| ENVIRONMENTAL
CAREERS |
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| Environmental
problems are so complex that many different occupations
are involved in finding solutions. The careers cover
a wide range of areas to opt for. One can look forward
to be an earth scientist, a water manager or an
environment journalist. To study how people interact
with the environment requires an understanding of
science and technology, economics and sociology.
Combining two or more areas also makes a viable
career option. |
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| Diverse
career options: |
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Research |
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Teaching
/ Education / Training |
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Environment Management / Natural Resource
management |
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Pharmaceutical industry |
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Media / Communications |
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Engineering
/ Architecture |
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Environmental Law, Policy, Planning |
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Bio-tech industry |
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Wildlife
Conservation & Tourism |
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Weather-related
/ GIS / Remote sensing agencies |
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Health
/ Medical organisations |
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Job
Profiles |
| The
job profiles in environmental careers are as diverse
as the problems they address. Some of the careers
and the broad tasks attached to them are - |
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| Environmental
Scientists |
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Treatment
of waste - Toxic as
well as non-toxic wastes released from industries,
refineries, and households are detected and
treated. |
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Solid
Waste Management -
You get to play the role of chemists, engineers,
hydrologists, geologists, radioactive waste
experts and industrial waste managers in scaling
down the dangers of solid wastes. |
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Air
Pollution Management - An
environmental scientist also monitors the
air around him or her. Environmental threats
like acid rain, ozone depletion and green
house gases are analysed. Analytical chemists,
toxicologists and air quality specialists
analyse the effects of various harmful gases
that are emitted as a result of fuel or garbage
combustion. They also study the effects of
these on human as well as plant life. |
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Water
quality Management -
Marine life is critical for survival of sea
animals and for human consumption. Botanists,
oceanographers, marine scientists, wildlife
scientists, ecologist and people working in
water–shed management are concerned
with the preservation and purification of
water in rivers, lakes, streams, and all surface
and ground waters. |
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Land
conservation - This
area of work overlaps that of forestry and
wildlife managers and also incorporates
planning for better use of land and water.
Conservation of parks, outdoor recreation
sites, regreening of urban areas needs professionals
from a background in geology, landscape
architecture, wildlife management, forestry
etc. |
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| Environmental
Planners |
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Planning
preservation of natural habitats, planning
of transport systems, general planning of
urban expansions |
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Implementation
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| Environmental
engineering |
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Designing,
constructing, and maintaining systems to control
waste streams produced in urban and rural
areas or by the industries. |
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Develop
strategies for protecting areas under environmental
threat. |
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Impose
regulations for the protection of the environment. |
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Management
of water and land resources i.e. dealing with
public health, terrain and water management. |
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Management
of air pollution by dealing with air quality
management and other special bodies that deal
with emissions.
o Management of hazardous waste. |
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| Environmental
education and communication |
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Teaching
in college/ school - awareness programmes |
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Coordinating
community awareness programmes |
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Working
as guides for wildlife parks and sanctuaries |
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In
public communication |
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| Environment
journalism |
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Growing
public awareness has generated enthusiasm
for environmental protection. People's voices
are heard and repeated in the media. Reporting
environmental issues such as nuclear tests,
construction of dams etc., making of documentaries
concerning the environment, production of
films on environmental issues are areas environmental
journalists have been exploring. |
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| Environment
communicator / educator |
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An
Environment communicator / educator is involved
in the communication of environmental messages
to audiences through interactive listening,
public discussion and debate. Although environmental
educators work in a wide range of settings,
they all share one objective-to help people
appreciate and understand the natural world
around them. An interdisciplinary approach
will help make connections between environmental
issues and the associated social, economic,
political, scientific, and technological concerns. |
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| Eco
- Tourism |
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Development
and preservation of flora and fauna in different
parts of the country. |
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Education
linking tourism and environment protection.
o Study of tribal cultures, folk art forms,
artefacts, temples, forest wealth |
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Archaeological
restoration |
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| Ecologists |
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Ecologists
are concerned with the interrelationship between
the constituents of nature. Ecology is the
study of the relations of organisms, or of
local ecosystems to their environments. The
field is often called environmental biology.
Ecologists usually have a life sciences background.
Their work often involves pure research in
a university or government agency setting. |
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| Conservationists |
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Conservationists
devote their careers to the protection and
judicious use of our natural resources - soil,
water, forests, minerals, wildlife and grazing
lands. Conservation is closely related to
ecology, the major differences being in emphasis.
