Careers in Environmental Sciences

Environmental Sciences is a fairly new and emerging field. It takes some discussion to bring people to see it seriously. Contrary to popular myths, environmental sciences is not only about cuddling giant panda in China or rescuing tiger cubs in the thick jungles of India. It actually involves ways of integrating environment friendly ways into our industrial processes and regulating industrial through put and output. Environmental scientists encourage development of one kind – sustainable development. This is development without depleting or polluting Earth’s limited resources. And no, environmental scientists do not do it because of the love of Gaia; in fact, it can all be explained in terms of economy and human health – both deteriorating, in short, if development is sporadic and not sustainable.
Since it is a conceptually new field, a lot of growth is expected in careers in environmental sciences. As more and more economic and natural disaster events are being attributed to environmental changes, more companies and governments are warming up to the idea of having an environmental specialist on board who would help map out their processes to minimize the risk of economic and infrastructure damage in the short and long run. Almost all states now demand that before any business is set up, it undergoes environmental impact assessment or relevant assessment to analyze its interaction with the physical area and materials it may be utilizing.

Available Programs:

Sectors Providing Careers in Environmental Sciences
Environmental Science graduates can establish careers in a lot of sectors. It is all about being able to sell the service they have to offer – as is true for any field. A lot of private companies employ environmental scientists to regulate their processes and advice on compliance with local and international environmental regulations and legislations. Moreover, the government is now hiring many people in this field to further develop environmental laws. Environmental scientists are also involved in developing economic policies for nations worldwide. Other sectors where careers in environmental sciences can be established include:

• Consultancy Firms
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• Wildlife Sanctuaries
• Industrial Risk Mitigation Units
• Industrial Performance Units
• Law firms (as environmental lawyers)
• Healthcare (after obtaining a degree in environmental health)
• Non-profit organizations
• Town and dwellings consultancies
• Laboratories for developmental and preventive research

Studying for a Career in Environmental Sciences
An undergraduate degree in environmental sciences may launch a career in the field but for growth in the field and for a high pay scale, a master’s or a doctoral degree may be required. Furthermore, some fields do need a minimum of a master’s degree to obtain a license to work in them such as:

• Environmental Health providers
• EIA specialists
• Environmental lawyers
• Environmental engineers

Average Salaries
Environmental scientists typically have a higher salary compared to many other professions and are increasing. In January, 2010, there was a definite peak in environmental scientists’ salaries and among interdisciplinary fields; people working in energy efficiency sector are earning the most, followed by those in environmental health. The median salary for environmental scientists has been stipulated to be $ 76, 000 per annum.