2012 survey research carried out by Accuracy on behalf of the Discover Science & Engineering programme (DSE), gives a sample overview of perceptions of careers in science, technology, engineering & maths (STEM) in Ireland today. For more information on the DSE programme please visit www.Discover-Science.ie. DSE is managed by Science Foundation Ireland, and aims to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among students, teachers and members of the public in Ireland.

1. Survey undertaken by Discover Science & Engineering in March 2012*. Where
possible, results are compared to 2011 data. Given that the demographics of
both samples differ, caution must be applied to interpreting these results.
* research conducted by Accuracy on behalf of Discover Science & Engineering

2. what are Irish attitudes
to science, technology
and engineering today?
“Accurate information is central to all decision making”

3. Main findings
attitudes to all careers appear
more favourable
than in 2011
This may be explained in part by a ‘mood effect’

4. Main findings
science (74%)
technology (70%)
engineering (81%)
are viewed more favourably than
dentistry (64%)
accountancy (47%)

5. Main findings
journalism (98%)
medicine (92%)
law (85%)
are viewed as most interesting, followed by
engineering (81%)
teaching (81%)
science (74%)

6. Main findings

7. Main findings
do you need
maths
for these careers?
92% and 90% agree that careers in
science and computing respectively require
a high understanding of mathematics

8. Main findings
83% agree that the production of high-quality
science and engineering graduates is very
important to the recovery of the Irish economy
Fewer men (79%) hold this view than women (88%)

9. Main findings
Would you encourage a
school leaver
to consider
a science career?
77% would encourage a school leaver to consider a
career in science, technology and engineering
Only 68% of 18 to 24-year-olds say they would do so

10. Main findings
are scientists
and engineers
well paid?
90% and 79% say that scientists
and engineers respectively are well paid
Only 68% of 18 to 24-year-olds think engineers are well paid

11. Main findings
Over 6 in 10 (63%) say scientists spend
a lot of time 'stuck in the laboratory’
Those aged 18-24 (76%) and men (69%) are
more likely to hold this view than women (55%)

12. Main findings
what are the
career
opportunities?
61% say there are many career opportunities in
Ireland for science and engineering graduates
Only 48% of those aged 18-24 years share this view

13. Results in detail

14. Sample Breakdown
Gender Age Region
18-24 12%
Male
56% 33%
61% Dublin
25-34
35-49 30%
ROL
Female 24%
44%
20%
50-64 10% Munster
65+ 4% 5% Conn/Uls
{Base: n=202, All respondents}

15. Attitudes to Careers (Interesting v Boring)
Mean Score
2011 2012
4.3 4.4
Medic/Doctor 51 41 4 3
4.1 4.5
Journalist 48 50 3
4.0 4
Teacher 30 51 8 11
3.6 4
Lawyer 25 60 8 7
3.6 3.9
Engineer 20 61 9 8 1
V.interesting Interesting Neither Boring V.boring
{Base: n=202, All respondents}

16. Attitudes to Careers (Interesting v Boring)
Mean Score
2011 2012
Scientist 20 54 9 16 1 3.8 3.8
Dentist 12 52 14 18 2 2.9 3.5
3.3 3.6
Computer Science 11 59 10 17 2
Accountant 6 41 18 28 6 2.5 3.1
V.interesting Interesting Neither Boring V.boring
{Base: n=202, All respondents}

17. Attitudes to Careers (All Interesting)
Interesting All Male Female *18-24 *25-34 *35-49
(202) (114) (88) (25) (67) (61)
Journalist 98% (+12) 98% 95% 92% 100% 97%
Medic 92% (-1) 94% 90% 76% 96% 97%
Law 85% (+19) 84% 85% 88% 81% 85%
Engineer 81% (+16) 83% 77% 60% 82% 87%
Teacher 81% (+1) 82% 80% 64% 75% 89%
Scientist 74% (+2) 75% 73% 64% 67% 84%
Computer Scientist 70% (+18) 71% 69% 64% 64% 74%
Dentist 64% (+33) 67% 63% 56% 64% 67%
Accountant 47% (+29) 51% 42% 20% 42% 57%
*Small sample size should be treated as indicative only
{Base: n=202, All respondents}

18. Attitudes to Careers (Agree v Disagree
1-5 with Statements)
Mean Score
2011 2012
3.9 4.2
Scientists are well paid 37 53 7 3
A career in Computers requires a high 4.0 4.2
understanding of Maths
30 60 7 3
Producing high quality Science & Engineering 4.0 4.0
graduates is very important for the Irish economy
25 58 13 4
A career in science requires a high understanding 4.2 4.1
of maths
25 67 52
Scientists spend a lot of their time stuck in a 3.5 3.7
laboratory
19 44 29 8
3.9 3.9
Engineers are well paid 18 61 14 7
Strongly agree Agree Neither/nor Disagree Disagree strongly
{Base: n=202, All respondents}

19. Attitudes to Careers (Agree v Disagree
1-5 with Statements)
Mean Score
There are currently 2011 2012
many career
opportunities within 3.2 3.6
Ireland for Science,
18 43 21 17
Engineering and
Technology graduates
I would encourage
someone leaving school 3.9 3.8
to consider a career in 16 61 11 11
Science, Technology and
Engineering
Producing high quality
legal graduates is very 3.6 3.8
important to the 15 62 15 7
recovery of the Irish
economy
There are few career
opportunities in Ireland 3.4 2.8
7 16 34 39 3
for Science and
Engineering graduates
Strongly agree Agree Neither/nor Disagree Disagree strongly
{Base: n=202, All respondents}

20. Attitudes to Careers (Agree)
Interesting All Male Female *18-24 *25-34 *35-49
(202) (114) (88) (25) (67) (61)
A career in Science requires a high 92% 94% 91% 96% 93% 95%
understanding of Maths
A career in Computers requires a high 90% 94% 83% 92% 87% 89%
understanding of Maths
Scientists are well paid 90% 89% 91% 96% 88% 90%
Producing high quality Science and 83% 79% 88% 76% 79% 87%
Engineering graduates is very important
to the recovery of the Irish economy
Engineers are well paid 79% 81% 76% 68% 90% 75%
I would encourage someone leaving 77% 77% 77% 68% 76% 79%
school to consider a career in Science,
Technology and Engineering
Producing high quality legal graduates is 77% 79% 75% 72% 76% 75%
very important to the recovery of the
Irish economy
Scientists spend a lot of their time stuck 63% 69% 55% 76% 69% 56%
in a laboratory
There are currently many career 61% 63% 58% 48% 69% 64%
opportunities within Ireland for Science,
Engineering and Technology graduates
There are few career opportunities in 23% 21% 26% 28% 16% 23%
Ireland for Science and Engineering
graduates
*Small sample size should be treated as indicative only
{Base: n=202, All respondents}

21. Methodology
We conducted the research via face-to-face
surveys with 202 respondents
All surveys were conducted in Dublin city centre
with members of the public attending the 2012 St
Patrick’s Festival on 18 March 2012
No sampling quotas were set, save that all
respondents had to be currently living in
Ireland

22. go to MyScienceCareer.ie
read more about Discover Science & Engineering