Keeping up with the developments in science technology is a dizzying task. Scientific discovery and invention have proceeded at an alarmingly fast rate, leaving much of us reeling in its wake. Computers, space travel, new agricultural methods, the demands of environmental conservation and reclamation, increasing energy needs, and biomedical advances have propelled us into a highly technical, highly specialized world that has achieved results that seem magical.
Technological and scientific advances also have produced a new and far reaching economic reality. The industrial revolution transformed economic life, taking workers from the farmlands and placing them in a wide variety of labor, craft, and management jobs. Now many good unskilled labor, craft, and industrial positions are disappearing rapidly as demands for skilled technicians knowledgeable in the methods of science are growing. Just as science touches every aspect of human life, so does science technology.
Technology careers are in the fastest growing segments of the economy. New jobs are created and older ones are expanded regularly.
- Opportunities for technicians and related occupations are expected to increase 32-55 percent through the year 2005.
- Seventy five percent of new job opportunities will require occupational training beyond high school but less than a four year college degree.
- Technician jobs are among the highest paying and highest prestigious of jobs requiring two years of post high school training.
- A technician's annual average income is most often equal to or greater than the average annual income for jobs that require a four year college degree.
Science is a process of acquiring knowledge in a specific way by following a scientific method. Although every scientist may have his or her own unique method, to be recognized as science the work must be grounded in experience that can be replicated by others. It involves systematic processes of inquiry, observation, and experimentation.
Science is also very creative, depending often on an intuitive leap across a gap in knowledge rather than following an established path. (Keep in mind that scientific intuition is based on extensive knowledge and experience!) Science also flaunts its creativity as scientists reach far beyond the limits of most of our imaginations to dream of possibilities and find ways to make them into realities.
Science begins with a question or a problem, an itch or need to know "how," "why," or "when" something occurs the way it does. Scientists accumulate facts or descriptive statements through observation and investigation. Facts can be thought of as the "what" of an occurrence, such as Galileo's observation that heavy bodies fall with increasing speed; water expands when it freezes, or lightening finds the shortest available path to the earth. Scientists relate the facts to one another in ways that allow them to build theories. Theories help them to understand the "why" of the occurrence or phenomenon that they are investigating. Theories lead them to new areas for observation and new questions to answer.
The sciences are usually classified into three types: the natural sciences, the social sciences, and the mathematical sciences. The natural sciences investigate the physical world. From reaching out beyond the edges of space and into subatomic particles, they ask how the universe operates, trying to discover its rules and laws. The social sciences delve into the working of the humanly created worlds of interpersonal relations, groups, and societies. Mathematical sciences operate on a system of logic the relations of numbers. This book investigates primarily opportunities in the natural sciences.
The natural sciences can be further classified as the physical sciences and the biological sciences. The physical sciences include physics, chemistry, astronomy, and geology. The biological sciences include botany and zoology. Each of these major classifications has major subdivisions. The classification system is useful in that it organizes ways of thinking about nature. However, the natural sciences do not exist independently as phenomena in the natural world. Advances in one branch of science may depend on or lead to advances in other branches. Many interdisciplinary sciences exist as specialties, such as genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Although scientists may think of themselves as geologists or chemists or botanists, they recognize that their practice of science depends on the other branches of science as well.
The applied sciences such as agriculture, medicine, metallurgy, engineering, and electronics are also useful classifications. These sciences depend on the knowledge of many sciences as they relate to specific concerns such as food production, health, or harnessing and controlling energy. All of these fields of science use methods of reason that we accept as scientific.
Technology is differentiated from science as it is the practical application of scientific knowledge. Sometimes scientists working in applied fields or in applied projects are referred to as technologists. Technology is concerned not with creating new knowledge, but with creating new and better tools. Prehistoric humans who used fire to make food more healthy and palatable created a technology still used in greatly improved form today. Many of the pursuits of science occur to solve specific problems such as creating more disease resistant crops or a machine that can replace a diseased heart. The inventions of technology promise to improve the quality of our lives. They have helped us to live longer, enjoy better health, and expand our horizons through learning and leisure; they have brought the world to our fingertips; and they have literally taken us out of this world.
