Technology is fascinating. Innovative high-tech gadgets, exploration of new horizons in space travel, cloning living organisms, ever new inventions . . . all of them cast a deep impression on the lives of common human being.

To top it all, science fiction movies leave many awed about the wonders oftechnology. While older people may just gape in wonder while watching these movies, the younger minds are immensely influenced. Impressed by new scientific concepts, scientific gadgets, an inquisitive young mind may develop a desire to become a great scientist. Such fantasies disappear by the time one reaches the crossroads of choosing a career. At that point, one encounters a myriad options, confusing one as to which option would make one's dream come true.

The lack of career counselling in our country adds to this confusion: engineering, science, and medicine . . . all the fields with their diverse range of specializations leaves a student indecisive. Unwary about what they might be getting himself into, many choose a particular career only to find that they can barely survive through it. But by that time it's too late to turn back. The crucial decision has been made and now it is going to launch your career and shape your destiny.

This week let's explore the various popular career options available in the field of science and technology and see what they hold for you.

Science or engineering?

Before proceeding any further with any discussion about engineering, you should have a clear perception of what engineering is all about. Is it really engineering that makes you the crazy wild-eyed and haywired professors they show on TV?

Engineering deals basically with applied or practical science. An engineer is like a designer who uses his knowledge to design new and innovative things without going into the hardcore theories, and yet using them. A scientist, on the other hand, studies the theory and principles that constitute things. They are the explorers and discoverers of the principles that engineers put to practical use. However, like a scientist, an engineers is also involved in research and development; it's just the approach and area of interest that is different.

Disciplines of engineering

Mechanical engineering: This discipline has the special credit of being called the "Mother of Engineering". It incorporates a diverse range of subjects - from thermodynamics and heat transfer to mechanics; and from fluid mechanics to robotics - the diversity never ends.

Mechanical engineers are also the designers of many of the things that you enjoy today - from the simple mechanism of a wrist watch to the merry-go-round in a playland, the mechanism of your CD drive and airconditioners to the airplanes and missile systems - the list of gadgets that mechanical engineers design is endless.

Mechanical engineers enjoy a vast range of jobs and are perhaps lucky to have a sufficient number of them available. They can work in a variety of places that include construction, oil, aviation, management and even software development that concerns mechanical specific work. All this may seem too good to be true but mechanical engineering is not everyone's ball game. It is a thoroughly conceptual field and requires the right aptitude. Interest in mechanics that you study at college level is a prerequisite. If mechanics tends to bore you at the school level then don't even think about taking up mechanical engineering. The course involves complex concepts and understanding - and if you are unable to grasp them, you will soon find yourself in murky waters.

Computer science & engineering or IT: An interesting argument that is put up about this paricular is whether it deserves to be called "engineering" or not. Engineers from other disciplines are reluctant to accept computer science engineers and prefer to call IT a science because the course work lacks the true essence of engineering and resembles any other science subject.

Whichever degree you pursue in computers, you should be careful not to follow the trends blindly and get into "IT". IT is not the bed of roses as it is projected. Survival in this field requires a lot. First, you must have a mind adept to this profession. It is a highly competitive field that requires a creative, innovative and astute person with a keen business sense. IT or computer science is not just about typing code into a computer, it requires skills that make a place for you in a highly competitive market, otherwise you, too, might become a part of the IT slump.

Being successful in IT depends a lot on the teaching that you have received. Computer science or IT institutes can be classified into two categories. There are institutes that teach you to be mere "software mechanics" and there are those that enable you to produce and create. You become a software mechanic because you are taught and trained just the use of certain software and development tools. A good institution, on the other hand, gives you the true skills to create new software and develop new tools.

Computer science is not child's play. Spending the rest of your life in front of a computer screen working on endless lines of code, or managing networks, requires a lot of dedication. So if you want to go into computer science merely because everyone else is in it or if you find PC games and net surfing very cool,then think twice before you find yourself stranded in a blind alley.

Electrical and electronics engineering: It's another popular choice of university majors is electrical and electronics engineering. The difference between the two, professionally speaking, is that in electrical engineering you start off with a broader base of electrical concepts and then specialize in one of its aspects which may be: electronics, powers systems, telecommunications, etc. On the other hand, electronics students concentrate on electronics and choose from specializations specific to it. Electronic or electrical engineering students study a range of subjects that include digital logic design, computer architecture, power systems, digital signal processing, computer communication and networks, circuit analysis, etc.

Electronics is considered easier than other engineering disciplines. To better understand the type of work that an electronics student encounters, you may recall your high school and college physics sections related to electronics and you will get the general idea. You would be required to design complex circuits and control systems practically, and on simulation software. Through electronics engineering you will learn how the modern microprocessor systems work - the complex architecture that is the reason behind today's computing power. You will have to design your own simple computing systems, too.

Though it is believed that the job opportunities are not that rich for electric and electronics engineers in Pakistan, they do have a choice of professions with good working conditions. These include work at power generation systems, nuclear plants, design of control systems for weapons besides many simpler professions.

