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Girls: Background on SET and Construction

All around us!

People want to help others in various ways. Many people become firefighters, ambulance drivers, nurses and doctors, but do you realise that you could also save lives and improve our world through a career in science, engineering and construction.

You could develop baby incubators, research new medicines, build brain scanners, or develop computer systems for safer surgery.

Imagine being the first scientist to develop a cure for cancer?

Imagine helping people in third world countries by providing them with clean running water, irrigation systems and machinery to help them grow food.

You could reconstruct schools and hospitals and rebuild vital bridges and transport systems, or even design new ones in war torn countries or how about being the inventor of the first “earthquake proof” building or impenetrable damn? or solve the issues of global warming and provide a pollution free planet!

The possibilities in Science, Engineering, Technology (SET) and Construction are endless, but if saving the planet isn’t your goal, how about entertainment? From music and discos to films and sports equipment, you can design, create and improve all of these things through a career in SET and Construction.

What many people don’t realise is that SET and Construction is all around them, and it is in YOUR life. From your DVD players to your favourite pop group, from computer games to make-up, science, engineering and technology play a huge part in everyone’s life.

Perceptions

People are continuously assuming that they know what careers in science, engineering, technology and construction include. Below are some of the perceptions that the public have:

The Positive

  • 84% of people think that scientists and engineers make a valuable contribution to society
  • 77% believe that because of science, engineering and technology there will be more opportunities for the next generation
  • 68% think that the benefits of science are greater than the harmful effects
  • 74% of the public think that science is such a big part of our lives that we should take an interest
  • 91% believe that it is important that young people have a grasp of science and technology
  • 68% strongly agree that science and technology are making our lives easier and more comfortable
  • Marie Curie and Albert Einstein are considered more inspiring than David and Victoria Beckham

The negative

  • 25% of young people associate engineering with working in factories.
  • 54% of young people associate engineering with a dirty environment
  • Girls, in particular, did not associate good pay and salary, and doing interesting work, with engineering.


Sources: Engineering Council 2002- Engineers for Britain, Digest of Engineering Statistics; EMTA 2001 – Sector Workforce Development Plan for Engineering Manufacture; OST/Wellcome Trust 2000: Science and the Public 2001 MORI Poll for CRC/ICRF

Further reading

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