COLLEGE CHOICE/Brian Mooney: The news for students who opt for careers in science in Ireland has never been better. The Higher Education Authority is investing more than €1.5 billion in scientific research and development centres.
Wyeth Biopharmaceutical is developing the world's largest biotech project in Clondalkin and expects to employ 1,300 people, mainly science graduates. Genzyme is building a plant in Waterford and expects to employ 480. Abbott Ireland Ltd is investing more than €300 million in expanding its Irish operation, creating over 500 jobs.
Boston Scientific is also expanding its Irish operation and will need up to 1,000 science graduates. Altana Pharma Ltd has this month announced the construction of a €70 million pharmaceutical facility in east Cork, with the creation of 150 jobs for graduates of pharmaceutical production.
With these developments, one would expect that the demand for science places at third level would be fierce. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The points requirements for entry to degree and cert/diploma programmes in science are, in many cases, the lowest for any of the faculties, averaging in the low three hundreds.
There is a vast range of opportunities in the sciences. However, for many students, the choice of courses can be confusing.
Chemistry
Chemistry is concerned with the fundamental nature of matter: how atoms combine to form molecules. It is divided into three broad areas - physical, organic and inorganic. Physical looks at chemical processes - how fast they go and how to make them faster; organic is the story of carbon and its millions of compounds: it has given us painkillers such as aspirin, colouring dyes, and the entire plastics industry; and inorganic looks at the compounds that don't involve carbon, such as the role of iron in transporting oxygen around the body.
Analytical chemistry is a vital area, especially in industries such as pharmaceuticals.
Chemistry courses can be divided into "pure" and "applied" chemistry. For example, UCD concentrates on pure chemistry, DIT on applied chemistry. All the universities offer chemistry specialisations in their science degrees.
Maynooth offers chemistry with pharmaceutical chemistry; University of Limerick industrial chemistry and biochemistry; DCU chemical and pharmaceutical sciences; and TCD medicinal chemistry.
The institutes of technology in Sligo, Athlone and Tallaght offer pharmaceutical science. Limerick offers pharmaceutical science combined with forensic analysis. ITs in Athlone, Carlow, Cork, Dundalk, Galway, Letterkenny, Sligo, Tallaght, Tralee, Limerick and Waterford offer applied chemistry certificates. Athlone also offers a polymer technology degree.
For information on all courses, contact the Institute of Chemistry in Ireland on www.instituteofchemistry.org
Physics
Physicists look at matter and energy to discover how they behave, work and interact. Theoretical physicists seek to explore and solve the questions of how the universe began, and what it is made of. They seek to develop a rigorous understanding of the laws of the physical world, largely using maths.
Applied physicists, on the other hand, take a more hands-on approach. They develop advanced materials, new energy sources and medical equipment, and electronic and optical devices.
UCC offers a general physics degree, Trinity and UCD offer degrees in theoretical physics, while Maynooth offers physics by itself or combined with computer science and maths.
UL, Galway and DCU offer degrees in applied physics. NUI Maynooth, Cork and Galway offer physics with astrophysics.
Trinity offers physics and chemistry of advanced materials; DCU physics with astronomy. For information contact the Institute of Physics in Ireland www.tcd.ie/IOP/
Biology
Biologists study all living things, from the simplest single-celled plant to highly complex multi-celled animals, such as man.
Biologists work in a variety of areas, from scientific research to conservation and environmental monitoring, and technical work in the food and drinks industry. It is grouped with other life sciences such as microbiology and biochemistry.
In science degrees biology is sub-divided into at least two areas: botany and zoology. NUI Maynooth is one of the few universities offering a degree in biology per se (MH208) as well as one in computational biology and bio-informatics (MH207).
Many institutes of technology offer courses in applied biology, where aspects of the subject that are relevant to industry are studied.
Biotechnology, where biology is applied to many areas, is available at degree level at DCU (DC181), Galway (GY304) and Maynooth (MH202).
Genetics is offered by UCC and TCD. DCU has a new programme, genetic and cell biology (DC168), while DIT offers an add-on programme in biochemistry and molecular biology for those with suitable diplomas.
UCC offers the only course in plant science in Ireland. Certificate programmes in applied biology are offered by the following institutes of technology: Athlone, Carlow, Cork, Dundalk, Galway-Mayo, Letterkenny, Sligo, Tallaght, Tralee, Limerick and Waterford.
Agricultural science
UCD is particularly strong in this area, offering nine degree programmes. Agricultural science (DN010) students take common courses in basic sciences in first year, with the option of pursuing one of nine agricultural degrees in year two.
These include animal and crop production; animal science; food and agribusiness management; agriculture and environmental science; food science; engineering technology; horticultural science; landscape horticulture; and forestry. Students may apply for any of these directly in first year.
UCC offers programmes in nutritional science and food science. DIT offers food technology/pharmaceutical technology. Certificate programmes in agricultural science are offered by the institutes of technology in Cork, Dundalk, Galway-Mayo, and Waterford. Brian Mooney's column on CAO options will appear daily in the run-up to the February 1st deadline
You can email Brian Mooney on bmooney@irish-times.ie
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