Has anyone got a career in science while still being a bit weak at maths?

[cottonwoolbrain]

DD is desperate to be a biochemist. She came up with the idea entirely independently when she was 10 and at 13 in year 8 still wants to do it. However although she's doing well in the 3 sciences (at the moment the school think she could get good grades in GCSE if she were to do them this year though we are going to wait) she struggles a little with maths.

She CAN do it but she had a really bad maths teacher last year who she simply could not get on with and its totally knocked her confidence. Thankfully said teacher left last year and she's got a new one but as a result of her poor test results in year 7 has been knocked down a group. She now believes there is no way she can go ahead with her ambition because of maths.

I don't want to tell her she can if she can't so looking for successful scientists who are weaker at maths. Can she get into science courses without maths A level for example or is it essential?

She isn't bad at maths, she might need to work on it a little bit harder than she does other things, but that's not being bad at it.

Another academic with a sciency PhD and shit maths. I'd echo what others have said - the further you go in the biology direction, the easier it is to escape maths. But what you do need in any scientific discipline is a strong grasp of statistics. If all else fails, YouTube can always help with that.

Biology degree.... Masters too and doctorate in related subject. Only ever average at maths (A at GCSE, but via great teaching, rote learning and practice). Maths for biologists at undergrad nearly killed me but I got by, I genuinely struggle with my son's year 7 maths homework! Analytical skills and a grasp of statistics has gotten me through. I would not recommend chemistry or physics degrees for those who don't 'really get it'

Its reassuring to know there are a few scientists who are shit at maths

Reassuring? Or horrifying?

I work in a mathematical field so I'm biased, but any scientist without a good grasp of the basics of maths and stats won't be able to properly analyse their results and so will be doing dodgy science. Or at the very least be at risk of not knowing if their science is dodgy.

DH is a physicist working in the biological sciences and frequently horrified by what his colleagues don't know. I'm talking basic, GCSE level stuff like how to solve a quadratic equation. Some of them have had no formal mathematical education since GCSE, which raises so many questions about the education system in the UK, but that's for a different thread.

However, there is no need for your daughter to find herself in that boat OP. She doesn't need to be brilliant at maths, she needs to be competent. Maths is a language, and the only way to improve is to use it. Lots of question practice, she'll learn more with each question she does, and far more than she'd learn just from reading notes. So many girls have a confidence problem with maths and it's a crying shame. If she's a dedicated student who's good at the sciences I have no doubt she's capable. She just doesn't realise it yet.

Just a suggestion to be really careful about saying "she inherited it from me"- don't let her think that her mathematical ability is fixed because it's absolutely not.

It's about confidence, resilience (I.e. being prepared to keep trying and not give up), and having good teachers who can help her to get to grips with understanding how maths works- not just being able to carry out a function, but having that understanding about why it works how it does. A lot of these factors are missing for a lot of people, they lose confidence and then pass the lack of confidence on to the next generation.

It's so so important not to give her the impression that her ability is fixed and accidentally erode her confidence.

Completely agree Canyousewcushions

I'm a radiographer, the degree involves a lot of physics but mainly anatomy and physiology.

I'm rubbish at maths, got a C in GCSE and a B in science. Didn't even attempt A levels. I honestly believe it's more work ethic and graft than natural intelligence

My ds wants to do all 3 sciences at GCSE but is weak at maths (in bottom set of 3) and when I suggested to HOY that I felt double award would be more appropriate (because of weak maths) she thanked me and said the new spec at GCSE is closer to A Level and chem and physics has a lot of maths.

OP I wanted to do something sciencey and did 3 sciences at A Level. I got a B in GCSE maths and probably just scraped that. I really, really struggled and end ed up having to swap physics and chemistry with geography and food tech as no amount of me trying hard would have seen my passing my A levels. Your dd is still young so there is time but I am rather surprised at all of the posters who were crap at maths but are now in a pure science field.

@listsandbudgets engineering is a fantastic way for women to earn money, and quickly..

I work for the government so I'm a civil servant as well as an engineer; but from the days of "Bad Girls" I have yearned to be a prison officer

I wish. Oh I wish

Anyway - if I had a daughter, I'd certainly be encouraging her down the STEM route. I was earning £40k a year as a graduate in a country where the average wage is £25k a year (Northern Ireland)

I was promoted quickly and that certainly wasn't due to the love of the job 🙄 but I am professional and pleasant. A lot of work is desk based; I'm only out on site twice a week

It's not a bad job I know I'm not selling it but it did enable me to buy a home by myself at 22, drive a nice car, get married, have a child and have 4 holidays a year. I'm only 28

I STILL WANT TO BE A PRISON OFFICER

If you can afford a maths tutor it would be a worthy investment to fill in gaps in knowledge and to help your DD gain confidence. Maths at KS3 shouldnt be beyond many students understanding if explained clearly and broken down.

All of my science friends - those who work in industry and those who are Doctors etc needed a solid understanding of Maths and have A and A* grades at GCSE. Regardless of Science, having a high grade in maths is always going to be beneficial if not essential.