What does building a wind farm, saving endangered species, and restoring river habitat have in common? They are all tasks performed by environmental scientists—people who use their knowledge of science to protect the environment. Environmental scientists work in offices and laboratories and also spend time in the field gathering data and monitoring environmental conditions.
Environmental scientists specialize in a variety of subjects including biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. This knowledge is applied to environmental issues such as locating and preserving resources, predicting hazards, and providing assessments and advice. Most environmental scientists are specialists. Hydrologists study the movement, distribution, and quality of water. They focus on water quality, pollution, wetlands restoration, and alleviating damage from floods, landslides, and droughts.Environmental engineers are often found in the field developing solutions to mitigate environmental damage, clean up chemical hazards, or help companies comply with regulations. Other environmental science jobs cover aquaculture, oceanography, land management, ecotoxicology, and land management.
With an average annual pay of $62,000, Environmental Science graduates earn well above the median income. However, a poll of environmental scientists by the Princeton Review showed that most would do the work even if the pay was lower. As one respondent said, “I became an environmentalist because I wanted a profession that would let me sleep well at night.”
And as the nation focuses on sustainability, renewable energy, organic farming, global warming, and other ecological issues, there is an ever-increasing demand for environmental scientists. If you love the great outdoors—and want to work to save it—a degree in environmental science will help you realize your dream.