British Chemists Abroad, 1887-1971: The Dynamics of Chemists' Careers

Autor/inn/en	Roberts, Gerrylynn K.; Simmons, Anna E.
Titel	British Chemists Abroad, 1887-1971: The Dynamics of Chemists' Careers
Quelle	In: Annals of Science, 66 (2009) 1, S.103-128 (26 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0003-3790
Schlagwörter	Occupational Mobility; Overseas Employment; Open Universities; Foreign Countries; Brain Drain; Employment Patterns; Scientists; Chemistry; College Faculty; Career Development; Employment Qualifications; Occupations; Profiles; United Kingdom + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Berufliche Mobilität; Auslandstätigkeit; Offene Universität; Ausland; Beschäftigungsstruktur; Scientist; Wissenschaftler; Chemie; Fakultät; Berufsentwicklung; Employment qualification; Vocational qualification; Vocational qualifications; Berufliche Qualifikation; Beruf; Berufsumfeld; Charakterisierung; Profilanalyse; Großbritannien
Abstract	This paper investigates the extent of overseas migration by British chemists over the period 1887-1971. Notwithstanding the "brain drain" alarms of the 1960s, overseas employment was characteristic of some 19% of British chemists' careers throughout our period, though its nature changed considerably. Our study examines the overseas employment histories of four cohorts of members of the [Royal] Institute of Chemistry in the "Chemists' Database" at the Open University. Those employed abroad were not only highly qualified but also both geographically mobile and occupationally versatile. Over the period, the pattern of chemists' migration was broadly similar to that of British migration trends more generally. Except in the interwar years, chemists' rate of migration was relatively constant. However, the length of time they spent abroad declined markedly over the period: long-term migration became less characteristic than short-term overseas employment for purposes of career development. From the late nineteenth century, British chemists staffed the Empire, but also found employment in the expanding US economy. After 1945, chemists' destinations shifted more markedly towards North America, including Canada, and later also to Europe. Our work thus provides a new perspective on the dynamics of scientists' migration and contributes to studies on the brain drain. (Contains 6 tables and 94 footnotes.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10