A significant majority of scientists build their careers in the private sector. Unfortunately, the scientific community has traditionally not given much attention or respect to the immensely valuable research and development done in the private sector. Most scientists are trained to see academic research as the one true career path for a scientist, despite the undisputed statistics showing most will build their careers in an industrial setting.

The stories in this book paint a very different picture of the exciting and rewarding career paths open to scientists in the private sector. By interviewing dozens of scientists in a wide variety of careers around the world, the author shows it is it is indeed a great privilege to ‘turn science into things people need.’