July 13, 2010
Get Your Degree In Environmental Sciences And Join The Green Generation!
Not all scientific jobs are done in sterile labs or inside the ivory-lined towers of academia. For those who love the outdoors and the preservation of the planet, there’s actually an occupation one might find quite attractive, that of a conservation scientist.Usually when one thinks of scientists, they think of lab coats and test tubes, antiseptic research facilities and chalk boards. That isn’t always the case. Those who still love science but don’t want to be confined to the ivory towers of academia have other options. For one, they can become a conservation scientist.
A conservation scientist is defined as someone who manages, improves and protects natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. They conduct soil surveys and develop plans to protect rangelands from damage from pollution, natural disaster and erosion. Their job also includes the best uses of crop rotation, contour plowing and terracing to conserve soil and water; the number and kind of livestock and forage plants best suited to particular ranges; and such details as fencing and reservoirs for stock watering. The Bureau of Labor Statistics divides them into three key specialties:
Park Naturalists – These scientists are probably the most well known of the conservation scientists. Just think of a true forest ranger, not Ranger Smith on Yogi Bear. These are the people who you meet when you go to a national park and answer any questions you might have. They also are responsible for maintenance of our national treasures, write articles and always be on the guard for disasters such as flood or fire, not to mention keeping tourists from feeding the bears. If you need more information about course online, look on the internet.
Range Managers – These scientists primarily help farmers and ranchers. Their job is to help the agriculture industry produce the greatest possible crops without exhausting resources. This includes such responsibilities as soil stability, planning and directing construction and maintenance of structures including fencing, corrals and stock-watering reservoirs.
Soil & Water Conservationists – This occupation applies sciences such as agronomy, soil science, forestry and agriculture to conserve the earth. They address land users regarding how to best deal with environmental problems and solutions. They also aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty when providing assistance, whether it’s crop rotation, re-forestation, vegetation, contour plowing or resource conservation. For any additional information about science degrees check the internet.
Actually considered a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) discipline, conservation scientists have at least a bachelor's degree in a field such as natural resource management, rangeland management, agricultural science, or environmental science. They usually go for their higher education at land-grant universities or their online divisions. Like many science fields, on the average these specialists have a Masters degree or PhD.
All three specialties average about $60,000 a year and primarily work for a government agency, a university or in the food industry. At present, the Bureau estimates approximately 14,000 in the profession as of 2009. It projects a need for an additional 4,000 conservation scientists in the work force by the end of the decade. There is an abundance of information about online classes on the web.
While a major portion of their jobs does involve these scientists giving lectures and publishing papers on the state of the environment, it also involves a lot of times out of doors, whether it’s the Great Plains, forest preserves or in places so remote communications with the outside world is extremely limited. Still, there are those who actually like that kind of isolation from the "civilized" world. They’d rather be in the company of the wild than people. If so, then this is an ideal profession.
Filed under Minority Scholarships by Jenny