Here’s some food for thought

•Q : I am keen on pursuing a career as a nutritionist. Could you please inform me about the job prospects?

Madhumita Ghosh

• A:The scope of jobs in the field of nutrition is growing at an unprecedented rate due to the fast developing food processing industry spurred by the entry
of multinationals, which offer well-paying job opportunities.

With a fast changing lifestyle becoming the order of the day, almost everyone needs a diet consultant or a nutritionist to help chalk out a proper food chart so that one can lead a healthy life. In fact, following a well balanced diet is fast becoming an absolute necessity.

The work of nutritionists involves continuous research and experiment with ways to improve the nutritive value, flavour and general acceptability of the food while limiting the calorie and fat content to the lowest level.

Food processing units, food research laboratories, wholesalers of edibles, hospitals, canteens in large companies and educational institutions, besides hotels, health clubs and fitness centres employ a large number of people specialising in food technology, nutrition and food services management.

Sports nutrition is also one of the emerging fields of specialisation.

Moreover, should you wish to strike out on your own, you could start a consulting practice, or catering service, supplying balanced and nutritious low-calorie meals that can be eaten at the desk, for instance. You can consider teaching as yet another option. With a BEd under your belt, you could teach nutrition and dietetics at schools that offer home science as a subject (most higher secondary educational institutions do).

However, to teach in a college or at the high school level, you will require a masters in home science.

Out of this world

• Q: Could you tell me something about aerospace engineering? Where can one pursue aerospace engineering in India after Plus Two?

Lashkar Chowdhury

• A: One of the most advanced branches in engineering, aerospace engineering encompasses the fields of aeronautical and aerospace (spacecraft) engineering. You would study topics such as fluid mechanics, heat transfer, applied aerodynamics, analytical mechanics, flight vehicle design, trajectory dynamics, and aerospace propulsion systems.

Besides the IITs — Kanpur, Mumbai, Madras and Kharagpur — Amity University, Amity School of Engineering, Noida, and SRM University, Chennai, offer aerospace engineering.

Alternatively, you could do a BTech which is offered at several engineering colleges.

For that experience in a research laboratory

• Q: I have heard that you need to take a special test for studying biomedical science in the UK. Could you please tell me more on the subject and the places where it’s taught?

Sanjay Dewan

• A: The Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is a subject-specific test developed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) to select applicants for medical, veterinary and biomedical science courses. But it’s not required for admission to all colleges.

The BMAT is to be taken only by students who wish to apply to the Imperial College, London, that offers courses in medicine and biomedical science. While the University of Oxford Medical School offers courses in medicine and physiological sciences, the Royal Veterinary College offers courses in veterinary medicine and a combined degree programme to its students.The University of Cambridge also offers courses in medicine and veterinary medicine but it is not mandatory for applicants to take the BMAT.

The BMAT measures two specific thinking skills of candidates. First, their ability to solve problems and secondly, their ability to think critically. The duration of the pen-and-paper test is two hours and consists of three sections. The first section of the paper includes 35 multiple-choice questions on aptitude and skills and the time allotted to this particular section is 60 minutes.

The second section consists of 27 multiple-choice questions on scientific knowledge and applications. A span of only 30 minutes is allotted for answering questions in this section.

The third and final section of the paper consists of exercises on writing. The candidate is expected to write an essay out of a choice of three topics in a span of half-an-hour.

For further details on how to register, prepare and practise for the test, you can log on to the website (www .bmat.org.uk). The website also carries an introductory specimen paper with an answer key, which is helpful.

If you are keen on taking the test this year, the deadline for submitting your application is September 30, 2008.