Anyone have an environment related job?

Question

Just wanted to know what sort of interesting careers can come from environmental science/ geography, so please reply if you do work in that sort of field and tell me a bit about what you do/ how you got there/ if you enjoy it. Thanks very much!

Answer 1

Yes, I do and I have a MS in Environmental Health.

The best jobs in the environmental field belong to attorneys. They have their bachelor's degree in an environmental science and then get their law degrees. They get good jobs with the government in environmental enforcement and with industry to protect them from the government's attorneys.

The next best environmental jobs go to engineers. They can work with the government in enforcing the environmental regulations and working with states and/or the public in a number of different things.

Non-engineers can have good jobs too. They can work in emergency response for the government. They respond to terrorism cases, like the antrax scares of a few years ago. They also picked up the pieces of the space shuttle. They work with hazardous waste clean-up sites, train derailments, and any other situation which may endanger the public welfare.

Private companys also look for people with environmental backgrounds to help them with their environmental compliance requirements. Often you'll find the person responsible for environmental compliance is also responsible for safety compliance as well.

Check for job openings with the EPA or your state's environmental department.

Answer 2

I am studying air pollution and have also worked on contaminated land remediation. The most enjoyable thing I find is being outside for some of the time doing interesting things from taking soil/water samples to letting off weather balloons and climbing huge towers or using high-tech lab equipment in the most unlikely and muddiest of places. Data analysis can be a bit tedious but when done and the story is there it is worth it. The work can be tricky, you don't tend to get paid much and the hours are long, but it is great fun, interesting and always varied. I enjoy it immensely. I did three A-levels - maths, chemistry and physics and then and environmental science/geology BsC (hons), now I am currently finishing a PhD in atmospheric physics.

Answer 3

I work as a packaging engineer. I design packaging so that it can be recycled or reused or can biodegrade or so that less packaging is used to provide the same function.

We also help create some of the processes that allow packaging products to be recycled or to allow recycled products to be more efficiently used.

For instance in the food industry and automotive industry we use returnable containers for many shipments. It reduces waste and saves money. For the service parts industry, corrugated material is used instead of wood so that the entire package can be recycled much easier. For plastics, biodegradable segments are added to the plastic so if someone throws it on the roadside it will biodegrade and not be an eyesore for years and years. Some plastics are now even being made out of corn so that renewable resources such as corn can be used to make the plastic instead of non-renewable resources such as oil.

Some colleges refer to my degree as packaging engineering and others refer to it as packaging technology. Some colleges that have this degree are:

Indiana State University
Clemson University
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Michigan State University
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
San Jose State University

It's a great degree. Basically every product has to be packaged at some point. So the nice thing about the degree is that you can get into almost any type of industry you like from food, computers, electronics, aeronautics, automotive, furniture, military, etc.

Answer 4

I work for the department of Natural Resources testing air quality in an Urban location. I have a BS in Environmental Science and the work I do is about 20% field work (collecting of samples) about 40% lab work (analysis of samples) and 40% other -- which involves compiling the data, writing reports and community out reach.
I got here by using the summers in college to apply for internships so when I entered the work force I would have a full resume, volunteering to do lab work for profs during the school year to get excellent references and having a good work ethic.
I love it, I work with great people, it pays the bills with enough left over to save for retirement and have a little fun.

Answer 5

I'm an amateur suburban homesteader (also called an urban permaculturalist, urban agronomist, and city farmer), working towards getting our little acre of heaven up and running at full tilt. Homesteading takes the practice of permaculture and/or self sufficiency to its highest extent...and its the place where these two philosophies meet.

There is a family in Pasadena, California, that make a fairly good living homesteading on a small suburban plot. You might want to check them out at the "Path to Freedom" (listed among the resources). I've listed other resources as well, (including a magazine devoted to those who are less interested in the environment, and more interested in living self-sufficiently and without big brother government.)

I've never actually taken any college courses associated with it (my college career centered on business). I am the great-grandchild of pioneers, and spent much time on my grandfather's homestead (where he retained the pioneer-style agronomy practices of his childhood up until the 1980's), so the lifestyle is nothing new to me. I simply found that I have a passion, nostalgia, and talent for many of the skills required for it. The challenge is pulling it off in an urban setting. The links I've provided are a good way to gain a little bit of knowledge in the practices of both rural and urban homesteading, but there is nothing like practical knowledge.

Answer 6

I work as a naturalist. I lead interpretive programs, design programs, manage eagle scout projects and conduct land steward programs for drop-in volunteers.

My degree was in another field. I got my experience by volunteering and reading a lot.

I enjoy my work, and those of us who work in jobs that we love often pinch overselves to make sure we're not dreaming. We know how lucky we are. The pay could be better, but I love going to work and I love the people I meet.

Answer 7

I am a wetland biologist and I work for an Environmental Consulting Firm. I love my job. I majored in Biology and Natural Resource Management.
I do wetland delineations, and water quality monitoring.
I actually enjoy coming to work.

Answer 8

no but my mum works at a recycleing plant
not exciting and a bit smelly but doing her bit for the enviroment

Answer 9

i sold nacho's at the zoo