Question: hello so do you just need qualifications in science to be a scientist like you

Mark Lancaster answered on 14 Jun 2010:

Yes science qualifications are the most important. That said other qualifications can give you perspective and are valuable but to do what I do the entry level is A-level Physics and A-level Maths – the third A-level could be in anything but Chemistry or Further Maths would be the most preferred. That said we do have people in my research group who left school a 16 and have learnt the required skills on the job and in my field we require people with skills ranging from mechanical engineering through to high-end computer programming, so there is quite some range in the qualifications but they tend to be mostly scientific. We’ve people who’ve studied Physics and Philosophy. These days being part of large collaborations and doing more in management and politics I often wish I had qualifications in the darker arts as practised by Sir Humphrey.