Science Careers: How You Can Be a Part of the Future Without a PhD

Do you marvel at the stars above you at night, wonder what brought life into existence, or find experiments fascinating? There’s no reason why you can’t turn this genuine passion into a science career filled with discovery, innovation and wonder.

It may be hard to believe but you don’t need to be Einstein and have a PhD to be successful in an area of science. There are dozens of science specialities including sports science, animal science and more.

But should you study a science course and pursue a career in science? To continue our STEM series, we’ve asked two industry leaders the key questions any budding scientist might want to be answered.

Formal Sciences

• Physics
• Mathematics
• Statistics
• Computer Science

Alan Duffy will be a familiar name and face to anybody who watches Ten’s The Project, and a familiar voice for anybody who listens to TripleJ’s Hack. He’s also the lead scientist on Australia’s Science Channel. In fact, Duffy gets all over the place informing the Australian public of all news science-related. Born in the UK, raised in Ireland, and now an Aussie citizen, science has taken Duffy across the globe.

• Associate Professor in Astrophysics at Swinburne University
• Lead Scientist for Australia’s Science Channel
• Physics lecturer

Kim Ellis is a ‘Space Lawyer, Science and Technology Expert’ and Director of Earth Space Technology Pty Ltd. She has had a long and varied career in the Science sector as a research scientist, lawyer and Adjunct Faculty member for the International Space University.

• International Law PhD candidate
• NASA Postdoctoral Program Reviewer
• Member of the American Bar Association Forum on Air and Space Law

Science is a broad term covering a wide range of subjects and specialisations, courses and careers. Just as STEM denotes four fields – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – which can be broken down into far more specific areas of knowledge, science alone encompasses everything from the study of life and living organisms, to matter and energy, to the very furthest depths of outer space. What unites all of these things under the umbrella of ‘science’? In 2016, Innovation and Science Australia, an independent body that advises the Government on all things scientific helpfully defined science as such:

As this simple definition shows, science has always been concerned with observing the world and discovering why it is the way it is. But scientists don’t simply say that something is the way it is because it looks like that is the case, or because we have always thought it is that way, they use scientific methodology to prove that their theories are true. Over the centuries, humans have developed science into the highly structured, complex system we know today, but at its core it is still about answering the essential questions of life.

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Mathematics

While there are many forms of science, most fall under the main categories of physics, chemistry, biology and maths.

Other popular areas of science include:

• Ecology
• Geology
• Astronomy
• Oceanography
• Botany
• Life Science
• Zoology
• Meteorology

A career in science is not as clear-cut as in other professional areas: if you see yourself wearing a lab coat and want to conduct experiments all day you will have to pursue a role in research science. Research science roles vary wildly depending on your area of specialisation, and the area you study within that branch of science – if it’s Chemistry, you might become an Agrochemicals Chemist or an Explosives Chemist; if it’s Physics, you might work in Nuclear Physics or Atmospheric Physics, the options are almost endless!

However, reaching a point of being able to work in research science is difficult and demanding: a Bachelor of Science alone is not enough, with a PhD typically being required, and positions are highly competitive and dependant on funding. Positions in research science are typically stable and well-paid, but there is rarely a growth in demand for research scientists.

If you’re after a more realistic science career then there are a lot more options than you’d think. Science is incorporated into virtually every industry and normally plays a key role in areas such as health, technology, sports and agriculture. If you’ve always been interested in the inner workings of the human mind or body, how plants reproduce or simply want to better understand the world around you; these professionals aren’t out of your reach. The best part? This isn’t an unusual path to consider for career changers or those that simply don’t have five different Degrees and a Doctorate in their arsenal. 68% of all STEM trained professionals got their qualifications through VET providers like TAFE, instead of going to University.

Areas such as technology and health are very popular options, with many science enthusiasts pursuing careers in pathology, data science and many more.

Science is such a widespread subject, with so many areas of specialisation possible. Areas in IT, engineering and Agricultural sciences are going to be crucial in the future, with thousands of jobs needed in these professions. Currently, health sciences remain the most widely chosen science field in Australia, with health careers in laboratory technicians, pathology, allied health and more all popular.