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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Environmental science, as a profession, promises tremendous employment opportunities for environmental scientists. As a discipline, it is a composite of both the natural and the social sciences; its roots are in natural history and the science of ecology. Resource management and resource technology are also significant features of environmental science. Opportunities in this field are immense, not only for environmental scientists, but also for environmental engineers, environmental biologists, environmental modelers, as well as environmental journalists. Very often, environmental scientists and non-governmental organizations form coalitions with various feminist groups, human rights advocates, anti-nuclear weapon protestors and other such public interest groups. Area of Work
Environmental science is a broad term, incorporating various different activities. It can be applied in: FORESTS AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT Among the most important resources that help sustain life on earth are the forests. Not only do forests provide resources, they also help in maintaining the precarious environmental balance. Therefore the maintenance and management of forests and wildlife is of prime importance. INDUSTRY The demand for environmental scientists in the major industries is also increasing. Large industries appoint environmental scientists and have separate environmental research and development sections. Their basic function is pollution control, waste and effluent control, management and planning. Employment opportunities for environmental scientists are very many, in the public sector mining companies. Various consultancy organizations also deal with environmental impact assistance for industries and the government. These scientists question the ecological viability of large projects, which may inevitably alter the course of rivers and cause damage to fisheries and forest cover. Environmental engineers mainly apply the principles of engineering to the control, elimination and prevention of environmental hazards, which include air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution and noise pollution. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT With increasing awareness about the environment, there is tremendous scope for research and development in this field. Various universities in the country, as also the Indian government, offer scope for research and development. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Various NGOs help in creating awareness regarding the protection of the environment and the dissemination of environmental issues. For this, the NGOs use varied approaches. Some organizations are highly professional and work through grants from the government; others exist at the fringes and help only in generating public opinion. Whereas some NGOs work for political change, others specialize in gathering and disseminating information, and still others undertake direct action for the protection of a specific resource. ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM This is also an important area because awareness of environmental issues is created and disseminated by the media. The Work
An environmental scientist's job is basically to conduct research studies in order to develop theories or methods of reducing and controlling the sources of environmental pollution and to utilize scientific or engineering techniques as the case may be, to protect and preserve the environment. The major task of an environmental scientist involves preventive and research oriented work directed at the issues taken up by the NGOs and other social organizations, as also international issues regarding the physical environment. Global issues such as the protection of the ozone layer and the effect of ultraviolet radiations on the environment are the prime concerns of environmental scientists. ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS Mainly handled by the government and involve efforts towards controlling pollution, policymaking and maintenance of the ecological balance. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) play an important role in this respect, whereby pollution is kept in check through a process of monitoring. ADVISORY TASKS Carried out by the various environmental concerns and private organizations dealing with issues related to the environment. PROTECTIVE TASKS Are mainly performed in the industries and involve maintenance of the ecological balance, biodiversity and wasteland management. Biodiversity refers to the diversity of creatures and biological species in nature. Their conservation and preservation has to be carved out by the environmentalists either through natural or artificial means. Wasteland management is another important function carried out by industries. This involves the maintenance of the quality of certain barren and non-fertile lands through proper irrigation and watering. Afforestation and regeneration of forest areas are also prime activities performed by environmentalists, as also the cleansing of rivers. Social dimensions to the profession include controlling the rapid growth rate of the human population, apart from organizing awareness campaigns and other advisory functions. Career Prospects
Trained coaches are in demand at all the training centers set up by SAI and by state and central sports bodies. Coaches can also find openings in sports clubs, schools and colleges and as in-house coaches for corporate sports teams. Administrative There are several sports organizations that promote and monitor sporting activities in the country. The Sports Authority of India is a national organization Sports financed by the Government of India for promotion of sports in the country. There are National Sports Federations for individual disciplines and sports associations. Training & Eligibility
Environmental scientists with a Master's degree in environmental science, or an ME in environmental or chemical engineering are taken in by the industries and private sector companies. Non-governmental organizations usually employ candidates with a B.Sc. or a M.Sc. in environmental science. Eligibility The profession involves dedication and commitment on the part of the individual. Love for nature and the spirit of adventure is also necessary personal attributes. The spirit of teamwork, patience, communication skills, the ability to understand and analyze a problem and to interact with people, are other attributes required. Environmental science is generally taught as a M.Sc. programme and therefore a Bachelor's degree in any discipline of science is an essential pre-requisite. However, there are some institutions, which offer environmental subjects for the B.Sc. degree course. Training Environmental education broadly covers forestry, wildlife, and environment protection. Various institutes offer training in these fields. Those going in for forestry and forest-related careers can apply to the Indian Forest Services. Admission is open through an examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This exam is separate from the other Civil Services exams and is open only to science and engineering graduates. Selection is done on the basis of a written examination and an interview. Selected candidates are made to go through a two-year training course at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), and the Forest Research Institute at Dehradun. Similar examinations are also held at the state level (State Forest Service Exam, SFSE) by the State Public Service Commission (SPSC) for science and engineering graduates. The selected candidates are sent for two years training at government institutes in Dehradun, Coimbatore and Burnihat. Range-level examinations are also held by the various state governments, in order to select Range Officers. Apart from these, a large number of institutions offer B.Sc. or M.Sc. degrees in forestry. Career Prospects
Career opportunities in this field are immense today, and the horizons are widening in India as well as abroad. The non-governmental organizations are growing both in numbers and in strength, particularly in the area of environmental awareness and protection. There is, therefore, great scope in these organizations.
The growing concern with environmental protection has also made the manufacturing industry more conscious about ensuring that industrial waste and other industrial materials are not hazardous to the environment and about the need to appoint environmental specialists to handle this area. Universities and the Ministry of Environment, also offer opportunities to environmentalists. Future Prospects
Prospects for environmental scientists are very bright. With an increase in environmental awareness, the scope in this field is increasing tremendously. In fact, in many parliamentary democracies, such as Germany, the so-called `Green Parties' are important organizations for the
formulation of public opinion.
Environmental science is a very wide-ranging subject, and therefore the scope for diversification in this field is also immense. The scope varies from teaching and research, engineering and journalism, to active social work. Job opportunities are available in the public as well as the private sector, apart from the government. At present there is greater scope abroad, although in India too, the opportunities are increasing rapidly. Environment protection is one of the fastest growing industries in India. Many business houses are going into environment protection services and the manufacture and sales of environment-friendly goods. The market for such products currently stands at $ 200 billion worldwide and it is expected to touch $ 300 billion by the year 2000. It is estimated that by the turn of the century, air pollution from large-scale industries would go up nine times, waste paper discharge four times and hazardous waste by 14 million tones a year, requiring the work of thousands of environmental specialists. Remuneration
It varies depending on the area of work. In the NGOs and other social organizations, the remuneration ranges between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 per month. In private industries, the salaries range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 per month initially. In the research organizations, the remuneration is approximately Rs 3,000 per month. PRESSURES The job involves a lot of hard work. Also, since it is a new and upcoming profession, it is not recognized everywhere. Moreover, environmentalists' work can very often prove frustrating because of the rapid increase in human population, urbanization, pollution and other environmental hazards, which cannot be effectively controlled. REWARDS Despite the hardship involved, the work of an environmental scientist can be very rewarding. Afforestation and wildlife management, when launched on a large scale, always bring rewards and a lot of job satisfaction. Institutes
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