Lesson 3 Chemistry in Society
Completion requirements
Chemistry-Based Careers
Not all chemists wear white coats!
Will this athlete end up on the podium at the Olympics? What factors affect the speed at which this athlete hurtles down the slopes? Did the trainer pick the correct ratio of hydrocarbon wax to fluorocarbon wax for the snow conditions? Is the snow natural or man-made? Are the skis strong enough yet flexible enough? Is there a different composite material that they should have been made from? Will the shin and arm guards offer enough protection? What did this athlete eat to properly fuel his body? Did he consume enough electrolytes? If he makes it to the podium, will he test clean or be caught up in a doping scandal?
It is easy to see that a knowledge of chemistry is useful in a variety of fields, from nutrition to material production. But careers in chemistry are not just in distant locations; there are many careers in your community that rely on the knowledge and application of chemistry. Whether it is a hairdresser bleaching a client’s hair, a technician servicing your natural gas line, a pharmacist mixing a prescription, or a lifeguard testing the quality of a leisure pool.
It is easy to see that a knowledge of chemistry is useful in a variety of fields, from nutrition to material production. But careers in chemistry are not just in distant locations; there are many careers in your community that rely on the knowledge and application of chemistry. Whether it is a hairdresser bleaching a client’s hair, a technician servicing your natural gas line, a pharmacist mixing a prescription, or a lifeguard testing the quality of a leisure pool.
What does the future hold for a career in chemistry? Scientific, technological, and social trends are quickly changing the way we live and work. To overcome the challenges facing society, such as climate change, water shortages, natural resource scarcity, healthcare for an aging population, and electric vehicles and the promise of self-driving cars, we will need the collaboration of many disciplines, including chemistry, to be adequately resolved.
Watch This
Alistair Brownlee Talks about Chemistry in Sport @ YouTube Royal Society of Chemistry
Watch this video to see how many ways chemistry influences an athlete.
Read This
Please read pages 26 and 74 to 75 in your Science 10 textbook. Make sure you take notes on your readings to study from later. You should focus on the different career options available. Remember, if you have any questions or you do not understand something, ask your teacher! Problem-Solving Activity
Using this website for research, identify the type of career/person that fits the job description. - I work for a company in the R & D (research and development) sector to try to improve the formulation of household cleaning products. Who am I?
Answers may vary; one possible scientist is household goods senior scientist Phillip Eastwood. - I work for the RCMP analyzing crime scene evidence. Who am I?
Answers may vary; one possible scientist is forensic scientist Joni Walker.