Chemical Technicians

You can explore this field by joining high school science clubs or organizations such as the Technology Student Association (http://www.tsaweb.org) and taking part in extracurricular activities. Science contests are a good way to apply principles learned in classes to a special project. You can read the American Chemical Society's (ACS) ChemMatters (https://www.acs.org/education/chemmatters.html), a magazine for students taking chemistry in high school. Examples of topics covered in the magazine include the chemistry of lipstick, suntan products, contact lenses, and carbon-14 dating. The ACS also has a division for chemical technicians; visit https://www.acs.org/careers/chemical-sciences/fields/chemical-technology.html for more information. Also, qualifying students can participate in Project SEED (http://www.acs.org/education/students/highschool/seed.html), a summer program designed to provide high school students from economically disadvantaged homes with the opportunity to experience science research in a laboratory environment.

Consider participating in the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad, a chemistry competition for high school students that is sponsored by the ACS. Visit https://www.acs.org/students/highschool/olympiad.html for more information.

Once you are in college, you can join the student affiliates of professional associations such as the ACS and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Membership allows students to experience the professionalism of a career in chemistry. You can also contact the ACS or AIChE local sections to talk with chemists and chemical engineers about what they do. These associations may also help students find summer or co-op work experiences.