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Education Bachelor's degree Median Pay $71,360 Job Growth 7.80% (Above US Average) Jobs in 2029 98,000 What Do They Do?An environmental scientist could... Conduct experiments with dyes to see how chemicals might disperse during a toxic spill. Create maps and graphs showing air pollutants over time to help politicians make informed decisions. Evaluate how increasing human populations influence interactions between wildlife and people. Monitor water quality at beaches, lakes, and rivers to detect contaminants and keep people safe.
OverviewHave you ever noticed that for people with asthma it can sometimes be especially hard to breathe in the middle of a busy city? One reason for this is the exhaust from vehicles. Cars, buses, and motorcycles add pollution to our air, which affects our health. But can pollution impact more than our health? Cutting down trees, or deforestation, can contribute to erosion, which carries off valuable topsoil. But can erosion alter more than the condition of the soil? How does an oil spill harm fish and aquatic plants? How does a population of animals interact with its environment? These are questions that environmental scientists study and try to find answers to. They conduct research or perform investigations to identify and eliminate the sources of pollution or hazards that damage either the environment or human and animal health. Environmental scientists are the stewards of our environment and are committed to keeping it safe for future generations. Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Environmental Scientist?
Core TasksThink about if you'd like the typical tasks an Environmental Scientist might do:
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Free science fair projects. What type of environmental scientist is likely to study the interactions of gorillas?A primatologist, or a biological anthropologist, is most likely to study interactions among gorillas. Primatologists study primate behavior, ecology, intelligence, anatomy, and so forth.
What does an Ecopsychologist study?Ecopsychology is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinarity field that focuses on the synthesis of ecology and psychology and the promotion of sustainability. It is distinguished from conventional psychology as it focuses on studying the emotional bond between humans and the Earth.
Which type of environmental scientist is likely to study the effects of chemical spills on the environment?A toxicologist is a scientist who has a strong understanding of many scientific disciplines, such as biology and chemistry, and typically works with chemicals and other substances to determine if they are toxic or harmful to humans and other living organisms or the environment.
Which type of scientist is most likely to study a species behavior and its effect on other species in its community?Ethologists typically show interest in a behavioural process rather than in a particular animal group, and often study one type of behaviour, such as aggression, in a number of unrelated species.
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