Pure Science is a field dedicated to fundamental chemistry, physics, and mathematics. It is a segment which deals with understanding, improving, and applying the concepts of natural world through the rigorous process of speculation, experimentation, observation, and calculation. One needs to understand that any course in pure science is not just a subject but a career in itself. It is a long drawn process of patience, focus, diligence, and perseverance.
Merits of Pursuing this Course
Doing research may not be as lucrative as working in the field of engineering or applied science, yet it has its own virtues. Some of them include:
- Serving the society
Education is imparted to make a change. We struggle during our childhood to attain knowledge which can be used for the improvement of the society. Becoming a scientist is an effective step in this direction. Engineering can teach you to design and implement new forms of technology but the basis of the skill behind such innovations stems from a core understanding of fundamental concepts, which are imparted through the channels of meticulous research. Through the complex understanding of pure sciences one can get immense pleasure in serving the society and making a transformation in the world at a more practical level.
- The knowledge
It goes without saying that becoming a scientist requires a lot of studying and learning. To some it might seem a gigantic task, hence, the inhibition in following this line of work. However, the truth is, all that this field requires is a sense of sincerity and hard work. Many people are endowed with a heightened intellect but acquiring the knowledge to excel in this sector is not all that difficult. Finding answers to questions like “where did the universe come from?”, “how were we engineered?” etc. can be challenging and exciting to most. A career in this regard not only stimulates the grey matter but also imparts enhanced logical reasoning skills.
- Pride in assistance
Fields of applied science like engineering, nanotechnology, genetics, aeronautics etc. are nothing but extensions of pure sciences. They all rely heavily on the output generated from years of dedicated research work. As a scientist, one can take pride in knowing that you have effectively assisted from the ground level in contributing to some of the biggest changes taking place in technology all over the world.
- Enhanced Intellect
Learning is an on-going process. You gain knowledge and then you impart knowledge. Scientists benefit from this continuous process on a daily basis. Collaborative work and team-work forms the basis of this enterprise due to which every individual profits from the sharp mental skills of many. The ultimate output is an enhanced intellect acquired through years of deliberating and ideating. We all know that scientists are brainy. There is a very solid reason as to why.
- Mother of technology
A change begins from the bottom of a ladder. Pure science forms the basis of any new discovery or transformation. It is truly the mother of technology, helping and assisting all the other forms of science up the ladder of success. We would have never understood the existence of matter without knowing the complexity behind the composition of an atom. Pure sciences give us new algorithms, principles, and functional materials which are then used by experts to engineer novel devices.
Career Opportunities
As is evident from the aforementioned discussion, a career in pure sciences is not worthless after all. In fact, this degree has become quite lucrative over time due to the vast plethora of job opportunities that are available for the taking. Some industries which are happy to employ a science graduate are:
- Pharmaceutical
Working in this industry is one of the best options available to a science graduate. Students with a background in core or medicinal chemistry are generally preferred. Doing a bachelors and masters in pharma gives you the added edge required to excel in this field. Pharmaceutical jobs are not very difficult to come by as leading companies like Ranbaxy, Dr.Reddy’s, GSK, etc. are always on the lookout for exceptional talent.
The Indian pharmaceutical industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14% to yield a turnover of US $47.06 billion (Rs.2.91 trillion) by 2018. Hence, we can imagine the extent of development that is taking place in this sector and the benefits it has in store for individuals who are associated with it.
- Education
This is by far the most common and popular road taken by science graduates. You could complete a MSc. in chemistry, physics, mathematics, IT, environmental science, biology, computer science, or biotechnology and become a school teacher or a university professor. Currently, India has more than 35,000 higher education institutes and around 1.4 million schools. Also, around 85% of the Indian student population is enrolled in bachelor’s degree programmes and around one-sixth of them are enrolled in technology/engineering courses.
The popularity of pure sciences is only just increasing with time. It is interesting to note that National Geographic, through its Explorer magazine for children, is vying to increase its global footprint by exciting Indian students towards science. They have roped in 55 schools in India, which are using content that has been provided by this magazine.
- FMCG
The FMCG sector is the 4th largest segment in the Indian economy. Its market size is expected to grow from US $30 billion in 2011 to around US $74 billion in 2018. Working in this field is highly lucrative as its market value is increasing on an upward tangent.
The leading Indian FMCG brands include Hindustan Unilever Ltd., Nestle India, ITC, Dabur India, GCMMF, Cadbury India, Asian Paints, Marico industries, and Britannia industries to name a few. Acquiring a job in the FMCG industry has become highly popular due to the available incentives. You can work in the R&D department of the aforementioned companies after completion of your degree.
- Shipping
Surprisingly, a science graduate can work on ships as well. Shipping jobs are not just confined to nautical and maritime engineers. Recruitment in this field is high as they have a shortage of skilled workforce. Jobs in shipping include transportation jobs, logistics jobs, shipping administrator, traffic coordinator, etc. The basic requirement for pursuing this line of work is a background in physics and mathematics.
Conclusion
A career in pure sciences not only stimulates your scientific temperament but aids in the onset of a bigger and brighter future. Apart from the above mentioned verticals, science graduates can also find work in the field of banking, accounting, line production planning, IT, sales and business development, technical selling, techno-marketing, manufacturing, and auditing.
