Environmental progress has been made in every field at every
level of society. Government at every level, businesses large and
small, industry of every kind and institutions of every design are
actively concerned with environmental issues.
Yet much more remains to be done. Most professionals in the
field would agree that the really serious environmental threats
still lie ahead. The truly significant issues for humanity are not
behind us in the 1990's but directly ahead of us at the beginning
of the 21st century. Environmental professionals are needed in
every walk of life and in every level of society: scientists in the
biological, ecological and geological fields, engineers with
special knowledge of physical, chemical and pollution systems,
writers, journalists, business entrepreneurs, community organizers,
social scientists, urban and regional planners, attorneys, formal
and non-formal educatiors, toxicologists and other health related
professional and park, museum, zoo and aquarium curators and
managers. Many more career opportunities will emerge at the dawn of
the coming century.
How to Proceed?
Preparing for your environmental career begins with a strong
foundation of college courses. At the undergraduate level you are
expected to become fluent in all of the language and methods of
describing and reporting environmental problems. This includes
verbal and oral skills and quantitative methods including computer
modelling, graphic analysis and mapping skills that may be
essential methods to solve environmental problems. You also should
acquire a foundation of scientific thinking both in the laboratory
and in field settings so that you can actually engage in
environmental problem solving. Secondly, you need to acquire a
variety of real experiences in environmental issues. These should
be geared to your eventual career goals. They should broaden your
understanding of how things get done in the real world and allow
you to build a resume that employers will be respect. Projects and
activities within some of your courses may be a good beginning but
you need to supplement this with real activity such as volunteer
work for environmental organizations or with internships or guided
research directed by faculty and outside agencies. Finally, you
need to know something about the environmental community of
environmental professionals in your career area. You need to make
contacts and meet people who are in responsible positions and to
network with faculty, alumni and other students in ways that place
you in the best possible position when you graduate. Career
development is something that should begin the day you decide to
become an Environmental Studies major. You need to make
opportunities along the way while you are still in school and to
build a collection of courses and experiences that will be valuable
to your future employers.