WHO IS THE TECHNICIAN?
Even though technology itself is old, technicians work in relatively new job categories. Pure scientists develop and expand the base of our knowledge. Engineers and technologists design ways of using it. As science and knowledge have expanded and industries have grown more complicated, the work of scientists and engineers has become overwhelming.
Technicians have taken over many of the tasks that were part of the scientists' and engineers' jobs. For example, a new product usually has to be run through many series of tests before it is ever sold to the public. The scientist or engineer will design the testing process, but it is up to a technician to carry out the tests. This involves seeing that the tests are set up properly, that the experimental conditions are maintained, that the results are recorded accurately, and that the reports are written clearly.
Every step of the scientific and engineering processes involves technicians. From research and discovery to repairing and servicing products, technicians work either side by side with scientists and engineers or in place of them. They are a very critical component of the industrial, scientific enterprise, which includes the following processes:
- research
- discovery
- invention
- testing
- producing
- installing
- operating
- servicing
- repairing
- improving
There are several job titles that appear regularly when examining careers in science technology. This is because the titles refer to general duties and processes that are part of the scientific and technological enterprises. The duties of occupations within each title will be very similar and will involve similar skills. For example, in most fields of scientific interest, there are technicians at work conducting experiments, working with laboratory equipment, or repairing equipment. The specific content of the job, however, varies for each field. Technicians in different fields will apply different bodies of knowledge to their evaluations of situations, problem solving, and so forth. For example, an agricultural technician might be researching drought resistant seeds using principles of biology. A petroleum technician might be researching cleaner fuels using primarily knowledge of chemistry. A brief review of these general occupational titles, based on duties, provides an useful overview of the responsibilities involved in being a science technician.
Technician
Technician titles represent individuals who work under the guidance of or assist scientists or engineers. Even though the scientist or engineer may not be physically present on the job, the technician is applying knowledge or processes developed by scientists and engineers. They may work in research, production, operation, or repair capacities. Even though they are involved in the same processes as scientists and engineers, their duties require less formal training and fewer years of formal education because they carry out the orders and directions of the scientist or engineer, not create them. Experienced technicians can advance to supervisory and management positions, overseeing and training other technicians.
Science technicians: When working in conjunction with a scientist, science technicians will most likely be involved in basic and applied problem solving research. They will be required to set up experiments following a scientist's directions, carefully record the results of the experiment, and help analyze the results. It is important to have good laboratory skills for these positions. Working with sophisticated equipment, achieving precise measurements, and possessing keen observational skills are all critical. Being able to communicate the results of experiments to the scientific community, and sometimes to the beneficiaries of the experiments, also is important.
Engineering technicians: Working with engineers, these technicians are involved in putting the results of scientific research and knowledge to work. Building prototypes of equipment that engineers design, testing the equipment under different operating conditions, and communicating the results of the tests are important duties. Helping the engineer to identify problems or weaknesses in the equipment and coming up with a better design are parts of the job.
Differentiating Among Technicians, Technologists, and Operators:
In some industries the terms technician and technologist may be used interchangeably. In most they imply differences in levels. In some cases the technician is the entry level position and the person becomes a technologist after a period of apprenticeship. Most often technologist refers specifically to a scientist or engineer with a four year or graduate degree. Sometimes operator refers to the entry level position, with promotion to technician with further training and experience. Here, the term technician will be used most frequently, as it is the most generic term and refers loosely to all levels. Where a distinction is important, it will be noted. Technicians and technologists are also broad categories. There may be many types of specific designations within these categories such as experimental or testing or quality control technicians. Laboratory assistant and laboratory technician are other general titles that may be associated with these positions.
