Environmental Science Careers Outlook
Because of growing concern in the United States and around the world for the future health and survival of the planet, most indicators point to growth in the field of environmental sciences. Exactly how large the field will become is difficult to project because the amount of attention paid to the environment in this country varies with each political administration and other issues, such as the health of the economy and the tension between creating new jobs and protecting the environment. Media attention to one cause or another, such as preserving the wetlands, saving the rainforests, saving the whales, or recycling, waxes and wanes. Even so, the media helps to periodically remind people that significant environmental problems urgently need solutions.
Industrialized nations now have more resources and more interest in finding alternatives to fossil fuels, protecting the ozone layer, putting a stop to habitat and species destruction, and developing methods for conserving water, energy, and other resources. Recent political turmoil has heightened the threat of an energy crisis in the United States, and concern is growing over the possibility of bioterrorism and chemical warfare. The situation has put scientists and government officials on alert to ensure that the environment, including human health, is protected from such threats.
Careers in Environmental Science:
- Air Quality Engineers
- Arborists
- Biochemists
- Biologists
- Botanists
- Chemists
- Ecologists
- Energy Conservation Technicians
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Technicians
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Foresters
- Forestry Technicians
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Groundwater Professionals
- Hazardous Waste Management Specialists
- Hazardous Waste Management Technicians
- Land Acquisition Professionals
- Land Trust or Preserve Managers
- Marine Biologists
- Meteorologists
- Naturalists
- Oceanographers
- Park Rangers
- Range Managers
- Recycling Coordinators
- Renewable Energy Careers
- Soil Conservationists and Technicians
- Soil Scientists
- Tour Guides
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Technicians
Related Career Fields:
For More Information:
- Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA)
- Ecological Society of America
- Environmental Careers Organization
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- National Park Service
- Greenpeace America
- The Nature Conservancy
- North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)
- Society of American Foresters (SAF)
- Student Conservation Association
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
- The Wildlife Society
- Unity College