In probably one of the worst financial crises in the history of the capitalist world, the question that is pondered is if the depression-inducing-recession is affecting the scientific industries here in Ireland. Well if the job stats are anything to go by then the answer is YES. Here at LifeScience we have noticed that the number of scientists (including senior scientists / management scientists) out of work and joining the dole queues is quite high. The market is teeming with wasted talent, idle phalanges and suppressed neurons. But that is a minor problem compared to the number of science graduates having to join the queues outside the dole office - over 1,000 PhD students graduated in 2008 and there is realistically only jobs in industry for about half of these.

There is a massive oversaturation of the human capital market and many budding industry-scientists are being forced into the joys of academic research or the lure of false happiness downunder or across over. The PhD quagmire is one thing, the bottleneck of our Bachelors and Bachelorettes is quite another case of necrotizing fasciitis. A rough estimate would put nearly 5,000 science grads on the market seeking a relevant career - i.e not in a restaurant, call centre or the local shop. But how do we surpass this problem? Where do we find jobs for the young people who chose to study science? An exciting and practically guaranteed career? The enigma problem of the 21st century. No wonder they are trying to reintroduce fees - not for the money, but to cull the number of grads coming though as they know they have wildly overestimated the number of jobs available.

- Eamonn