Aeronautical & civil engineering: These may be considered offshoots of mechanical engineering. Both share a common basic platform but in the more advanced stages aeronautical engineering and civil engineering take off in their own specialized directions. Aeronautical engineers study courses like aerodynamics, propulsion systems and even astronautics. Aeronautical engineers would find jobs at our local aviation organizations such as PIA or at military installations that concern air defence systems. The job market is quite limited and engineers from this discipline may not find the job satisfaction they yearn for.

It won't be an understatement that civil engineers are the builders of the world as we know it. It is they who design our buildings, bridges, utilities and whatnot. Besides technical skills, civil engineering also requires aesthetic creativity to make designs that are not just technologically perfect but also appealing aesthetically. Civil engineers enjoy jobs at construction, architectural and similar companies.

Both of these branches of engineering have similarities with mechanical engineering and the prerequisites of mechanical engineering apply here, too. It would be advisable for anyone choosing these majors, to consider mechanical engineering first. This would allow them a broader base and options and still giving them the opportunity to specialize in their desired field.

Engineering sciences and mechatronics: Mechatronics is a relatively new field and is nonexistent at many of the world's popular universities. The word "mechatronics" was coined by an engineer in a Japanese company in 1969. "Mecha" is short for mechanism and "tronics" is taken from electronics. Mechatronics is now understood as a combination of mechanical and electronics engineering and, to some extent, computer science. Actually, it a combination of computer science, electronics, and optics without narrowly focusing on any one of these. The students may find themselves unable to discover their true professional identity and expertise, and keep toggling between all the contituent disciplines. So you might want to tread this path as a last resort when you are left with too few option.

Metallurgy and materials engineering: Every product depends on the materials it constitutes. If the basic structure of product fails to support the operations required of it, then the whole purpose of its creation dies out.

Metallurgy and materials engineers, in simple terms, are the creators, discoverers and analysts of the materials that make our products. Metallurgy has an orientation towards things that students study in chemistry at A-levels. So if you are the type who does not like chemistry then it is more likely that you end up disliking metallurgy, too.

As already stated, a metallurgist enjoys a pivotal role in any industry. With the increasing demand of materials with a broad range of properties, expertise in metallurgy is a necessity for success. In spite of this, in our country has a dearth of jobs for metallurgists. The reason attributed is the paucity in our indigenous design and production facilities, and also to the fact that at many places where a metallurgist is required a mechanical engineer takes his place. If you do have an inclination towards this major then don't hesitate to take it up as the world, if not Pakistan, is full of opportunities.

What's more: Engineering is not just limited to the disciplines described above. It has no bounds and involves many more specializations even at the Bachelors level. There are the fields of chemical engineering, environmental engineering, petroleum engineering, and highway engineering! Though all of them may not be in demand or available in Pakistan. The most important factor for choosing any engineering discipline is your own interest, and whether you can cope with the course work; then a good institute and a good job market in the future become the prerequisites.

Bachelors in sciences

Bachelors in sciences such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and so on and so forth involves a different path altogether. The degree plan, technical approach and areas of specializations of these majors are totally different. From two years each of BSC, MSC, MPhil on to PhD; you take a path towards becoming a scientist in your respective field. If you are more interested in the pure form of science, then Bachelors in Science would be recommended for you.

Medical science: It's a totally different dimension in science where engineering involves the science of machines, medical is the science of the living body. Medicine involves not only becoming a doctor but it has research and development involved (which is the scientist's part). It's a path different from the regular MBBS degree. Becoming a doctor requires a lot of dedication and responsibility. With the human life involved, every bit of your care and attention is required - for the slightest negligence on your part could mean loss of life for your patient. If you seek wealth, then becoming a doctor is not the right option. Unless and until you hold a few specializations, experience or a degree from a top-notch institute, earning is quite nominal in the field of medicine. Moreover, greed is something that a doctor must be without for this profession is about serving humanity.

Prejudices of a science career: When a student enters university and then professional life, he or she may face certain prejudices that lead to disappointments.

A Bachelors degree in engineering would not instantaneously turn you into an expert - in fact for certain disciplines you would find that for the initial two years of your study you have slightly built on facts from college. So if you are the practical type that expects engineering to put you into the hot seat of action - then dispel this exciting notion for you would find that this initial degree does not intellectually empowered you to the extent that you want; a bachelor is merely the beginning. Nevertheless, the major that I find immediately practical is computer science. It is one major in which you can be more and more productive with every course that you take.

The other prejudices concern the professional life. In our country an engineer would find that most of the jobs do not concern what an engineer is truly made for. The jobs would mostly involve management with a whiff of the technical side. Our industries just ape the west; local design and development is rare and engineers have to play the role of mentors of foreign products. This does not give our engineers professional satisfaction. Furthermore, students have the impression that right out of graduation they would get lucrative salaries; and hence face a disappointment. Information technology or any other field does not put you onto riches. It takes time, effort and dedication to prove you mettle and then make a place for yourself.

The world of science is an exciting one; one gets to study the amazing laws of nature that God has created and builds upon the information to produce innovation. The feeling is indeed rewarding. So make a calculated decision and step into science to join the community of those who shape the future.