Types of Science and Related Technicians
Drafter: The main responsibility of the drafter is producing diagrams, blueprints, and maps of plans and designs. The blueprints serve as the recipe or formula for producing equipment, conducting experiments, or managing land. The renderings must be very detailed and very precise because they are the primary source of directions.
Test technician: Engineering and science rely on equipment and instruments in research, development, and production and application. One type of test technician is involved primarily in process. This technician is responsible for making sure that the equipment in production lines or research facilities operates properly. Another type of tester tests manufactured products such as foods, biomedical equipment, agricultural equipment, chemicals, or drugs. This technician is responsible for setting up laboratory equipment for the testing process, preparing the materials to be tested, recording the results, and cleaning up the laboratory test site. Specific equipment used varies with the type of testing being done, but most technicians will use equipment such as microscopes, centrifuges, pH meters, distillation equipment, spectrophotometers, and other sophisticated measuring and examining tools. Sometimes these technicians are called laboratory inspectors, laboratory testers, or industrial engineering technicians.
Operator: Operating technical equipment is another specialty area. Often employed in broadcasting and medical fields, operators receive specialized training to use the equipment on site. In most cases operators do not repair or maintain equipment. When those responsibilities are added to the job description, the title of technician or technologist is adopted. Often these additional responsibilities are given to the operator after additional training and experience. This promotion means a higher salary as well.
Laboratory technicians: This term is usually reserved for technicians engaged in research and analysis. Laboratory technicians perform laboratory tests and analyze chemicals, metals, and other raw materials and products for a variety of industries. They may be involved in determining whether a particular mineral sample indicates that a bed is worth mining, or they may be involved in testing drugs on animals in early phases of pharmaceutical manufacturing. Laboratory technicians work for research organizations, the government, or manufacturing concerns. Their laboratory skills may be generalized as they begin their careers, but they can develop specialty areas as they gain experience in a particular field. They must be able to manipulate laboratory equipment following very explicit and precise directions; record the results of their research, analyze and interpret data, and write reports.
Calibration Technicians: These technicians keep laboratory and production equipment and machinery measuring and reading accurately. Scientific and technological enterprises require precision. All instruments must be regularly maintained and measurements must be checked. This is a specialized skill that can be transferred to many different industries and research applications.
Quality control and assurance technicians: These technicians are responsible for ensuring that products and processes meet standards established for quality in their industry. They conduct checks of products to make sure that they meet safety and use standards. They monitor industrial processes ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations as well as company standards.
Sales and service technicians: There are many opportunities for science technicians in sales. As products and equipment become increasingly sophisticated, the technical skills and knowledge of the sales force servicing customers increases. Technological sales require knowledge of the best product for a customer's needs. The salesperson often has to analyze a customer's situation in order to prescribe the product best suited to fulfilling it. Salespersons often have to train customers in how to use a product, how to install it, or how to maintain it. They may often be responsible for installation or maintenance themselves. In some technological areas, acquiring a sales position is advancement, coming after years of experience with the product. In some cases, it may be an entry position for a technician with good skills and knowledge.
GENERAL GROWTH IN SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CAREERS
The data below, drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Projections and Training Data, show you that by the year 2005 the general field of technicians and related support is expected to increase 32.3 percent due to growth and replacement needs. This represents an increase from 4.3 million to 5.7 million workers in this category. The data project a very optimistic future for this occupational category. Engineering and science technologist and technician job openings are expected to increase on average by 165,000 annually. The growth and replacement of personnel for this group is expected to be from 1,253,000 to 1,482,000 from 1992 to 2005. The anticipated growth and replacement needs for part of that group, the science and mathematics technicians, is from 244,000 to 305,000. This is an annual average growth rate of 28,000 jobs. Almost 40 percent of science technicians were employed in manufacturing. Of these, most were employed by the chemical industry.
Many science technicians work for the federal and state governments. In 1992 the federal government employed 19,000 science technicians.
