Students urged to consider a career in science
Monday, 10 Mar 2008 13:21
Students are being urged by the ABPI to consider a career in science
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Students are being urged to consider a career in the "really creative" science industry by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).
The association has launched a new campaign to help educate the next generation of chemists amid concerns about falling uptake of science subjects at A-level and university.
Its campaign aims to target students from GCSE to degree-level and a new online database offering science resources has been set up to support this.
Sarah Jones, ABPI head of education and careers, described science as "a really exciting area to work in".
"There's so much that isn't known yet, particularly on medicines," she added.
"We still don't have treatments for cancer, we don't have a cure for HIV - although it can be obviously treated on a day-to-day basis - but there are so many opportunities there for people to really make a difference to people's lives, so science can be a really creative, really exciting subject to study and to work in."
Former Tomorrow's World presenter Philippa Forrester, who is supporting the campaign, said it is "utterly ridiculous" for people to think science is dull and not creative.
"We need a cure for malaria and… the thought that you could grow into that person who found that cure, you know that's exciting, that's a chance to really make a difference in the world," she said.
"I think so many of our young people want to do that, they want to make their mark on the world before their time is over and a career in a pharmaceutical industry is a great way to do that."
