All Posts Tagged With: "environmental scientists"

Guest post by Louise Baker of Zen College Life.

With so much time and effort being dedicated to creating sustainable energy sources, reducing carbon emissions, and replenishing endangered species, there are a wealth of jobs now available for socially conscious, career-minded college graduates.

1. Carbon Portfolio Management

Reducing carbon emissions has become an increasingly important task throughout the world. Many nations are attempting to reduce their carbon footprint by creating carbon reduction programs, such as the research and development of low emission motor vehicles. Carbon Portfolio Management is important to not only help nations and corporations maintain an environmentally friendly industrial complex, but also to guide them economically throughout their green revolution. Graduates with a degree in Economics or Environmental Science may want to investigate this increasingly popular occupation.

2. Solar Installation Supervisor

One source of sustainable energy is solar power. Solar power requires the efforts of countless engineers and technicians to bring this sustainable form of energy to places that now rely on conventional forms of energy production, such as coal burning plants and nuclear power plants. In order for these technicians and engineers to perform their task quickly and efficiently, supervisors are required. This is a great position for anyone with a degree in Engineering, a willingness to learn new techniques and procedures, and a desire to travel.

3. Green Reporter

Every revolution needs a voice, and the green revolution is no different. Environmental reporters have rapidly become valuable commodities for most media corporations. The flow of green information is constant and overwhelming, so reporters are needed to help manage that flow. Every major newspaper outlet in the world now has their own green reporters on staff. Magazines, television news programs, internet websites, they all employ green reporters. This is the perfect job for someone with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication or a degree in Environmental Science.

4. Green Mentor

With so many corporations, government agencies, and individuals dedicated to a sustainable existence, there is a growing market for green mentors, men and women with advanced knowledge of green practices and procedures and a willingness to share that knowledge. Through seminars and demonstrations, these experts teach people how to maintain a green lifestyle. This position would be a great fit for someone with a degree in Education or Environmental Science.

5. Resource Preservationist

Because of overdevelopment and lax environmental laws, much of our natural resources have been lost and continue to disappear at an alarming rate. Resource Preservationists are dedicated to reducing the consumption of natural resources and creating a greater balance between human beings and their environment. These individuals usually work closely with energy providers and national parks to preserve our dwindling resources. Anyone with a degree in Environmental Science or Engineering would be a perfect candidate for this position. (Editor’s note: there is a growing industry in environmental restoration as well. These firms restore damaged ecosystems, such as wetlands, stream banks, and forests.)

Louise Baker is a freelance writer. She currently writes about online schools for Zen College Life. She most recently wrote about the best online colleges.

When I first got interested in sustainability, one of the simplest and most empowering definitions I ran across was from the Brundtland Commission Report, “Our Common Future,” published in 1987. The full report is available on-line. The definition reads:”Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Found in Chapter 2 of the report.)

I am thrilled to see that my alma mater, University of Virginia School of Architecture, is bestowing the University’s highest honor on the commission’s chairwoman, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland. As part of the award ceremonies for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Architecture, she will speak on the campus on Friday, April 11, at 3:00p.m.

Her bio is impressive. She has long been a world leader in sustainable development and health, and was the youngest and first woman prime minister of Norway. The University of Virginia’s press release has a good overview.

It is striking that the ideas and recommendations contained in “Our Common Future” are just as relevant today as they were – twenty! – years ago. They were truly ahead of their time, although leading scientists and experts knew then what the rest of us are only now waking up to. Rather than fret about “it’s too late,” we should all re-read this powerful document and renew our commitment to doing what we can.

It’s full of thoughts like these (remember – written twenty years ago!): Continued

Community and Environmental Defense Services (CEDS) is a nationwide group of attorneys, planners, environmental scientists, academics, and political strategists that works with citizens to prevent zoning infractions, sprawl, and other negatively-affecting development projects. Their website features a detailed “fact sheet” with subtopics such as “annexation” and “landfills” which potential clients can peruse before requesting CEDS services.