Physical Sciences Careers
People working in physical sciences roles do research and investigation into a range of areas such as; physics, including areas like mechanics, matter and energy. Chemistry, including the make-up and behaviour of chemicals and materials, and chemical engineering. Astronomy and the Earth, and its geology, atmosphere, weather systems or processes.
- Astronomer
- Astronomers study planets, stars, galaxies and other parts of the universe.
- Atmospheric Scientist
- Atmospheric scientists study the Earth's atmosphere and the way it affects the environment.
- Biochemist
- Biochemists study the chemical structure and function of animals, plants and micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses. They use research to develop medical, industrial and agricultural products.
- Food Engineer
- Food engineers design, develop and test processes and processing equipment for food processing factories.
- Geologist
- Geologists study the structure and history of the Earth and earth processes. They also give advice on natural hazards and the development and use of the Earth's resources and land.
- Geophysicist
- Geophysicists study the structure and behaviour of the Earth, including oil and gas deposits, earthquakes, fault lines and volcanoes.
- Industrial Chemist
- Industrial chemists study the make-up and behaviour of chemicals, the way they react with each other and how they can be used in industrial processes such as producing plastics, pharmaceuticals or silicon chips.
- Medical Physicist
- Medical physicists look after the scientific and technical aspects of the use of radiation to treat cancer or to diagnose disease.
- Metallurgist
- Metallurgists are engineers who specialise in metals. They develop processes that produce or process metals, and give advice on their use, extraction, improvement, production, performance and the way they should be combined with other materials such as polymers or ceramics.
- Meteorologist
- Meteorologists study and interpret global, regional and local patterns in atmospheric and weather information to help them make short and long-range weather forecasts.
- Oceanographer
- Oceanographers study the ocean and marine environment.
- Physicist
- Physicists explore the relationship between matter and energy, and pursue its theoretical and commercial applications.
- Process Engineer (Chemical)
- Process or chemical engineers design, develop and operate processes and equipment that are used to change raw materials into useful products. Chemical engineering covers a wide variety of jobs such as environmental engineering, biochemical engineering and waste engineering, and chemical engineers are often known as process engineers to indicate the wide range of jobs that they do.
- Research Chemist
- Research chemists search for new knowledge about chemicals and how they behave. They may then use this knowledge to develop new products and processes.
- Science Technician
- Science technicians help scientists to carry out research, testing and experiments in science areas such as chemistry, life sciences, geology and physics.
- Soil Scientist
- Soil scientists study soils, including soil types and processes, and the implications of soil use.
- Volcanologist
- Volcanologists study volcanoes and monitor volcanic activity. They also offer advice to emergency services about potential dangers or hazards such as when a volcano erupts (sends out steam, gases, ash and molten rock).
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