The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) has identified a range of current and likely future demand in  Ireland for science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills.

Some of these skills are sector or occupation-specific, while others are more generic and required across sectors.

Medical devices sector

Research indicates a strong demand  for those with an understanding of design engineering, good management practices, quality assurance, and understanding of regulatory affairs.

Biopharmaceutical sector

This sector has a demand for organic chemists and those who can combine business, clinical and engineering skills.

In some manufacturing sectors such as food or medical devices, there is a shortage of process diagnostic and control engineers and technicians who can implement lean manufacturing/Six Sigma principles for production processes.

ICT sector

The EGFSN says the ICT sector in Ireland has moved to higher value activities, with a continuing strong demand for software engineers, computer analysts and programmers. ICT companies identified a particular demand for people with very high levels of engineering skills.

Many also identified an important need for more people with combinations of both technical and business skills.

Convergence of technologies

In some areas there is an increasing convergence of IT, biotechnology, nanotechnology and cognitive science.

This is creating many new business opportunities for Ireland, such as web services, enterprise software, personalised medicine, financial services, smart materials and medical devices.

There are opportunities for qualified engineers particularly in key sectors such as:

• ICT
• Biotechnology sensor technology
• Robotics
• Integrated electronics
• Telecommunications and internet
• Financial engineering
• Imaging
• Genetic technology
• Nanotechnology

This is resulting in a demand for hybrid engineers and technologists with backgrounds in science, IT, nanotechnology and cognitive science.

ICT skills feature in most interdisciplinary convergence processes (e.g. business and IT; finance and IT; biotechnology, nanotechnology and IT).

Renewable energy

Science and engineering graduates will be increasingly in demand in the energy sector, particularly renewable energy which is set to become one of the key growth sectors of the economy.

Demand is likely to increase at technician and professional level, combining new technologies and interdisciplinary backgrounds such as science/engineering/business.

Advances in areas such as renewable energy, water treatment and waste may require completely new skills and expertise, from research through to operation/production functions. In addition, with the commitment to the development of the “Green Economy”, there may also be opportunities for workers who relied on the traditional construction sector for many years towards areas of work such as, for example, in energy efficient systems design, installation, repair and maintenance.

Engineering skills

There is a strong demand for design engineers, particularly in R&D in the medical devices sector – especially individuals with experience and/or industry specific knowledge such as process automation design.

In a number of manufacturing sub-sectors such as food processing or medical devices, there is a demand for process diagnostic and control engineers and technicians who can implement lean manufacturing/Six Sigma principles to production processes.

As is the case for science graduates, engineers, especially electronic, electrical, quality control, and design and development, are in demand in the renewable energy sector (e.g. wind, wave and tidal), which is expected to be one of the drivers of future growth.

Ecology and environmental protection are becoming increasingly important, creating new career opportunities for environmental engineers with expertise in the management of ecosystems.

Mathematics

The proficiency level of students in mathematics is a key factor influencing the domestic supply of graduates for sectors with growth potential such as ICT, life sciences and business, financial and professional services.

Education

Imelda Egan - Air pollution scientist

• BA (Mod) Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin (1993)
• Masters in Biological Sciences, Dublin City University (1996)
• Diploma in Environmental Engineering, Trinity College (1999)

Career snapshot

Imelda Egan develops techniques to deal with air pollution. She works for Bord na Mona, an organisation once best known for turf briquettes. Over the past decade, however, Bord na Mona has also built up a range of environmental services, many based on technologies that it has invented and developed commercially.
Imelda is centrally involved in this. Over the last five years, she has been named as co-inventor of two patented air treatment processes. The team she works in, Clean Air Solutions, was shortlisted for the All-Ireland Innovation Awards 2002 and received a commendation.

Bord na Mona exports its services to Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal, as well as working in Ireland. So Imelda’s job involves a lot of travel, although some of it is to such glamorous locations as wastewater treatment or animal rendering plants.
There are two sides to her work: developing new solutions and supporting them in use. This involves:

• Working on new processes to deal with air pollution
• Going on-site to examine air emissions and odorous processes
• Devising solutions through pilot trials
• Putting biological air treatment systems in place
• Supporting the systems in use

It is a demanding and satisfying job, making the world a cleaner and less-smelly place.

What’s the best thing about your job?

“I like the variety of my job, in that I could be on site in France one week and the next be in the office designing a full abatement system for an odour or emission application. The team members in Clean Air Solutions work together. If something comes up, everyone pulls together to get it solved as quickly as possible.”

What do you like least about your job?

“There are times, particularly in winter, when the last thing you want to do is to go outside to a cold site!”

How do you spend a typical day?

“I could be up early and on the road to a site to undertake monitoring. If we have a pilot trial going, we could be visiting that. Or I could be in the office. I spend a lot of time on the phone discussing potential solutions, or arranging someone to monitor a site.”

Are you a science nerd?

“I don’t think so. I like all aspects of my job, including the commercial aspects. My qualifications in science allow me to do a job which is varied and interesting, but I leave it at the gate when I go home.”

Did science give you a buzz at school?

“I did chemistry and physics at school, but wasn’t that good at either really. It wasn’t until I went to college that some of my courses really woke me up to the unbelievable possibilities that science offers in every area of life.”

Want to find out more?

Learn about the wide range of Bord na Mona’s business activities

Find out more about environmental engineering at TCD

(Photo of Imelda Egan used with the kind permission of Bord na Mona)