I fear that the "I don't want to be a lifetime scientist, can you suggest any alternatives?" line is not likely to get you very far within the world of Public Engagement in Science and Technology (PEST) that is PSCI.
Like science journalism, my own subdomain within PEST, people enter it because they passionately want careers there. So you would be competing with fanatics, not people who can't hack it in science. (I say that not because of anything personal, but because 'get a job in science writing' is advice that some academics like to hand down to students who are not going to go on to become the next generation of professors.)
I can't speak for the wider world, but again in journalism/writing the advice is usually to take your academic career as far as possible before cutting your ties. It is relatively easy to get out but impossible to get back in. And the more you know about your are of science the more valuable you are to whichever PEST domain you enter.
While pursuing your studies and career in science, get involved in any local PEST activities that come your way. Not only does that let you test the business to see if it really is for you, it also gives you experience that you can pile into your CV.
Bristol, and its various universities, have some seriously good activities that you could contribute to.
Your first lesson has to be that, when discussing this sort of thing, you don't ask for personal emails.
Oh, and which website did people suggest that you visit? This is a mailing list, not a website.
Here is one that you could attack if you do fancy a media career:
http://www.absw.org.uk
Maybe other people can suggest alternatives for their areas.
Please try to avoid the unpaid internship that seem to be de rigeur in the media.
On the Masters thing, there is a list somewhere of places that do courses. The good ones will give you honest accounts of what happens to their students.
MK
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Charlotte Martin
Sent: 26 February 2015 14:12
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Careers help for a student
Hi everyone,
I'm a current student of Medical Microbiology, which I love and I am really passionate about the subject. However, I have little interest in going on to work as an academic or in pharmaceutical research and I'm finding it hard to get information on alternative science based careers from my course. I was recommended this website for advice by someone at a careers fair so I'm hoping someone out there may be able to help me!
I have 2 questions:
1. Do you have any suggestions on future career paths for me? I would love to use my science background and also possibly work in science communication, but I'm open to any suggestions and ideas.
2. Has anyone done a masters in Science Communication? If so, did you find it led you into the career you expected?
Many thanks, if you could email any replies to [log in to unmask], that would be much appreciated.
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