Factors Affecting Growth
There are a number of reasons why growth in these fields has been and is expected to remain solid. New knowledge and new ways to apply the knowledge open up new job categories. Consider that fifty years ago there were no real jobs in the computer industry. One hundred years ago there was no computer industry. Knowledge continues to expand, and so does our need to apply it in new ways. Although initially jobs were created to expand our power sources from coal through nuclear power further jobs now have been created to clean up our energy mess, to find cleaner and renewable resources for developed countries, and to sustain growth in developing countries.
When knowledge and process in an area become routine, technicians can take over the jobs of scientists and engineers. Increasing safety and efficiency concerns also create new technicians' jobs. Once a procedure is designed, the engineer does not need to carry it through repeatedly for testing. But the testing must be done accurately. Trained technicians take over this task. Drafting the engineer's blueprints precisely is another specialty skilled job, but it is one that doesn't require the level of education to create the design to begin with. Following the scientist's procedure for an experiment, testing laboratory equipment to ensure that it is accurate, and installing sophisticated equipment where it will be put to use are all tasks that call for skilled, knowledgeable workers. But these workers do not require the educational level of the scientist or engineer to perform their jobs.
PREPARING FOR A TECHNICIAN'S CAREER
Training for a technician's career should begin in high school. For all technicians' positions students should emphasize mathematics, sciences, and communications in their high school studies. If they are interested in laboratory work, the more laboratory sciences that they take, the better their preparation will be. All technicians will be involved in mathematics. Two or three years of high school mathematics are a necessity. Technicians are also required to write reports and sometimes deliver oral reports. Therefore, writing and communication courses are also essential. If students anticipate a technician position that involves blueprint reading or drafting, they should take drafting courses as well. If they expect that their career will involve working with tools, shop courses are also in order.
TRAINING PROFILES
Nearly all jobs in the science technologist category require specialized vocational training in addition to the high school diploma. Whereas employers might have been willing to hire high school graduates with solid science and math backgrounds for entry level positions in the past, the increasingly sophisticated technical demands of the jobs and the numbers of graduates with technical degrees today make this less likely.
There are generally three ways to acquire formal training for technologist and technician occupations. These programs can differ tremendously in cost. Community college associate degree programs may cost as little as $1,500 for the entire two year program; tuition at a post secondary technical school may cost $9,000. Each also differs in its potential relative to future study and advancement.
Associate Degree Programs
Associate degree programs are the most formalized of the technical and technician educational programs. These degrees are offered by accredited two year colleges and four year colleges and universities. Generally they require two years of college study, accumulating from sixty to sixty five college credits. This is about twenty courses. These programs are very valuable because:
- You are prepared to earn a good income after two years of study and
- The programs provide easy transitions and transfer of credit to bachelor degree (four year) programs if you ever decide to expand your formal education.
Certificate Programs
Certificate programs can be provided by post secondary technical institutes. These programs typically have fewer courses required and do not provide students with the associate's degree. They are generally one year programs.
Community colleges and some four year colleges and universities also provide certificate programs in their non-degree divisions. Sometimes these courses are taught by the regular institutional faculty and can be transferred into degree programs.
Public Area Vocational Schools
These programs are often operated by public school districts or consortiums of neighboring districts. Many of these programs are completed as part of a student's high school curriculum. Most also offer training, on a tuition basis, to high school graduates. These programs concentrate on the technically oriented courses with few electives. Many areas have adult vocational schools that can prepare students for technician positions and are especially geared toward the adult student's needs and lifestyle, which may include family and full time work.
Work Related Training
Many employers offer formal educational programs that combine classroom instruction and work experience to new employees or employees who are updating and acquiring new skills. These programs are often required for advancement from one job category to another. The armed services provide many certification programs in conjunction with full time or reserve military duty. Technician jobs that do not require technical school training or degrees will usually have new employees enter training and apprenticeship programs before acquiring the technician or operator status. Very often technicians entering the field without a degree, certificate, or coursework are limited in their ability to advance to jobs with greater responsibility.
