Brian Dai
Articles
Mathematics
What's in Store?
In the mathematics field, what careers and/or studies will you pursue?
Do you love math? Are you good at math? Do you want to be in the field of mathematics when you grow up? If so, then this article is for you! Whether you like learning about it, want to make a change in the world, or even just don't know which direction to go to, math is the way to go. Math is a part of our everyday lives, and will continue to be. You can't escape the grasp of math--so when in doubt, try math first!
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Below, there are examples of common studies students might pursue, careers students might be interested in, and how you can devote yourself to the subject.
Mathematician
Mathematicians are part of various types of work, mainly research. They explore abstract math concepts and help develop new theories and methods that we can use. These people will also apply math to different fields. For example, it could be used to create models in engineering, and to figure out solutions in different branches of science and business.
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An important skill that every mathematician needs is analyzing complex data. They have to be able to easily catch patterns, make predictions, and more.
A lot of mathematicians pursue the technology line of work. Positions like algorithm designers, software engineers, data scientist, and cybersecurity are able to interest them. As for finance, people good at math can help with insurance, planning, and guidance on money. Positions include actuaries, financial analysts, risk modellers, and more. Some mathematicians choose to work in the government and national labs.
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Other areas where mathematicians may be able to aid are healthcare and consulting--both of which are dealing with statistics and data, and would need a person to organize and manage.
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Mathematicians often excel at logical reasoning, critical thinking, and working with computers.
Computer Programmer
Computer programmers write, test, and fix code for softwares, applications, and operating systems. More importantly, they turn designs into reality, fix bugs, update and make existing programs better, and work with many teams to make the very technology you are using right now.
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Computer programmers often work at software development companies, consulting firms, and private departments. The main skills required include being able to use multiple programming languages, problem-solving, and being careful and detailed about your work.
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These programmers make the things you love today--video games, online videos, social media, websites, and all of the digital devices you have seen. However, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), computer programmers are at risk, since they could be easily replaced by robots that do not need to be paid and treated like a human being. That is something you should look out for when you are interested in this direction.
Economist
Again, people in these positions work on a lot of data, analysis, and research. Economists, specifically, look at how we, as a community, use our resources, predict trends, advise solutions to fix issues in the economy, and watch over the market. They then research, collect the data, use tools, and other methods to help shape and make our country's economy better.
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Economists have to be really good at forecasting future ups and downs in terms of the market, employment, inflation, and more. As for advise, they are experts when it comes to taxes, interest and rates, distribution of resources, trade, and strategies in companies. All of their research and work are reported and documents so that everyone can understand. These might also include strange findings and unusual behaviours.
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There are two types of economy: microeconomics and macroeconomics. Microeconomics focuses on how a single person, a household, or a business makes decisions about their pricing and products, while macroeconomics are on a bigger scale.
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Economists typically work in the government (macroeconomics) and private organizations (banks, firms, corporations).
UBC - https://students.ubc.ca/career/your-degree/science/math/​
Job Bank - jobbank.gc.ca
These are just some of the examples, and there are much more possibilities waiting for you out there if you dig deeper. That's it for this article and I hope you found something you liked or even learned something new!