It's been over a year since the devastation of 9/11. See why it's still stirring up change.

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Will a Life-Altering Event Change Your Career Choice?
By Robyn Tellefsen
October/November 2002

The CollegeBound Network NewsClick -- Why would a student striving to write for National Geographicsuddenly consider the field of scientific research instead? For senior Caitlyn Yeykal, the answer came in a single day: September 11th.

"Bio-technological warfare is huge," says the double major in biology and professional writing at Carlow College, Pittsburgh, PA. "There are whole new frontiers left to discover."

According to Rebecca Lucore, executive director of the Bayer Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to improve communities, Caitlyn is not alone in her career change.

"September 11th had an impact on everyone," says Lucore. "It's become one of the many factors involved in career planning."

And, as part of its Making Science Make Sense initiative, Bayer conducted a Gallup survey to determine the effects of 9/11 on college students' career tracks.

"Nine out of 10 students think science is important, and feel confident that science and technology will help in the war against terror," reports Lucore.

According to the results, many also feel new job opportunities will be created by increased homeland security, and one in 10 plan to get involved. Yet even as a potential career-changing student with a strong science background -- Caitlyn feels she is not as science-literate as she could be. "There's so much I don't know."

Lucore believes most students are like Caitlyn, and any lack of literacy they have extends from classroom to cubicle. "First-year employees said they were science literate, but when I spoke to their managers, they said the employees were not as prepared as they would have liked them to be."

Science literacy, explains Lucore, incorporates critical thinking, problem solving, and adaptability to change. Caitlyn knows these factors are paramount to her prosperity. "In labs, the most important thing is to know what questions to ask, and where to find the answers," she explains. "Say I discover a cure for AIDS -- I need to know what works, and what they've tried so far."

For those students who have begun to see a need to pursue science and technology on some level but don't know where to start, Lucore suggests getting involved in mentoring programs, co-ops, and as many hands-on internships as possible.

While 9/11 may not change you from writer to researcher, Lucore reminds us scientific consciousness is critical -- in any field.