On-the-job training is an important way of developing skills and qualifications. However, this is a better strategy for transferring among specialties or advancing in levels within the technologist jobs than acquiring an entry level position. Some companies will allow you to learn new jobs and skills as you perform your present duties. Most companies will require at least a short period of on-the-job training during which new technicians work under the supervision of experienced technicians. In many companies on-the-job training is a regular feature and benefit of the workplace, allowing technicians to upgrade their skills and advance in pay scale on company time. For some technicians this upgrading is part of the relicensing process.
Lifelong Learning
The concept of lifelong learning is becoming more and more important in the workforce. This is especially true in technician jobs because of the fast pace at which technology changes. Most technicians find this a challenge and reward of their job. The challenge is to keep learning, to add skills and knowledge, to be familiar with the best technologies. The reward is that the technician who does keep up to date will keep advancing in responsibility and pay.
Moving among related technological specialties can often be accomplished through on-the-job or employer provided training, or a few additional courses. Flexibility is one of the key features that makes a worker a valuable and attractive asset to a company. Regardless of the method of your preparation, emphasizing mathematics and science in your study, as well as laboratory and computer skills, will strengthen your background and employment opportunities.
According to Bureau of Labor statistics, the only job categories in the technician and related support occupations "for which work related or post secondary training generally is not significant" are EKG technicians and title examiners and searchers.
- Occupations for which work related training is most significant" include only air traffic controllers, aircraft pilots, and flight engineers; opticians; dispensing and measuring technicians; programmers; and numerical, tool, and process control technicians.
- Occupations for which post secondary training is most significant" include the entire category of science and mathematics technicians as well as most of the health, engineering, and other related technician categories.
- Occupations requiring a bachelor's degree or higher" include clinical lab technologists and technicians and computer programmers. Most of the careers that we will be looking at in science technology require the two year degree. Some may be entered with less formal education.
Each of the programs listed below is a solid general program for a person seeking a job as a science technician. They provide broad backgrounds that allow technicians to develop specializations as they gain experience in a particular field.
Science and Engineering Technology
Associate in Science Degree
Community College of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
This actual degree program emphasizes the skills of science and engineering, with less emphasis on specialized content. It is a broad interdisciplinary degree and can be applied to many fields, especially in the context of laboratory work. You can see from the course titles that the program covers most all aspects of science and engineering research. The technician would be prepared to walk into a chemistry, physics, electronics, or engineering laboratory and be able to set up experiments, record results, use instruments of measurement, build equipment, or develop prototypes. This program would be complemented with a deepening appreciation of specialized content whether it were pharmaceutics, electronic respirators, developing new fertilizers, or space shuttle instrumentation while being paid on the job.
Quality Technology Community College of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
This program prepares you to support engineers and managers with measurement, inspection testing, sampling, mathematical probability, and technical report writing.
Personnel in quality technology related positions are in all phases of business and industry, including manufacturing, banking, hospitals, and food service. Graduates meet standards equal to or greater than those for American Society of Quality Control (ASQC), Control Quality Technician (CQT) certification.
PERSONAL QUALITIES OF A SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIST
Even though the field of science technology covers a wide range of specialty occupations, there are a considerable number of personality characteristics and skills common to all of them. How do you rate on the following checklist?
- Do you like to solve problems or puzzles?
- Do you pay attention to every detail of a project?
- Can you follow directions exactly?
- Are you good working with your hands?
- Do you like challenges?
- Can you think quickly?
- Can you adjust to doing things in new ways?
- Can you work without supervision?
- Working inside or outside?
- Working alone or on a team?
- Traveling or not traveling?
- Speaking in public or not speaking in public?
- Working regular schedules or swing shifts?
- Working daytime or nighttime?
