Science Matters

Rugby is lucky to have had several national organisations to have made their headquarters here over the years, often infuenced by our location just an hour away from London by train and at the heart of the motorway network. One is IChemE, the Institution of Chemical Engineers which I visited today and where I learnt about their campaign to encourage more youngsters to become involved in their work and take up their subject at University. I well remember a few years ago reading in the national news about Universities withdrawing science courses simply because of insufficient numbers of school leavers applying. Things had got so bad that the only way employers could find the staff with the right qualifications was to recruit oversea. Engineers make things and in doing so provide the basis of our economic activity and wealth. The entire country will be affected if even more manufacturing is allowed to move overseas. IChemE have worked hard to redress this trend of insufficient science graduates with various techniques, one being to encourage volunteers among their members to go into schools to explain about a career in engineering. As a consequence numbers taking up science courses are increasing and the next stage of their campaign is due to start and can be found at http://www.whynotchemeng.com/. Its well worth a look for anyone with an interest in science looking at their career options.