Environmental science is the study of the environment and the interconnecting systems it contains, as well as the way people interact with their natural surroundings and use natural resources. This field in the sciences is highly interdisciplinary, and the type of research environmental scientists do is extremely diverse. People may study everything from climate change to volcanoes as part of their work, and employment opportunities include jobs with governments, conservation organizations, and private firms interested in environmental topics. Pay scales vary, depending on qualifications and areas of interest, and can include benefits like opportunities to travel to conferences and events.
The study of environmental science includes physical sciences like geology and physics, along with biology and topics such as meteorology. Some people are also interested in social science topics so that they can more effectively study human interactions with the environment and topics like the history of human societies and their relationship with the environment. Social science is also useful for people working in public outreach and communication, as they want to be able to effectively convey concepts to members of the public.
Rather than studying isolated organisms and phenomena, environmental scientists look at interconnected natural systems to learn more about the environment in a given region as a whole. This can include understanding interactions between different kinds of organisms, as well as studying topics like how activities such as farming, development, and mining impact the natural world. Many environmental scientists are interested in sustainability and want to find ways to use natural resources while also preserving them.
Many colleges and universities have environmental science programs and conduct advanced research in this field. People can study a number of topics within the discipline, depending on their interests and career plans. People interested in conservation, for example, would focus on sustainability, public policy, and related topics. A person who wants to study climate change might be interested in climate history, ongoing environmental changes, meteorology, and similar matters.
Professional organizations dedicated to environmental science offer a variety of opportunities to members including conferences, trade publications, and continuing education. Many people choose to join a professional organization in their field to make themselves more employable, have access to other scientists, and keep track of ongoing research and other topics, like changing views on scientific ethics. Membership qualifications vary, depending on the organization, but usually require people to have a graduate degree and some work experience or published research.
Environmental science is a multidisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, (including but not limited to ecology, physics, chemistry, biology, soil science, geology, atmospheric science and geography) to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems. Environmental science provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems.
Related areas of study include environmental studies and environmental engineering. Environmental studies incorporates more of the social sciences for understanding human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. Environmental engineering focuses on design and technology for improving environmental quality in every aspect. Environmental scientists work on subjects like the understanding of earth processes, evaluating alternative energy systems, pollution control and mitigation, natural resource management, and the effects of global climate change. Environmental issues almost always include an interaction of physical, chemical, and biological processes. Environmental scientists bring a systems approach to the analysis of environmental problems. Key elements of an effective environmental scientist include the ability to relate space, and time relationships as well as quantitative analysis.
History
Environmental science came alive as a substantive, active field of scientific investigation in the 1960s and 1970s driven by the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze complex environmental problems, the arrival of substantive environmental laws requiring specific environmental protocols of investigation and the growing public awareness of a need for action in addressing environmental problems. Events that spurred this development included the publication of Rachael Carson's landmark environmental book Silent Spring along with major environmental issues becoming very public, such as the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, and the Cuyahoga River of Cleveland, Ohio, "catching fire" (also in 1969), and helped increase the visibility of environmental issues and create this new field of study.
The study of environmental science includes physical sciences like geology and physics, along with biology and topics such as meteorology. Some people are also interested in social science topics so that they can more effectively study human interactions with the environment and topics like the history of human societies and their relationship with the environment. Social science is also useful for people working in public outreach and communication, as they want to be able to effectively convey concepts to members of the public.
Rather than studying isolated organisms and phenomena, environmental scientists look at interconnected natural systems to learn more about the environment in a given region as a whole. This can include understanding interactions between different kinds of organisms, as well as studying topics like how activities such as farming, development, and mining impact the natural world. Many environmental scientists are interested in sustainability and want to find ways to use natural resources while also preserving them.
Many colleges and universities have environmental science programs and conduct advanced research in this field. People can study a number of topics within the discipline, depending on their interests and career plans. People interested in conservation, for example, would focus on sustainability, public policy, and related topics. A person who wants to study climate change might be interested in climate history, ongoing environmental changes, meteorology, and similar matters.
Professional organizations dedicated to environmental science offer a variety of opportunities to members including conferences, trade publications, and continuing education. Many people choose to join a professional organization in their field to make themselves more employable, have access to other scientists, and keep track of ongoing research and other topics, like changing views on scientific ethics. Membership qualifications vary, depending on the organization, but usually require people to have a graduate degree and some work experience or published research.
Environmental science is a multidisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, (including but not limited to ecology, physics, chemistry, biology, soil science, geology, atmospheric science and geography) to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems. Environmental science provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental systems.
Related areas of study include environmental studies and environmental engineering. Environmental studies incorporates more of the social sciences for understanding human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. Environmental engineering focuses on design and technology for improving environmental quality in every aspect. Environmental scientists work on subjects like the understanding of earth processes, evaluating alternative energy systems, pollution control and mitigation, natural resource management, and the effects of global climate change. Environmental issues almost always include an interaction of physical, chemical, and biological processes. Environmental scientists bring a systems approach to the analysis of environmental problems. Key elements of an effective environmental scientist include the ability to relate space, and time relationships as well as quantitative analysis.
History
Environmental science came alive as a substantive, active field of scientific investigation in the 1960s and 1970s driven by the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze complex environmental problems, the arrival of substantive environmental laws requiring specific environmental protocols of investigation and the growing public awareness of a need for action in addressing environmental problems. Events that spurred this development included the publication of Rachael Carson's landmark environmental book Silent Spring along with major environmental issues becoming very public, such as the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, and the Cuyahoga River of Cleveland, Ohio, "catching fire" (also in 1969), and helped increase the visibility of environmental issues and create this new field of study.
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