Environmental science majors study nature and the environment and any changes within it. These changes include human impact on the environment, natural ecosystems and pollution. Environmental scientists work to document, conserve and educate people about the environment and damage to it. As an environmental science major, you can open the doors to a wide array of future careers. The United States Environmental Protection Agency provides many careers for environmental science majors, as do places such as local environmental agencies, museums and universities.
Air Quality Analyst
Air quality analysts study the atmosphere and the effects of pollutants on the air that we breathe. This job comes in two forms: air quality scientist and air quality statistician. As a scientist, the work is more hands-on. Air quality scientists interpret air quality using the latest field equipment. They also develop new analysis techniques that may make documenting environmental changes easier.
Statisticians take the data that the scientists find and look for trends within the data. Statisticians present their findings in ways that are easy to understand for a wider audience. For both career paths, having some math skills helps, as do computer skills and good communication.
Ecologist
Scientists who study the connection between the environment and the creatures living within it are known as ecologists. These connections are studied through field research, observing visible changes and analyzing unseen changes. Ecologists study air, soil and water and the effects of things like industrialization and pollution on them.
Many ecologists form an area of expertise, such as marine biology or zoology. To become an ecologist, a background in environmental science is needed. Some math skills also help in the career path. To teach ecology within a college or university, you will need to earn a Ph.D.
Environmental Toxicologist
Water often receives pollutants from factors such as factories and landfills. Environmental toxicologists measure the amount of toxins within water. Toxicologists collect and analyze samples using toxicity tests. Once the toxins have been measured, an environmental toxicologist then interprets the data found in order to present the findings to interested parties. These parties can include independent researchers, universities or government institutions.
Environmental toxicologists often work alongside environmental scientists and marine biologists to develop ways to eliminate toxins in the water and protect both the water and marine life. As an environmental toxicologist, additional skills needed include computer knowledge, written and verbal skills and the ability to work on a team.
Oceanographer
Oceanographers work primarily with bodies of water, such as oceans, fresh water and polar ice caps. They study these bodies of water and their relationship to the atmosphere. An oceanographer is tasked with studying pollution, commercial fishing, climate changes, weather and other factors that can have an effect on water and ice.
Many oceanographers choose a specialized field, such as marine geology, marine chemistry or marine biology. The work environment for oceanographers, when not collecting field samples, is usually within an office or lab in schools or with the government.
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