Future Biotechnologists is part of High Futures
High Tech Futures is a package of free programmes designed to encourage students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to consider careers in three sectors at the cutting edge of science and technology:
- Biotechnology and the life sciences including medical devices and surgical robotics and nanotechnology
- Technology including artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing and semiconductors
- High technology engineering including aerospace, automation and robotics, automotive, defence, electrical, electronics, energy, instrumentation and control systems and transport
Together these three sectors generate more than £1.10 trillion in revenues a year for the UK and employ more than 3.64 million people. The technology and life science sectors, in particular, are amongst the most productive sectors in the economy in terms of turnover per employee.
The three sectors are converging and some of the most exciting developments are likely to be at the overlaps between them, for example, in artificial intelligence, robotics, smart materials, nanoparticles and brain machine interface technologies.
Regular events in the programmes will include:
- Carousel sessions
- Seminars for students and teachers with people in the local life science, technology and high technology engineering sectors
- Skills boot camps designed to equip students for careers in the sector
- Mentoring and apprenticeships
- Online boot camps will focus on specific skills sets: for example robotics and AI
Click here to find out more about recent events we have hosted in schools in Cambridge, Oxfordshire and London
A model aimed at disadvantaged students
We are focusing on students from the most deprived backgrounds throughout the country. And we understand that the greatest need and opportunities are amongst students from the most deprived backgrounds. We recognise that the greatest benefits to students will happen locally close to where students live and study.
Where possible our programmes are based on localised areas with high indices of need. Depending on local support and interest the initial programmes will be rolled out in areas including:
- inner London (Camden, Hackney, Lambeth, Lewisham, Islington, Newham, Paddington, Southwark)
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Nottingham
- Stoke-on-Trent, and
- Birmingham
Based on local skills needs
The nature and scope of each programme that we can deliver to deprived students in each area will depend on a number of factors:
- The needs for skills identified locally.
- The level of personal and volunteer support from local and national life science, high tech engineering and technology companies in those areas of deprivation.
- The funding available for each local programme.
Engaging and empowering students and teachers
Topics that we are discussing with partners (subject to availability of volunteers and equipment) include:
- The future of human health Bio-engineering, wearable technology and robotics: surgical robots, AI-powered diagnostics, prosthetic limbs with a sense of touch, rapid DNA sequencing and diagnostics, 3D printing of organs and tissues.
- Saving the planet Green technology and renewable energy: next-generation solar panels and batteries, engineering lab-grown meat, carbon capture technology and vertical farming robotics.
- The digital frontier AI, VR and how AI learns, building a simple AI model, experiencing engineering designs in VR.
- Smart cities, transport, infrastructure and defence Technology and future cities, drone technology, showing how sensors and data are transforming transport and housing. How the defence industries are dealing with the technology arms race.
- The technology behind the fun Engineering in entertainment.
These are some of the event formats that we are discussing with partners:
- Build your own technology Mini drone kits, simple robotics or coding a basic app.
- Hackathons and design challenges Teams solving real-world problems with mentorship from engineers, biotechnologists or technologists.
- Reverse engineering technology Take apart gadgets to understand how they work.
- VR/AR experiences Simulating working on a space station, inside a jet engine or designing a skyscraper.
- Live demonstrations 3D printing, robotic arms, drone technology or AI facial recognition in action.
- “How I got here” Talks and carousel sessions: People in the sectors share their personal journeys, especially those from similar backgrounds.
- “What’s next?” workshops Breaking down apprenticeships, university routes, and alternative paths into engineering, the life sciences and technology sectors.
Want to know more? See this deep dive into What, Why, Where (pdf).
Mission statement
The core mission of Future Biotechnologists is to:
- Be the central point of connection in the United Kingdom between schools, colleges, higher education institutions and the life science sector.
- Inspire students to consider a career in the sector.
- Help life science companies give back to the local communities in which they work and live.
