Chemistry

Chemistry helps us to understand the world around us. It enables us to understand the properties of different materials and to transform materials into new and useful substances.

Through chemistry, we can understand changes that we observe in the natural and physical world. Chemistry gives us understandings on which to base educated choices about consumer products and management of resources.

Chemistry solves problems. It enables us to develop a range of useful materials such as pharmaceuticals for curing and treating diseases, substances that protect the environment, technologically advanced structures for building, and materials that can be used as alternative energy sources. Chemistry is fundamental to understanding climate change and wise use of the world's energy and water resources.

Learning in chemistry opens up career opportunities. Some chemists work in laboratories designing new materials that are used in products such as medicines, food and beverage flavourings, superconductors, and vaccines. Studying chemistry also provides excellent training for a wide range of careers including marketing and project management, environmental science and forensic science. Employers value the skills of numeracy, problem solving, and communication that are integral to all study in chemistry.