FWR Group Sustainability Articles
What does an environmental scientist do?
An environmental scientist uses a scientific understanding of the natural world to ensure the protection of nature. As a member of the scientific community the they deal with the balancing of human needs with the needs of organisms in the natural environment and the needs of future generations who may be harmed by environmental degradation. To practice in this field, one generally requires a bachelor’s degree and even a post graduate qualification.
Environmental scientists work to regulate, control and prevent air, land and water pollution. They often conduct research to find pollutants or other hazards in the environment and then devise plans to eliminate or minimise them. This is done in accordance with the direction of the employing company, balanced with good environmental practice.
Environmental scientists usually specialise in a certain aspect of the environment, such as land conservation, toxic waste removal, groundwater contamination, acid rain and wildlife protection to name a few. They can also do environmental impact studies or design monitoring systems to ensure that no environmental damage occurs. Environmental scientists can also work with non-profit organisations or governments to solve environmental problems in the community. In this role an environmental scientist may spend a lot of time in an office, developing relationships with individuals, organisations and other governments which are designed to contribute to environmental protection.
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This work by Michael Duggan is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.5 Australia License.
