I asked three elementary schools to help me with an informal survey to find out how fifth-grade students might view a science career in relation to other careers. Two schools on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State and one school in a small town in Arizona agreed to participate. My sincere thanks goes to the schools, the teachers, and the students for their time and interest.

In November 2003, 82 students (41 boys and 41 girls) answered the questions, "If you could be anything in the world when you grow up, what would you be?" and "Which job do you think is the most important?" The following list was given for each question with the instructions to circle one: librarian, law enforcer, writer, doctor, nurse, teacher, biologist, mathematician, fire fighter, computer expert, artist, chemist, secretary, company president, shop owner, astronomer, lawyer, ecologist, pilot, or "other," with room to fill in their own choice if the did not like the ones given. They were not asked to explain why they made their choices and it was not specified "to whom" or "to what" the "most important" careers pertained.

The results show that of the science-oriented careers given--doctor, biologist, mathematician, computer expert, chemist, astronomer, ecologist, and the written-in veterinarian--8 boys and 6 girls would choose those careers while 11 boys and 20 girls thought they were the most important careers.

None of the boys chose doctor for their own careers, although 9 thought it was the most important; 3 girls chose doctor for their own careers while 15 thought it was the most important. Two boys chose biologist for both categories, and none of the girls did. None of the students chose mathematician or ecologist for either category. Three boys each said they would like to be computer experts and chemists, but no boys thought those careers were the most important. Neither boys nor girls chose astronomer as a career, but one girl though it most important. None of the girls chose biologist, mathematician, computer expert, chemist, astronomer, or ecologist for their careers when they grow up.

Conclusion: Elementary school age girls appear to have less interest than boys in choosing scientific careers when they grow up, although in this survey, the difference is not great. Fifteen percent of the girls chose a science-related career in medicine, while 20 percent of the boys chose them in biology, computers, and chemistry.

If you could be anything in the world when you grow up, what would you be??

Librarian,  0
Law enforcer,  1
Writer,  1
Doctor,  0
Nurse,  0
Teacher,  1
Biologist,  2
Mathematician,  0
Fire fighter,  1
Computer expert,  3
Artist,  2
Chemist,  3
Secretary,  0
Company president,  0
Shop owner,  1
Astronomer,  0
Lawyer,  4
Ecologist,  0
Pilot,  2
Other, 20

("Other" choices were: director/scriptwriter, pro skateboarder (2), gunsmith, U.S. Marines, priest, archeologist, race car driver, the military (2), street racer, pro football player (3), pro skater, skate shop owner, moto-cross rider, landscaper, video game maker, and snake catcher).

Which job do you think is the most important?

Librarian,  0
Law enforcer, 10
Writer,  0
Doctor, 9
Nurse,  0
Teacher,  2
Biologist,  2
Mathematician,  0
Fire fighter,  7
Computer expert,  0
Artist,  0
Chemist,  0
Secretary,  0
Company president,  1
Shop owner,  0
Astronomer,  0
Lawyer,  1
Ecologist,  0
Pilot,  0
Other,  9

("Other" choices were: U.S. Marines, priest, U.S. President (3), and the military (3).

If you could be anything in the world when you grow up, what would you be??

Librarian,  0
Law enforcer,  0
Writer,  4
Doctor,  3
Nurse,  3
Teacher,  7
Biologist,  0
Mathematician,  0
Fire fighter,  0
Computer expert,  0
Artist,  9
Chemist,  0
Secretary,  1
Company president,  0
Shop owner,  0
Astronomer,  0
Lawyer,  5
Ecologist,  0
Pilot,  0
Other,  9

("Other choices were: veterinarian (3), FBI, actress, politician, veterinary assistant, U.S. President, and cheerleader).

Which job do you think is the most important?

Librarian,  0
Law enforcer,  3
Writer,  0
Doctor,  15
Nurse,  4
Teacher,  3
Biologist,  0
Mathematician,  0
Fire fighter,  4
Computer expert,  0
Artist,  0
Chemist,  0
Secretary,  1
Company president,  2
Shop owner,  0
Astronomer,  1
Lawyer,  2
Ecologist,  0
Pilot,  0
Other,  6

("Other" choices were: veterinarian (4), Armed Forces, U.S. President).