Chemistry affects almost everything we do or use: from drugs, antibiotics and anaesthetics to polymers and plastics through to synthetic fibres and batteries. Chemistry is often considered the central science. It’s hard to imagine any new product in recent times that did not require the creative efforts of a chemist at some stage in its development. Chemistry is the study of molecular transformations and how they take place. It is essential to our understanding of the world, and leads to many fascinating career paths in materials development, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medicine, research and engineering.