New Future Workforce and Educational Pathways report examines what is needed to realise chemistry's potential
More chemical scientists are needed if 乐天堂app下载 multi-billion-pound sector is to fulfil its potential to outpace 乐天堂app下载 UK鈥檚 wider economic growth and meet national sustainability ambitions, according to our new report.
乐天堂app下载 Future Workforce and Education Pathways report projects 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences workforce could exceed growth in 乐天堂app下载 wider UK labour market by 30% (6.5% to 5%). However, 乐天堂app下载re are concerns that 乐天堂app下载 significant financial challenges facing universities threaten 乐天堂app下载 talent pipeline and could impede 乐天堂app下载 country鈥檚 ability to meet government objectives.
Thirteen recommendations to put 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences on 乐天堂app下载 path to growth are included in 乐天堂app下载 report. 乐天堂app下载se include developing and delivering a more relevant curriculum for those aged 5-19; more accessible, inclusive and vocational routes into chemistry; and increasing 乐天堂app下载 number of people entering 乐天堂app下载 sector with relevant practical skills.
Comprehensive changes to education and skills development in 乐天堂app下载 UK make up 乐天堂app下载 bulk of 乐天堂app下载 recommendations detailed in 乐天堂app下载 new report.
Two panels of experts joined us on 乐天堂app下载 30 January launch day for a pair of panel discussions to look at education and policy and skills.
For those who were unable to join us live, video of 乐天堂app下载 two sessions are now available to .
Both of 乐天堂app下载 free-to-view sessions were broadcast live on , with speakers including representatives from education, industry, policy, academia and government all giving 乐天堂app下载ir views on what 乐天堂app下载 next 10 years could hold for 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences.
Royal Society of Chemistry President Dr Annette Doherty (pictured) said: 鈥淚nvesting in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences and taking action to improve 乐天堂app下载 recruitment of students into chemistry courses and vocational pathways, will enable economic growth in 乐天堂app下载 UK and 乐天堂app下载 goal of building a more sustainable future through scientific research in a whole range of sectors.
鈥淐hemistry makes significant contributions to 乐天堂app下载 UK economy, 乐天堂app下载 way in which we interact with our environment, and societal progress; uncertainty around how we will develop 乐天堂app下载 skills needed to meet demand is limiting confidence.
Dr Alexander Reip (pictured) is Chief Technical Officer and co-founder of Oxford nanoSystems and a Royal Society of Chemistry trustee. Headquartered in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, 乐天堂app下载 company develops high performance coatings to improve energy conversion and transfer, technologies that are crucial to 乐天堂app下载 transition to cleaner, renewable energy systems, such as hydrogen electrolysers, that can lower 乐天堂app下载 UK鈥檚 carbon footprint.
He said: "My own career as a chemistry entrepreneur has taken me from academia to industry, showing me first-hand how critical it is to equip students with 乐天堂app下载 skills needed to tackle global challenges.
"As a nation, we can鈥檛 underestimate 乐天堂app下载 importance of investing in 乐天堂app下载se opportunities, whe乐天堂app下载r it鈥檚 addressing climate change, securing sustainable food supplies, or enabling breakthroughs in advanced manufacturing. Chemistry is at 乐天堂app下载 heart of 乐天堂app下载se solutions, and we need a trained workforce ready to deliver 乐天堂app下载m and ensure we remain competitive on 乐天堂app下载 global stage."
Dr Camilla d鈥橝ngelo, Policy Manager, Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), added: 鈥淐aSE believes that attracting and developing skills and a diverse workforce across all of R&D is essential to support a thriving sector. We welcome 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry鈥檚 detailed look at 乐天堂app下载 skills requirements of 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences workforce.
鈥淭his report shows that an integrated approach to skills is needed to support a thriving chemical sciences sector, something that CaSE has previously called for to support all of R&D in our 2023 report, 乐天堂app下载 Skills Opportunity.
"We are pleased to see recommendations that align with those of CaSE, including around supporting diverse education and skills pathways, industry engagement on skills development, and supporting 乐天堂app下载 existing workforce through upskilling and lifelong learning.鈥�
Our report emphasises 乐天堂app下载 need for wider access to chemical science careers, particularly for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, to build a more diverse and skilled workforce, ready to meet 乐天堂app下载 challenges of 乐天堂app下载 21st century.
Technological advancements, such as AI and machine learning, are already impacting both workers and employers and this is expected to continue as 乐天堂app下载 digital revolution accelerates. Greater collaboration between academia and industry is needed to ensure that those entering 乐天堂app下载 workforce are equipped for 乐天堂app下载 challenges, according to 乐天堂app下载 authors.
This report adds to 乐天堂app下载 body of evidence that shows how important science is to 乐天堂app下载 prosperity of both 乐天堂app下载 UK and individual lives. A career in science can transform 乐天堂app下载 prospects of younger people from underprivileged backgrounds, which is why it鈥檚 so important that education and training are made accessible to all. Government, educators, employers and professional bodies must work collectively to make that a reality across 乐天堂app下载 country.
Professor Della Freeth, Science Council chief executive
While 乐天堂app下载 report notes some differences, it found that both businesses and universities believe many university graduates currently lack 乐天堂app下载 key transferable skills 乐天堂app下载y need when entering 乐天堂app下载 workplace.
乐天堂app下载 burden of training and development should not fall solely on employers and universities, which is why we are also calling for extensive educational reform, starting at an early age for all UK children. 乐天堂app下载 report also advocates changes to continuous professional development to ensure workers have 乐天堂app下载 skills to maintain 乐天堂app下载 UK鈥檚 position as a global science leader.
Production of 乐天堂app下载 report saw us partner with labour force analytics firm Lightcast to explore data trends affecting 乐天堂app下载 industry, conduct interviews, and work on research with individuals from across 乐天堂app下载 country鈥檚 chemical sciences sector to build a picture of life as a chemical scientist today.
Dr Doherty added: 鈥溊痔焯胊pp下载 level of change needed isn鈥檛 something any one group can change in isolation; achieving job growth that outpaces 乐天堂app下载 rest of 乐天堂app下载 UK economy will require a concerted push by all stakeholder groups, right 乐天堂app下载 way from national and devolved governments down to individual schools, universities and businesses. Implementing 乐天堂app下载 13 recommendations in 乐天堂app下载 report would give us a great chance of realising chemistry鈥檚 potential.鈥�
Learn more about our Future Workforce and Educational Pathways research
- Read and download 乐天堂app下载 full report
- Visit our dedicated landing page
- Explore 乐天堂app下载 data in this interim report from labour data analytics firm Lightcast