Talking About Green

If you’re interested in making a career out of protecting the environment, the good news is that there’s a variety of career opportunities to choose from. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts rapid job growth for environmental occupations. Some of the major employers are government agencies, organizations involved in conservation and ecology, schools, consulting firms, and law firms.

Let’s take a look at some of the popular environmental science careers:

Hydrologists

Hydrologists study the physical properties and the distribution of water. Hydrologists often specialize in either surface or groundwater. Some hydrologists are hired to help mitigate the effects of natural disasters including floods, hurricanes, and landslides. Some evaluate hazardous waste sites to determine the effects of pollutants on soil and groundwater. These evaluations are used by engineers to design remediation systems. Many hydrologists work for consulting companies, whereas others conduct research for public or private organizations.

Geoscientists

Geoscientists are stewards of the earth’s environment and resources. They provide vital information for solving problems and establishing governmental policies for environmental protection, resource management, public health, safety, and human welfare. Geoscientists develop land use plans, determine environmental impacts, find new sources of useful resources, and much more.

Environmental Engineers

Environmental engineers design infrastructure to reduce environmental hazards and protect human health. They usually work on large-scale projects like waste management, water treatment, and pollution control.

Environmental Science Technicians

Entry-level jobs typically require certification or an associate’s degree. The majority of environmental science technicians assist in research projects by gathering samples and performing field tests. Protection technicians are involved in inventorying hazardous materials and making sure organizations comply with environmental safety regulations.

Environmental Scientists

People in the field study water, air, and soil to develop ways to improve the quality of these elements. Environmental scientists also make sure government regulations are being followed. They typically specialize in an area like conservation, ecology, environmental chemistry, environmental biology, or fisheries science.

Environmental Consultants

Environmental consultants provide guidance to companies on topics such as conserving the amount of energy expended in production processes, monitoring the elimination of byproducts and waste, and ensuring companies comply with government regulations.

Here is a list of some of the subfields within the environmental field:

• Climate studies
• Agronomy (using plants for food, feed, fuel, fiber, and reclamation)
• Environmental law
• Ecology
• Landscape architecture
• Limnology (the study of inland waters)
• Land use planning
• Oceanography
• Natural hazard risk assessment
• Sanitary engineering
• Resource management
• Wildlife biology
• Soil science
• Geoscience
• Hydrology

Here’s a list of some specific occupations for environmental science majors:

• Environmental analyst
• Air quality analyst
• Environmental safety specialist
• Environmental permitting specialist
• Hydrologic technician
• Wastewater treatment specialist
• Natural preserve manager
• Wildlife biologist
• Aquatic biologist
• Environmental sanitarian specialist
• Greenways coordinator
• Storm water program manager
• Water quality analyst
• Wildlife ecologist
• Environmental educator
• Environmental trainer
• Natural resource planner
• Wildlife manager
• Wetlands scientist

So clearly, if you are interested in a career in the environmental field, there are many different paths you can take.

Brian Jenkins writes about careers in environmental science, as well as a number of other career-related topics, for BrainTrack.