tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post2354962725664628281..comments2024-03-27T21:23:40.339-04:00Comments on Chemjobber: Is chemistry a profession? Chemjobberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932113680515602275noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-35451353721981980492017-05-18T17:39:24.613-04:002017-05-18T17:39:24.613-04:00A professional is someone licenced by the governme...A professional is someone licenced by the government to practice a profession. That is there's an artificial barrier to entry. A physician or a nail technician are professionals but chemists are not. It wasn't until I was licenced in my non-chemical profession that I really began to make money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-18183304999989930182017-05-18T16:26:21.378-04:002017-05-18T16:26:21.378-04:00The distinction between a technician and a scienti...The distinction between a technician and a scientist is fuzzy, and varies considerably between companies. This is probably a consequence of our field not having a central governing body or licensing - the distinction between a doctor and a nurse, or a lawyer and a paralegal, is clearly defined.<br /><br />Chemists don't need licensing because we don't deal directly with the public. It is our employers' responsibility to ensure that qualified people handle chemicals and do so in a safe manner, while the average person visiting a doctor or hiring a lawyer has no way of judging their qualifications easily.<br /><br />Following up on my earlier post, licensed professionals have a lot less freedom than scientists as to how they carry out their jobs. Most doctors aren't medical researchers, and have to follow established procedures rather than creating them.KTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-10066806842136962962017-05-18T15:03:35.735-04:002017-05-18T15:03:35.735-04:00There is this 'P. Chem.' designation that ...There is this 'P. Chem.' designation that I've seen 1 person use: https://www.pchem.ca/faq<br /><br />Likely confusing with phys chem (he was an organic chemist).biotechtoreadornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-27278168938765676642017-05-18T09:30:23.313-04:002017-05-18T09:30:23.313-04:00Joe Q you are not seemingly fuzzy claiming then on...Joe Q you are not seemingly fuzzy claiming then only certifications and licenses will make people professionals which I believe does disservice to others whose professions do not have such direct evidence requirements. Are "professional athletes" to be excluded (unless you consider the Draft as a pseudo-certification). I earned a BS in Chemistry and later PhD and have been paid according and do consider my self in a profession. IMO most the licensed professions do so to inhibit frauds and not sure enough profit in someone posing as a Scientist.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-43068382150459751912017-05-17T17:09:40.309-04:002017-05-17T17:09:40.309-04:00Seems like a loaded question to me...Seems like a loaded question to me...Vrampirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09906893462524493572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-72619503354195622452017-05-17T13:14:16.993-04:002017-05-17T13:14:16.993-04:00To me, it's the certification / licensing fact...To me, it's the certification / licensing factor that separates "true professions" from other careers. This is related to potential risks to health, safety, or public order if misconduct occurs. <br /><br />Doctors, dentists, lawyers, engineers, etc. are all professions, with governing bodies that set ethics and competency standards. Those who fail to meet these standards can't call themselves doctors / dentists / lawyers / engineers. Scientists have no licensing or governing bodies, so it's hard to fit it into a "profession" category.<br /><br />I realize this definition is fuzzy at the edges but I think it works well for many purposes. Joe Q.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-13100143761589217302017-05-17T12:26:08.999-04:002017-05-17T12:26:08.999-04:00I generally think of professions as jobs where peo...I generally think of professions as jobs where people do their work according to certain standards of conduct--which is really close to the ethos definition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-2724325785960050372017-05-17T09:58:57.323-04:002017-05-17T09:58:57.323-04:00"A profession is a job married with an ethos...."A profession is a job married with an ethos."<br /><br />I think this is perfect.biotechtoreadornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-30170847087382515432017-05-17T09:43:14.367-04:002017-05-17T09:43:14.367-04:00I think one big difference between chemistry and m...I think one big difference between chemistry and medicine, law, etc is that most doctors and lawyers don't carry out medical research or write new laws.KTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-57707688886046378342017-05-17T08:56:39.190-04:002017-05-17T08:56:39.190-04:00A profession is a job married with an ethos.
By m...A profession is a job married with an ethos.<br /><br />By my personal definition, chemistry is a profession. Most chemists care about capital "C" Chemistry. They know the heroes, history, and lore. They care about how Chemistry is perceived by the general public. They take pride not just in their jobs but in participating in the larger endeavor of manipulating matter to serve mankind. There is a unique spirit to the work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com