At Work with Science presents work-related learning in the context of how science is used in the pharmaceutical industry. It has a wealth of information about “how science works” to support GCSE and Applied Science courses. The various modules range from job application skills, to team working and enterprise activities together with virtual visits to chemistry laboratories and a chemical plant.
Click on either the module titles or graphics below to access the modules. You can reach any of the modules from any page within the site by using the module menu above.
Take a virtual tour of the areas where chemists work. The chemistry laboratories do initial research and the pilot plant is involved in making pharmaceutical products on a large scale. Key equipment and activities are highlighted. Teacher notes are provided so that tours can be guided if required.
Scientific work uses many hazardous materials or processes. However there are very few accidents due to the risk assessments used to control these hazards. Student tasks lead them through these processes. They can also take a tour of safety signs which help to create a safe environment.
Student teams make boxes and labels for medicine bottles in the core task of this suite of activities. Dosage information can be deduced from associated tasks. Planning, quality control and some risk are essential to achieve challenging targets and bonus points.
Student teams make decisions on which drug to develop as a new antibiotic treatment for infections. After deciding which compound to progress they look at production and marketing timescales. On-line research into bacteria and antibiotics is an optional activity.
Students assess application forms through the eyes of a potential employer and learn how to “sell themselves” better. Their task is to select the 2 best candidates from a set of 8 forms written by students seeking work experience in industrial labs.
At work it is important to recruit the right team members and for them to understand how teams work effectively. One activity matches CVs to job descriptions and extends to writing effective CVs. A separate card sort exercise identifies effective team working skills.
GCSE and advanced science courses include aspects of how science is used and often require students to investigate aspects of a large science based company. This module covers many of the questions that students need to research.
Creating a new medicine takes about 10 to 12 years and involves a number of phases. Each depends upon teams of skilled scientists from many diverse backgrounds with a variety of science or ICT degrees. This module shows the jobs that scientists do, the people who do them and the whole Research and Development (R&D) process.
