Not everyone is clear on what environmental science is, but there are many careers in that field that are very rewarding. These include jobs in ecology, sustainability, green living, atmospheric studies, environmental chemistry, geology and similar work. As many countries move toward cleaner energy choices, environmental science is a career field that is poised to grow larger and stronger with each passing year.
Significance
With increased focus on the debate on climate change, environmental science jobs are in high demand. The people who have jobs in this field are studying the planet, atmosphere and ecosystems to determine changes. Careers in environmental science can help determine what kinds of effects are really being seen, where environmental impacts are coming from and what can be done to solve various environmental problems. Their jobs are not about placing blame; their jobs are about determining solutions that will address the problems the planet may be facing.
Types
There are many different types of careers in the field of environmental science, but they are all focused on one thing: studying the planet and human impact upon it. Atmospheric scientists study issues like greenhouse gasses. They even study noise and light pollution as well as fluxes in specific gases, like carbon dioxide. Ecologists look at population issues of all types of species and geoscientists look at soil, hydrology and oceanographic issues.
Misconceptions
Environmental science careers face many misconceptions. One misconception is that that people who work in this field spend all their time studying small and insignificant things, such as the mating patterns of beetles in a small faraway country. This stereotype of what environmental scientists do is far from the truth. It ranks high up the scale with the other common misconception, which is that environmental scientists are just alarmists that are scaring everyone about global warming.
Benefits
There are many benefits to having a career in environmental science. Because it is a rather broad category, there are many different jobs within it. If you don't like working with animals, you can do atmospheric or geological studies. If you find rocks and minerals to be boring, study populations of various species of animals or plants. There is always something new and different taking place and since the field also uses a lot of computer models, there is room within the field for technological gurus, as well.
Considerations
Several considerations are important when moving into this career field. These include which area of interest you want to move into, the level of dedication you have to complete schooling for an environmental science career and whether you are willing to relocate. Some careers in that field have need of people in far-away places, while some need people in large, urban population centers. Knowing what you are willing to do for a job and understanding what a chosen career might entail is vital before moving forward with a career choice in environmental science.
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