Gauri Chhabra
Today, Education hinges very heavily on courses in STEM, an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This is due to the fact that it churns out critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and next-generation innovators. Taking into consideration that India is one of the countries that produces the highest number of scientists and engineers, the growth of STEM has picked up significantly over the last few years. Governments across the globe are taking several initiatives to take education a step ahead. Take ATL( Atal Tinkering Labs) by NITI Aayog for example. NITI Aayog is the premier think tank of the Government of India whose primary goal is to increase the level of efficiency in progressing sectors like Education and Health.
Therefore, in case you have a scientific bent of mind, you should be exploring courses and programs that fuel your scientific temper apart from being offbeat.
Science Curriculum and skill set
Science curriculum demands an understanding of subjects like Maths, Technology, and Physics. In Maths, you need to deep dive into Calculus and Algebra. In case you wish to make a career in Science, an understanding of basics is essential. Algebra is everywhere, so instead of rushing through calculus without taking the time to really get comfortable with algebra, concentrate on problems that require symbolic manipulation. Also, the second discipline that will hold you in good stead is Statistics. Knowing something about probability and statistics is absolutely invaluable for understanding modern science, and finds applications in other fields, as well.
While you might think you love science based on your experience in classes, classwork is a pale imitation of actual science. In classes, you are only asked to attack problems that can actually be solved in a reasonable amount of time– your homework sets might take hours to write out, but they won’t contain problems that can’t be solved with the techniques you’ve discussed in class.
What would make you employable is your ability to push beyond the curriculum. Your ability to solve problems, innovate, explore and experience what your curriculum would hitherto have not prepared you for.
B.Sc at bay?
If you are deeply interested in pursuing a career in academics or research, B.Sc (Hons) in subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Zoology or Botany will help you do just that. Do not keep it at bay feeling that B.Tech is more professional and hands on. You can further your prospects by doing a masters degree and then moving on to research and working as a junior research fellow in any reputed research institute. You can also pursue a career as a lecturer in any university or get jobs in the chemical industry, the pharmaceutical industry, or in government organizations like ONGC.
Forking Pathways
Pharmacy
Pharmacists, today play a significant role in the healthcare industry. Their contribution goes beyond a pharmacy as they take up more challenging roles such as research and drug discovery. To be a Pharmacist, you need to be a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm), which is a four-year undergraduate degree course. To get admission into the Pharmacy course, students have to complete their 10+2 education & apply for national level or state level The national level entrance exam is the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test(GPAT). After the completion of this degree, you can practice as a Pharmacist and can work in a range of industries related to the prescription, manufacture & provision of medicines.
Where to study
* NIPER (National Institute of Pharmaceutical education & research), Mohali.
* Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research
* University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chandigarh
* Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
* LPU, Jalandhar
BioInformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer technology to get the information that’s stored in certain types of biological data. Bioinformatics provides central, globally accessible databases that enable scientists to submit, search and analyze information. It offers analysis software for data studies and comparisons and provides tools for modeling, visualizing, exploring and interpreting data. If you are a 10+2 in the science discipline, you can pursue bioinformatics at bachelor’ s(B.Tech or B.Sc).
Job prospects are in all sectors of biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and biomedical sciences, in research institutions, hospital, and industry. Some of the specific career areas that fall within the scope of bioinformatics include Sequence assembly, Database design, and maintenance, Sequence analysis, Proteomics (the study of protein, particularly their structures and functions), Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacology, Clinical pharmacologist, Informatics developer, Computational chemist, Bio-analytics and Analytics.
Institute scape
* Punjab University Chandigarh
* DAV College, Chandigarh
* Amity University, Noida
Bio-Technology
Biotechnology Engineering is a part of engineering that involves the technology and biological science for development in the field of medical, agriculture, security and bio-research.
For doing Biotechnology Engineering, you need to have mathematics, chemistry, biology in XII. For admission to B.Tech/B.E. courses, you have to apply for JEE Main is the national level entrance exam. Admission into IITs & NITs is done through JEE Advanced which is the second stage of JEE Main.
Vetinerary Sciences:
Veterinary medicine is a branch of science that deals in prevention, diagnosis, and prevention of disease, disorder, and injury in animals. Vetinerary Sciences is a fast growing field for students who have passed XII with Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. You have to qualify the NEET exam to get admission in Veterinary courses.
Veterinary Courses
* Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc & AH) – 5 years
* BV. Sc. in Animal Genetics and Breeding
* BV. Sc. in Animal Production & Management
* BV. Sc. in Veterinary Surgery & Radiology
* BV. Sc. in Veterinary Medicine, Public Health & Hygiene
Institute Scape
* Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana.
* Indian Veterinary Research Institute, UP
Agricultural Sciences
B.Sc in agriculture is an undergraduate course in agricultural studies and processes. The minimum eligibility for this course requires passing class 12th/ Higher Secondary Examination in Biology, Maths, and Chemistry. Admission to various Agricultural Universities in India is based on All India Entrance Exams conducted by ICAR. Other state-level agricultural universities conduct their own entrance exams for admission to various courses.
* B.Sc in Agriculture.
* B.Sc in Genetic Plant Breeding.
* B.Sc in Agriculture Economics and Farm Management.
* B.Sc in Animal Husbandry.
* B.Sc in Forestry.
* B.Sc Soil and water management.
* B.Sc in Horticulture.
* B.Sc Agriculture and Food Business.
Institute Scape
* Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
* Chandigarh University, Chandigarh.
* Chitkara University, Chandigarh.
Tips for choosing the right college:
Small scale examination
You may look to college rankings to help make a decision, but don’t forget that academic prestige can be examined on a smaller scale. A school that excels in biology, for example, may have a less regarded history department. Do some research or reach out directly to faculty members in your prospective department. Give extra consideration to a college whose faculty members are still actively engaged with employers in a given field, as this can open doors to internships, research opportunities, and jobs.
Placement Record
Life is not just fun and games. At the end of the day, most of us would want to become employable and financially independent, and good placements can give a kick start to one’s career. So do your research, and figure out in which colleges the companies of your interest come for placement and whether they offer profiles which suit you. You never know, maybe your dream company doesn’t even go to the college whose cut off you missed by 0.25%.When you look at placement data, do not just look at the data that shows you the highest placement, look for overall strike ratio. At times, the placement data may be window dressed to showcase only the highest packages.
Small College Bias
Other things being equal, when it comes to a choice between an elite college and a small one, gravitate towards The faculty and staff are not without influence, though, so it’s very important to make sure that you’re comfortable with them, too.So, if you know roughly what you want to study, make sure to visit that specific department, or a few departments in the right general area, and get a sense of that environment as well. Are the faculty willing to talk to you, as a prospective student, and make you feel welcome? More importantly, are they making the students who are already enrolled feel comfortable? If you visit a department and see students hanging around working together or working with faculty, that’s a great sign. If you go there on a weekday afternoon and the place is a ghost town, that suggests that students aren’t comfortable being there, which should make you concerned about whether you’re going to be comfortable being there.And make sure the resources that a prospective college or university provides will be available to you. Having world-class research labs is a great thing, but if they’re entirely controlled by grad students and post-docs, they’ll make very little difference to your experience as an undergraduate.
Summing up
We are now at a stage where the number of STEM jobs is growing at a fast pace and currently outstripping the number of STEM graduates. According to the National Science Foundation, it is predicted that 80% of the jobs created in the next decade will require some form of math and science skills. Despite having the top quality talent, the exam-focused education model of the past has limited these students when it comes to innovation, problem-solving and creativity.
This is where YOU, as a STEM player, can fill the gap.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
