Environmental Scientist Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What's the difference between an Environmental Engineer and an Environmental Scientist? 1) Which one gets a higher pay? 2) Which one is easier to find a job? 3) Can I be an environmental scientist with a degree in environmental engineering; or an environmental engineer with a degree in environmental science? Thanks!

Answer: Though it depends on your effeciency and productivity, 1- Engineers, if hired in reputable company 2- More engineers are needed in the industry than scientosts. 3- Certainly

Question: Any suggestions on where to move for a rookie Environmental Scientist? I'm a environmental scientist, graduated last year with three months experience as a graduate scientist. I lost my job due to the credit crunch but left with awesome references. Im a kiwi but like in Ireland. I want to move away from Ireland by january but I don't want to go home. Does anyone know where in the world the market is good for environmental consultants? HELP!

Answer: Where there is pollution, people will want environmental consultants. Look in around water in the US, and in the estuaries. Watch for open positions in the north because it is probably most like your homeland. Try looking at developing countries going developed. They will want people, too, and those will be fairly new jobs.

Question: What do i have to do in order to become an environmental scientist? What courses should i take during highschool? Im 16 now. What degrees do i need in college? Do i need any other schooling? How many years of education after highschool do i need to become an environmental scientist?

Answer: It depends on exactly what you want to do as an environmental scientist. I have a number of friends who are commercial consultants. They do things like test ground water for pollutants and recommend ways for the property owner to clean up the site. They are all in their early 20s and have bachelors degrees. I don't know exactly what a more senior person in that industry does. As for school, take calculus, chemistry and geology if your school has it. You may want to take some biology classes, depending on what kind of environmental work you want to do. A degree in geology or biology would be the most useful. You might look into a minor in chemistry, engineering, math etc. though not necessary.

Question: how to become an environmental scientist? im looking for a college major. how many years of college and training is required to become an environmental scientist? what are some career options in the environmental science field? and what is the salary like?

Answer: If your interested in the animal side of environmental science then probably something in biology. For the building side, Civil Engineering. For technology Mechanical Engineering. Most likely you'd end up working for the government. That's where most of the jobs are.

Question: should i take AP bio if i want to be an environmental scientist? i am only in 10th grade right now,but i am pretty sure i will Major in environmental science in college.i am considering taking AP biology in 12th,but i have heard that it is really hard. so,my question is,should i take AP bio if i want to be an environmental scientist? also,i know how hard AP classes are.

Answer: I took AP Bio in my junior year, and i really liked it because, like you, i wanted to major in something science-related... But the only problem with AP Bio is the mass amount of memorization you have to do... and you learn in depth about the body, plants ... You're a sophomore right now. By senior year, you should be more prepared to take an AP class like bio. And you have two ish years to think about it. I honestly say, go for it. Out of all of the upper level science classes that your school probably offers, AP bio will probably help you the most. And the AP exam is not that bad. It is a multiple choice and an essay thing. There are four short answers in the essay portion. Just don't be too nervous. Yes, AP classes are challenging, but they are just classes. You can succeed if you put in the time and the effort...

Question: Do Environmental Scientist get to travel and do research? If So, Where? and also what type of environmental scientist gets to do this ?

Answer: Depends on the position. You may get to travel more than you want. As for research, depends on what your degree is in. If you mean "travel to exotic countries", probably not. Being an Environmental Scientist is NOT a "sexy" job. Long hours, low pay, lots of protective equipment (PPE)(respirators, air tanks, Level "B" and "A" suits), potentially dangerous substances, work in "environmental extremes" (heat, cold, snow rain, WHILE wearing PPE). Plus, you'll have to "make your bones" (old mafia term) with folks like me that have been doing the job forever. You WILL NOT go straight from college to some high-level, high-paying position. You WILL have to get a LOT of experience to crawl up the ladder. Most of it in the field, working 10-12 hours per day, 5-7 day per week. One thing to remember-they rarely put hazardous waste sites in really pretty areas. Landfills either.

Question: If you want to be an environmental scientist, do you have to have a Phd.? If someone wanted to be an environmental scientist, do they have to get a phd?

Answer: Litterally, No. Depending on what job you want yes. A scientist by definition is anyone using the scientific method. In fact historically speaking most of history's greatest scientists up and untill this century had no "degree" of any type and varying forms of education. "Environmental scientist" is a very broad term and in general use does not refer to Doctors. In fact many job positions that claim the term "environmental scientist" involve a BA or less. A local soil evalution company refers to all of it's feild agents as environmental scientists in much the way your average auto shop refers to their mechanics as "automotive technitions". It's a name with no formal or universal meaning. Most of their "scientists" can get away with a general ba from a vocation school or a specific aa centering around earth sciences. Within many larger environmental science firms there are doctorate positions but generally in more specific feilds simply applied to the needs of the firm, i.e. phds in chemistry, biology, geology, etc. So in short, no you don't need the doctorate. Question is do you want the doctorate? and wouldnt it be nice to have to be introduced as Dr.?

Question: who is the Indian environmental scientist who shared the nobel peace prize along woth al gore in 2007? who is the Indian environmental scientist who shared the nobel peace prize along with al gore in 2007

Answer: Someone pretty close to "Sea Level", no doubt. Check out those projected maps as to who's gonna go first when the water rises, and the weather turns colder. The ones with no trees to hold the land or burn for heat. By by Florida, Bangladesh, Venice, Holland, London, Siam/Indonesia, and many others. Beach front property isn't as "Cool" as it used to be. Listen for the loudest voices ... that's fear. Whether justified or contrived, fear none the less. And take a stab as to what happens when there are forced mass migrations?

Question: if i wanted to become an environmental scientist would i major in geology or environmental science? i went to this website http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos050.htm and was wondering which one would be better to get a higher paying, more secure job for an environmental scientist

Answer: It kinda depends on what specialization you want to pursue -- if you are interested in the geo aspects then that is the path to follow, but if you want to be more of a generalist then the basic enviro sci is the way to go. I'm just speculating here, but I suspect that the specialization will get you into the higher pay grades sooner than the generalized degree... on the other hand, there might be more opportunities open to you with the less specialized degree.

Question: Green career choices--environmental engineer, environmental scientist, or neither? I want to develop and build eco-friendly technologies--new solar-powered windmills, green cars, carbon dioxide filters and the like. Would that be the job of an environmental scientist, an environmental engineer, or neither?

Answer: mechanical engineers do all the things you want to do. Environmental engineers do not create anything, they apply the laws generated to their companies and fill out forms, they are paper pushers. Environmental scientist do nothing other than study ways to stop progress. Chemical engineers apply laws of thermo and create clean things.