. in analytical science with product/process development.
Dr Noel Mulligan, head of the college's department of chemical and life sciences, says the numbers going into chemistry and photonics are declining despite "the fantastic job opportunities . . . this reflects what is happening at second level where students see the hard sciences as difficult subjects."
Direct-Entry Programmes
If you are sure of the scientific discipline you want to study, direct-entry programmes afford you that opportunity from day one. The following are some of the many courses on offer:
Materials Science At UL
One of the most frequently asked questions about materials science goes something like this: "Materials science, is that about Dralon and other textiles?"
The stock reply from UL, which offers a degree in materials science, is: "NO!! Study of manmade or synthesised natural fibre substitute materials constitutes a very minor part of the course.
"The majority of the course is spent studying man-made and natural materials that can be made into useful engineering components, be they for aircraft, body implants or printed circuit boards. These include metals, alloys, polymers, ceramics, composites, semiconductors and optical materials.
"The course also examines how to develop and characterise new materials, and the important quality issues associated with manufacturing with materials."
If this interests you, you will be happy to find that the college reports almost 100 per cent Irish employment for 1998 graduates.
Biotechnology At DCU:
Prof Richard O'Kennedy of DCU says biotechnology is about the control and manufacture of biological systems, such as the fermentation of barley to produce alcohol or the use of biological systems to produce Interferon. As well as the basic sciences of microbiology and biochemis try, DCU's course includes a strong engineering component.
"The graduates don't just work at lab level, they can scale up to large-scale production," he says. The course includes management studies and students do an industrial placement in third year.
Agricultural Science At UCD:
Prof Joe Mannion, dean of the faculty of agriculture at UCD, says people do not realise how many doors a degree in agricultural science opens for students. "We conduct an employment survey of our graduates on an annual basis and over the last five years, the picture we are getting back is a very consistent one.
"Our latest results show about 60 per cent of our 1998 graduates were in employment within three months of leaving, while over 30 per cent opted to continue in postgraduate study or other training."
Dr Deirdre O'Connor, who is the associate dean for student affairs at the faculty, says: "We are known as a student-friendly faculty . . . there's an open-door policy and a friendly feeling about this place."
New Degree At UCC
UCC has introduced an honours degree in the chemistry of pharmaceutical compounds. This interdisciplinary programme includes chemistry, pharmacology and therapeutics, biochemistry, physiology, molecular biology and statistics.
Entry is through the chemical and biological sciences degree (CK402). The director of IBEC's Irish Pharmaceutical and Chemical Manufacturers' Federation, Mr Matt Moran, welcomed the degree, saying: "There is an urgent need for an increased supply of third-level science and engineering graduates to the sector".
Back To Art And Design:
In College Choice's attempt to find the way through the maze of art and design application procedures that face applicants, the January 19th column did not mention that the DIT has decided to discontinue the interview this year, on a trial basis.
Final selection is by means of portfolio assessment and Leaving Certificate.
Helpline
Students, parents and teachers with queries about colleges, courses and application procedures are invited to call the College Choice helpline between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. today. Tel: (01) 679 2099