While ecologists are interested in studying
and understanding the environment as it is,
conservationists are interested in using the
environment and its resources in creating
a better environment |
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| Environmental
designers |
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Environmental
designers, architects, planners and urban
development officials deal with land use
and the "built environment".Land
management refers to balancing one’s
use of land against another to achieve maximum
value in keeping with social, economic and
environmental considerations. |
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| Solid
waste managers |
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Solid
waste managers and technicians, who support
them, deal with reducing overall waste production
at thousands of businesses and households.
Years ago, "waste management" meant
getting garbage to the dump and the incinerator.
Today’s managers have an enormous task.
They have to collect, sort, separate and sell
an ever-growing number of recyclables; assure
that toxic materials are kept out of the waste
stream and that there is no damage to land,
air and water. It is scientific, political,
and economic. |
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| Eligibility
criteria |
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Most
careers require a background in science. However,
those from social sciences also have a role
to play with a broad range of skills and aptitudes. |
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| Undergraduate
Courses |
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A
graduation in any Science course (BSc) is
a minimum requirement to enter the field of
environment. There are also undergraduate
courses in Environmental Science / Environmental
Studies and related areas. You would be eligible
for enrolling in such a course only if you
have Maths, Physics and Chemistry at the 10
+ 2 level / SSLC.
However, someone from arts or social science
background and with an interest in environment
could opt for a combination of courses. For
instance, with a course in environmental law
and a post graduation in mass communication,
you could pursue a career in policy initiatives,
advocacy and legal consultancy in environmental
issues. |
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| Postgraduate
Courses |
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A
graduation in any Science course (BSc) qualifies
you for a post graduation (MSc) in Environmental
Science. The pre-requisite may vary from college
to college. Most colleges ask for a degree
in science with a minimum of 50 per cent marks.
In addition, entrance tests are also conducted. |
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Stay
informed on environment- related news
Your career is affected by changes in political
development, scientific discoveries, budgets,
trends in industry and more. Read up; stay
tuned to what’s happening around the
world. |
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Use
alumni information of the college you join
Hunting for the right course and the right
college is painstaking. Ask recent graduates
what they are doing. Do they find that another
course would help fulfil their career option?
Make friends who can help you get internships
while you are in college. Get to know the
latest industry trends through them and what
would be the best course suited for a job
you are looking for. |
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Build
and maintain your network
Who you know does matter! A network can make
a difference between selected for an interview
and being left out. For many the word "network"
seems artificial. It’s come to mean
getting involved with people with the sole
purpose of getting something from them. But,
a real network, of course, is not so. It’s
a group of people who respect each other and
consequently a desire to help one another.
So you don’t miss the news when you
have people within reach. Seek opportunities
to work with them. Meet them, attend their
events, know the issues that are on the headlines.
A strong network is not a substitute for skills
and meaningful experience. But you may miss
a chance to apply for a job if you are not
in the circle. |
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Volunteer
and maximise your career options
Although skills and knowledge gained from
professional education and training are important,
most employers look for additional skills.
Effective written and verbal skills coupled
with an interest in outdoor activities will
enhance prospects of employment. It is not
necessary that you’ll land with a job
right after your graduation. But one can understand
the scope of opportunities by interacting
with organisations working in the field of
environment.
Volunteer work is really important to get
a foot in the door. There are many organisations
that will take volunteers, but people usually
don’t advertise. It is important to
be proactive and approach an employer - this
shows initiative. If you are lucky, there
may be a chance of getting through an opening.
Else, the skills and experience gathered will
reflect in your CV. |
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Make a portfolio A piece
of paper listing your previous
jobs, internships and qualifications is a
plain, conventional resume’ that you
can give to your prospective employer. Or
you could show the examples of the work you
have done in different formats like CDs, paper
clippings - all filed well in living colour.
It speaks volumes much more than a resume’.
That’s a |
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Where
will you be placed?
Job prospects are limited for an environmental
science graduate who is seeking a very structured
work specification. It is especially so
for people in established professions of
engineering or management. But creative
persons with a keen sense of market can
definitely carve a niche for themselves.
This way, your work comes alive and a job
is on the way. |
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| What
are the future prospects in the field of environment? |
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Research
agencies, both private and government, hire
environmental researchers |
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Private
companies hire environment safety and protection
executives |
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Research,
documentation and field work in non governmental
organisations |
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Teaching
jobs in universities and schools |
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