- Widen access by ensuring that participating is always free for schools, colleges, institutes of higher education and participating companies.
- Where appropriate we will work with local authorities to engage hard-to-reach local communities.
Why are we doing this?
There is a shortfall of entrants into the sector
There is a serious workforce shortage in the life sciences. A survey by carried out in February 2024 by OBN (UK) revealed that nine in ten life science employers experienced skills shortages in the past year. If left unchecked this shortage will hinder the life science industry’s ability to maximise the UK’s strength in biomedical innovation and improve patient’s lives.
The sector is growing fast
At the same time the industry is growing fast. Nearly 2,500 new life science companies registered with the UK Companies House in the last year alone, meaning that the labour shortage is likely to get worse.
There is limited exposure to and understanding of the life science sector
There is a fundamental lack of understanding in schools, colleges and higher education institutions and among teachers and students about the life science sector. This means that career teachers are not able to advise students about the many different career paths into the sector.
Much of the information that teachers and students get presented with about the life sciences is lost in the other information about the vast range of companies in the STEM-related sectors that includes engineering and technology. Careers teachers have to cover all sectors so do not have time to acquaint themselves with the life sciences. Science teachers’ knowledge of the sector and much of the science is often years out of date.
Students have very little exposure to the industry and very few chances to explore the wide range of opportunities the sector has to offer. Most teachers and students assume that the only entry paths available into the sector are limited to students with a university degree in biology, chemistry or another related science subject.
The Future Biotechnologies model
Future Biotechnologists is solely focused on the life science sector, offering insights and information in depth about its developments and opportunities for schools, colleges and institutes of higher education. In that way it is very different from traditional STEM and general career services which expose teachers and students to a broad range of companies in very different sectors.
We currently have three core delivery models:
1. Evidence-led three and five year programmes of events and services in areas of exceptionally high deprivation informing students about the life sciences and encouraging them to look at opportunities in the sector. Areas of deprivation we are looking at include: Birmingham, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hartlepool, Kingston upon Hull, inner north London (Islington, Hackney, Paddington, Tower Hamlets), Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent.
2. One-off in-school events held in a school with other local schools invited. Local life science companies are invited to come and engage with students at the event. These events have three components:
a.Short presentations and panel sessions.
b.Science speed dating where the volunteers from the companies meet the students seated at tables to answer questions from the students.
c.Company stands where the students can engage with the companies.
3. Teacher events that give science teachers and career advisers a chance to meet representatives of local life science companies.
Advantages of this model over the traditional STEM or general careers event
By going narrow and deep Future Biotechnologists offers better and richer engagement for all participants:
- It focuses on the life sciences, offering the students and teachers an opportunity to engage with people in the sector in far greater depth and breadth than is possible during a general STEM or careers event.
- It shows students and teachers the diversity of companies in the sector.
- It opens up a window into the range of pathways into the industry, including non-science and non-graduate avenues.
- It demonstrates the diversity of people in the sector.
About Future Biotechnologists
Future Biotechnologists has been developed by The Biotechnology and Medicine Education Trust (BiotechMet). BiotechMet is a registered charity with the Charity Commission. Registered Charity Number 1165469. The charity aims to support the development of different free-to-access educational resources around the life sciences and medicine for a variety of audiences.
One of the projects it is supporting is the website WhatisBiotechnology.org. Launched in February 2013 the website gets over two million page views a year. It attracts visitors from around the world, including school students, policy makers, industry experts, scientists and financial investors. Many schools and universities across the world use the site as a major teaching resource.
Future Biotechnologists is open to all schools and students in higher education interested in attending to learn how the biosciences industry is open to everyone with a passion to make the world a better place. Diverse and inclusive, the industry is not just about shaking test tubes in a laboratory and welcomes people who have not gone down the traditional scientific pathway and have university qualifications. If you are interested in learning more contact Dr Lara Marks at lara@futurebiotechnologists.org.