There are a lot of ways that you can "try on" a career before you commit yourself to a training program or a full time job. They are also very good ways to give yourself valuable experience in a line of work that can lead to a more attractive and convincing resume, more rapid salary increases, and advancement.
The Educational Opportunity Council is a federal program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education that provides career counseling. They do aptitude and interest testing and counseling to help you find the areas for which you seem most suitable. This is provided free of charge. In addition the E.O.C. will help low income students find financial help for education. There are sixty seven offices located throughout the United States.
Hobbies: Many of the technical careers lend themselves well to hobbies. A lot of engineers, scientists, and technicians claim that they got their start or became interested in a career because of a hobby that became a full time job, whether it was collecting stereo equipment, fixing cars in the backyard, or making homemade wine. Electronics stores, nature stores, and other science oriented stores can get you started on a hobby. For example, are you interested in a meteorological career? Sophisticated weather kits can help you set up your own weather station. Electronic kits abound; and conservation guides show you how to collect data from natural and manmade environments.
Clubs: Many clubs have science oriented themes and related activities. Agricultural and conservation clubs provide a lot of real life hands on activities. Sometimes the activities of these clubs are so formalized and well recognized that employers may count this a work experience.
Volunteer Work: Hospitals, zoos, museums, and other public facilities have many openings for volunteers. Here you can gain important insights into the industry as well as specific technical jobs. Volunteer jobs also put you on the inside track as job openings occur.
Noncredit Coursework: Community colleges offer many inexpensive courses that give good introductions to technical careers. Often for the hobbyist, these courses are a nonthreatening entry to a career field. There are no grades and often minimal charges.
Interviews with technicians in the field: One of the best ways that you can find out about a career is to talk to technicians already working in the area. How do they like their jobs? What are the rewards, salary and nonmaterial, those come with the jobs? What are their duties? What are the working conditions and environments? Are the jobs challenging? Are there opportunities for advancement? Do companies provide on-the-job training and opportunities to update skills or develop new ones? These are all important questions, and asking them of the right people will tell you a lot about whether you may be interested in a particular technician job opportunity.
Summer and part time jobs: Jobs in the industry in which you are interested, even if not a technician's job, can give you a good idea of what it might be like to work as a technician in the area. You experience some of the work environment, see if the field holds your interests and appears challenging, and discover if it is a growth area or not. You might even witness technicians at work.
PATHWAYS TO A CAREER
When you have decided, or at least tentatively decided, on a career path, there are several steps that you can take to reach your goal.
1. Interview at Local Companies: When you are interested in a career, interview at local companies to find out what you need to prepare for it. Call the personnel department at a company that employs technicians in your field. Ask for the name and number of the department head that you think is most appropriate. Call and explain that you are interested in a particular technician's career and would like to interview him or her about how you can best prepare for the field. Most employers will be happy to talk with future prospects. Prepare a list of questions and concerns and dress professionally for your interview. Questions that you might want to ask are:
- Does the company anticipate job openings in that area at about the time that you will be graduating?
- What program of study would be most useful?
- What special skills and talents does the company look for?
- Does the company offer internships?
2. Read the classified advertisements regularly: Find out what jobs employers in your area are hiring for, what their requirements are, and how much they are paying. Keep a log of job listings that you find. This will help you direct your studies and provide some guidelines for developing your skills. You might also come across some part time or temporary job listings that you can combine with your studies. This will give you practical and sellable experience, references, and maybe even "a foot in the door."
3. Local, state and federal job bulletins are also very good sources of job information: They provide detailed job descriptions; requirements for the job; any specifics concerning working conditions such as travel, shift work, and salary; and whether licensing is required.
4. College advisors and counselors are available for advice before entering a program as well as during a program: Before you enroll you can find out information such as which employers are hiring in the area, how much do they pay, is job growth in the area expanding or shrinking, and what opportunities are available for advancement. They may also provide tips as to which company is offering internships and who in the industry is a good person to talk with for job information.
