How to Become an Environmental Scientist: 5 Tips

If you care about the environment and are fascinated by earth science, becoming an environmental scientist could be the ideal career fit for you. In this article, we’ll explore what an environmental scientist does, and then we’ll offer five tips that can set you on the way to a fulfilling career path in this exciting and important field. If you find yourself asking, “What do environmental scientists do?”, make sure to read up on their daily jobs and roles before committing to the field of study.

The environment that exists around us is teeming with science—it’s basically one big laboratory filled with so much for us to learn, explore and uncover. Environmental specialists use their knowledge of the physical world—including natural sciences like physics, organic chemistry, geology, and biology—to help protect the environment and improve human health.

Given the broad nature of this field, the day-to-day duties of environmental science careers can vary greatly depending on their area of focus or specialty. Some environmental scientists work primarily in the field, collecting soil, food, water, or air samples, while others do most of their work in the lab, analyzing and assessing those samples. Still, others do office-based work developing plans, preparing reports, and working with government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or private companies to implement regulations and policies and to ensure that they are being adhered to. Since there’s a good variety of jobs in this field, each environmental studies job’s salary can differ greatly. All of this is done in the name of keeping our environment safe and people healthy.

Whether you are someone who likes to get their hands dirty out in the field, or if you are more of a policy or data wonk, there’s a place for you in this expansive field.

If an environmental scientist sounds like the career for you, here are five tips to get started in the field.

Tip 1: Explore the Outdoors

One of the best ways to find out if the field of environmental study is for you is to literally explore it. That’s right, head outdoors and experience nature firsthand. You can go to a local park, take a walk in the woods, or visit a body of water. Some questions to consider include:

• Do you love the outdoors and have a strong appreciation for the environment?
• Do you want to make sure that people treat the environment with respect, and at the same time want to ensure that the environment is safe for people to use and enjoy?
• Do you have a burning curiosity about how people and the environment interact with one another?

Spending time outdoors and among nature is a great way to ponder questions like these that could help fuel your interest in becoming an environmental scientist. It’s important to point out here that the environment doesn’t just mean the natural world. It also means the built environment where most people live and work. However, even in the built environment—or perhaps especially in the built environment—it’s important to consider the natural and human impact on our air, water, and food systems.

Tip 2: It’s Never too Soon to Learn

Even if you’re still in high school, you can tailor your education to set yourself up for success in college and beyond. Get on track to becoming an environmental scientist by taking natural science classes like biology, organic chemistry, and physics. You can also hone your math skills in high school by taking classes like algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus (or pre-calculus). A strong foundational knowledge of the sciences and mathematics will be important as you dive deeper into this field.

When applying to colleges, it’s also helpful to be involved with a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Find out if your school offers any science or math clubs, and if so, participating in those clubs is a great way to continue to explore your interest in becoming an environmental scientist and to boost your college application at the same time.

Tip 3: College Is Key

In order to become an environmental scientist, you will need a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field. This is where college is key to making this career a reality for you. Environmental scientists can major in natural science degree programs like biology, chemistry, geology, or physics, which are offered by the vast majority of accredited colleges. Some colleges also offer specific minor or major degree programs in environmental studies and/or environmental science. These programs are designed to provide students with broad exposure to this field, and to complement core coursework in biology, chemistry, math, and physics.

For example, at North Central College in Naperville, Ill., students can minor or major in environmental studies. Students majoring in this field can choose from three specialized environmental science degree tracks:

• Society and the Environment, which includes humanities courses on environmental ethics, history, and literature.
• Science and the Environment, which includes courses in ecology, climate change, and energy.
• Sustainable Business, which includes courses in sustainability, green business, and environmental economics.