麻豆传媒色情片

Jobs

We are all connected: exploring environmental science careers

Martina G. Efeyini
June 5, 2020

I love been outside. I like the sound of stepping on crispy fall leaves and the feeling of wind blowing through my curls. Nature is relaxing and real, especially these days.

Today is . For this week's column, I'm going to focus on environmental science careers. The 2020 theme for the observance is (the variety of living organisms on Earth), and this year the United Nations Environment Programme declared it a “ 

 
Do you enjoy bird watching, gardening, listening to the sweet cricket sounds or just being one with nature? Consider an environmental science career. Environmental scientists work to conserve and restore nature’s resources.

Environmental science is the perfect field for scientists who are passionate about all things nature. It is an interdisciplinary field that connects physical and life sciences. Environmental scientists use their strong foundation of biology and chemistry to solve environmental problems, such as deforestation and air, land and water pollution. They also must be able to explain to the public why taking care of our environment matters in the long run. This takes patience, effort and time. 

In most cases, a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry or environmental science is enough. If you plan to go deeper in the field, want to conduct research or otherwise want to become an expert, a graduate degree is recommended. 

According to the , environmental scientists should have.

  • Analytical skills: They need to understand how to analyze data and environmental trends.

  • Problem-solving skills: They need to find efficient solutions and make economical recommendations.

  • Communication skills: They need to communicate with others effectively.

Environmental scientists can work in many settings:

  • Education: They work in formal and informal settings, such as museums, wildlife centers, parks, K–12 classrooms and universities.

  • Industry: They work for businesses specializing in specific areas, such as water, climate, health and food, or any other area that affects living organisms.

  • Nonprofit/advocacy: They work for mission-driven organizations that support the greater good (for example, environmental policy, education or conservation).

  • Government: They work at the local, regional, state and national levels on regulations, remediation, monitoring and enforcement.

How to prepare for an environmental science career

Find your cause: What area of environmental science are you passionate about? How can we keep the water clean in a small community? What can we do about climate change? How can we reduce air pollution? These are just a few questions that environmental scientists consider every day.
 
Communicate your “why”: Environmental scientists meet with people across sectors, including nonprofits, government and academia, so they have to be well versed in communicating their message to all groups. Also, your “why” is important when it comes to proposals, grantwriting and speaking at conferences.
 
Expand your knowledge: Your skills, experience and goals will determine what your next step will be. If you don’t have a specific area of interest, you can become a . Once you gain more field experience, you can apply for one of the  relevant to the work you wish to do. Also, Coursera offers an online .
 
Volunteer: Volunteering is the No. 1 way to take action now! Contact nonprofits, community groups and wildlife/conservation centers in your area to find out ways to give back. Volunteering will help you build your skills, expand your network and explore environmental science career options.
 
Get connected: Follow the Twitter hashtags  and to join the community of environmentalists and conservationists.

#BlackBirdersWeek

Earlier this week, Twitter was flooded with photos of black birdwatchers and the birds they have spotted.

Photo by  on 
 

 was initiated by Corina Newsome, a biology graduate student at Georgia Southern University, following a racist incident in New York's Central Park, where a white woman called the police on a black birder who merely asked her to leash her dog according to rules for that particular section of the park. ()

The hashtag , meanwhile, was used to show black nature enthusiasts of all ages doing their thing out in the world. 

Both hashtags highlight that the outdoors are not always safe for black people and that black nature enthusiasts are denied both the freedom of movement and benefit of the doubt enjoyed by white nature enthusiasts. 

Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition monthly and the digital edition weekly.

Learn more
Martina G. Efeyini

Martina G. Efeyini is a science communicator, STEM education advocate and careers columnist for ASBMB Today.

Featured jobs

from the

Get the latest from ASBMB Today

Enter your email address, and we鈥檒l send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in Careers

Careers highlights or most popular articles

Upcoming opportunities
Announcement

Upcoming opportunities

Sept. 19, 2024

Just added: ASBMB webinar on landing an industry job. Plus: Fast-track your ASBMB 2025 abstract for a decision by Nov. 14!

How do you help a biochemist find a career path?
Essay

How do you help a biochemist find a career path?

Sept. 18, 2024

Industry, academia and the ASBMB join forces to introduce students job options in the sciences with a panel, networking and cheese.

ASBMB seeks feedback on NIH postdoc training questions
Training

ASBMB seeks feedback on NIH postdoc training questions

Sept. 18, 2024

The National Institutes of Health takes steps toward addressing concerns about support caps, a funding mechanism and professional development.

Making the most of meetings with your mentor
Advice

Making the most of meetings with your mentor

Sept. 13, 2024

Everyone has a slightly different relationship with their mentor, including how often they meet. Careers columnist Courtney Chandler dives into how to make meetings with your grad school adviser useful and productive.

Growing a chapter for grad students and postdocs
Society News

Growing a chapter for grad students and postdocs

Sept. 12, 2024

At Penn State, the ASBMB is building a community to help provide these early-career researchers with the tools they need to excel in science and life.

Upcoming opportunities
Announcement

Upcoming opportunities

Sept. 12, 2024

Celebrate NPAW with ASBMB! Plus: Present your work at our virtual event on exploring AI tools in BMB education.