Chemistry is at the heart of everything: in proteins, hormones, vitamins, electronic circuits, television screens, soap, medicines, plastics, paints, etc. The chemist holds the art of combining atoms to create new molecules. So she.he’s the architect of the molecules of the future. With biology and physics, chemistry provides answers to the great challenges: energy in profusion without warming the climate, progress without the death of the planet, health without the monopoly of developed societies, etc.
The chemistry professional is known for his analytic ability and the rigour of his training.
Chemistry, in the broad sense of the term, is constantly developing and offers national and international employment opportunities, both in the public and private sectors.
Industry
The chemical and life sciences sector accounts for more than 25,000 direct jobs and more than 40,000 indirect jobs, and 11 billion turnover, 80% of which is exported. These figures make it the second largest industrial sector in the Walloon Region. Source: ESSENSCIA
The chemical industry offers jobs in many fields: petrochemicals, pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, plastics and polymers, manufacture of paints and printing inks, sugar refining, cosmetics, textiles and dyes, glass, waste recycling, Manufacture of solar collectors, electronic components, soap and detergents, perfumery, wood and paper industry, etc.
Jobs can be varied: Research and Development (research manager, laboratory assistant, project manager, etc.), production (production manager, formulator, etc.), analysis (quality control, environmental advisor, prevention advisor, etc.), marketing (sourcing manager, product marketing manager, medical delegate, patent manager, communication manager, etc.)
Research
Research – basic or applied – is the scientific field of choice, in university or public research institutes, in industrial laboratories. The problem for the chemist is sometimes very concrete: using our energy potential more rationally, developing light but solid materials, recycling the waste we produce, developing cleaner fuels, finally find a drug against cancer or AIDS, etc.
Public sector
Many government-run establishments have chemists on staff. Examples include ISSEP (Scientific Institute of Public Services), FASFC (Federal Agency for Food Chain Safety), ISP (Institute of Public Health), CEBEDEAU (Belgian Centre for Water Studies and Documentation), etc. without forgetting the technical and scientific police.
Other possibilities
Chemistry also opens up career opportunities in secondary and higher education, computer science, banking and insurance – and other sometimes unsuspected professions. The environment is now an increasingly demanding sector.