Educational Requirements to become an Environmental Scientist
Environmental scientists’ job description
College ready students who are concerned with the environment and who find themselves thinking of how things should be done will do well asscientists. Possibly they’ve already thought through solutions in dealing with those who pollute and have devised ways in getting them to change their habits.
Future environmental scientists
Personality profiles of a future environmental scientists: They understand the necessity of mining coal and problems dealing with fossil fuel in general—without this fuel source the economy would be far worse than it is at present—but they believe it could be better regulated; vacation time as youngsters were spent in natural parks and these future environmental scientists want to spend their lives in the out of doors researching this or that wildlife problem or mystery; or others may be more oriented toward the way nature offers the best natural cures and these futuristic doctors what to explore the connection between the environment and health but don’t want to confine themselves to clinics or operating rooms.
Job descriptions
Those entering into the environmental scientist field or one of the related fields dealing with the great out-of-doors and humanity’s involvement into it will find varying work assignments: They’ll be dealing with problems in air, soil and water pollution; researching into why this happened and what to do about it; or they’ll become specialists in toxicology as it affects the life all around in disease prevention; or their endeavor will into purification of the food supply both for animals and mankind. Acid rain may be their specialty, or the preservation of wildlife, botany and the cultivation of specialized species any be more to their liking.
Environmental Science is a wide open field and one that is almost sure to lead to a satisfying job. The pay is good and a candidate for a beginning job with a basic BS degree can expect a starting salary of a minimum of $31,366 but possibly at $51,000. Working with the government offers even more chances for a hefty starting salary. Those with a Ph.D. degree have even better chances of advancement with salary increases.
Of course dedicated workers in the field with not be working for money alone but it is likewise an enticement. And it’s likewise necessary in most cases since the job will demand expensive equipment and lots of travel and technology enhancements.
Getting the job
Okay, one has completed the course of study—or will within the year, how does a graduate find a job in his chosen field? Nothing definite has been decided, despite the student having thought through many possibilities during the past studies. What should they do? Head for the college placement office well in advance of graduation day; talk to the professors who surely will know of the best opportunities for their students; Apply directly to companies that are dealing in some way in areas of the environment.
Advance opportunities for those who’ve put in lots of time and are becoming consummate experts in their field will be as project managers, or at least management of some sort, or if they’re more independent and want to run their own environmental show, or after their retirement, can become consultants in their field.
Organizations that offer expert advice about the particulars of becoming environmental scientists are theand Technology. Their mission statement: “IEST is an international, technical society of engineers, scientists, and educators that serves its members and the industries they represent (simulating, testing, controlling, and teaching the environments of earth and space) through education and the development of recommended practices and standards.”
National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) is an organization that assesses the progress being made. It’s the nation’s report card. New job seekers should check out the companies and the areas of their future employers at this site. Another organization, a far more global one, is the Society for Ecological Restoration International (SER).
Whatever direction future environmentalists take they can be assured they’re heading into the future in the right direction. Before the world of humanity can heal itself of all of its diseases, representative scientists must first deal with the source of many of these illnesses. Source is most often connected to some environmental deficit.
