|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
A
Job To Love
A developer would like to open a new
resort near your home—complete
with a golf course and day spa. Your
community has hired your team of scientists
to do an important environmental impact
assessment. You need to find out if
the proposed resort will negatively
affect any plants, animals, water or
air. You have spent weeks collecting
soil and water samples and observing
the area's animals. In a report to the
community, you’ll recommend whether
or not the resort should be built, where
the resort should be built, and what
size the resort should be. With your
report, the community can make an informed
decision for the good of the environment,
and you feel good knowing that you're
a part of our sustainable future.
Environmental
scientists provide scientific
knowledge and advice to decision-makers
(such as band or hamlet council members)
so that the environment is protected
while development occurs. They spend
a lot of time conducting research
and studies out in the field—usually
in teams. Environmental scientists
also work a lot on their own in labs
conducting studies, and in offices
reviewing proposals and writing reports.
Aboriginal environmental scientists
conduct environmental impact assessments
and review development proposals in
their home communities to keep them
clean and safe.
The
work that environmental scientists
do can be very time-consuming and
repetitive. You’ll find that
you have a lot to get done and you
may end up working long hours. Scientific
research is very expensive and you’ll
probably be responsible for finding
funding to conduct your work. Sometimes
you’ll even end up writing proposals
for government grants and industry
support when your time should be spent
studying the environment. It’s
frustrating to know that when your
funding runs out, you might be out
of a job. Then again, it all pays
off in the end because the work of
environmental scientists is very valuable
to society and earns scientists the
respect of their communities.
Job
Description
Environmental scientists support the
environmental projects in their workplace
with scientific analysis. They conduct
scientific studies, prepare reports,
and develop management plans to help
make sure the environment is preserved.
For example, an environmental scientist
might visit an industrial plant and
test the area's air quality. If the
tests show that the company has been
polluting the air, then the environmental
scientist would work with the company's
management to make the plant more environmentally
friendly. The scientist may also organize
training programs for the staff so they
know how to test the air quality and
fix any problems. Environmental scientists
work for a large number of organizations,
including community environmental offices,
band and hamlet councils, consulting
companies, and federal and provincial
governments.
Job
Duties
- Carry
out environmental investigations
- Evaluate
environmental impact assessments
submitted by industry and government
- Establish
and maintain environmental management
systems
- Conduct
studies and tests, and collect environmental
data
- Conduct
environmental site assessments
- Assist
in studying and monitoring air,
land, and water quality tests
- Identify
and analyse hazardous materials
in the environment
- Write
and submit proposals for environmental
projects
- Write
technical reports and environment
assessments
- Manage
activities of junior staff
Fact
Mercury, one of the most poisonous
substances in the environment, has
been used in several household items,
including batteries, fluorescent lamps,
thermometers, electrical switches,
pesticides, cosmetics, and paints.
In 1994, mercury released into the
Ontario environment from discarded
mercury-oxide batteries was approximately
430 kilograms. In 1996, Canada discontinued
the manufacture of these batteries.
|
|
 |
 |
High
school courses that will prepare you
for a job as an environmental scientist
include math, biology, chemistry, physics,
geography, calculus, and English. Aboriginal
studies, history, and languages will
prepare you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options such as engineering
technology or business English.
The minimum education requirement for
this job is a university degree or college
diploma in environmental science, planning,
engineering, forestry, wildlife, hydrology
or a related discipline. Environmental
scientists usually specialize in one
area, so choose the subject you enjoy
most. Technical diplomas or graduate
degrees, such as a master’s or
post-doctoral degree in science, may
be required for senior-level positions.
An advanced degree will make you more
competitive in the job market and improve
your salary prospects. Before entering
the workplace, some environmental scientists
require training in:
- Project
management
- Proposal
writing
- Writing
and communication
Professional
designations may be required such
as professional engineer, biologist,
or chemist, depending on the specialization
you choose.
Look
into specific high school prerequisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
|
|
|
 |
|
Environmental
scientists with a college diploma
make an average of $42,000.00 per
year.
Environmental
scientists with a university degree
make an average of $54,000.00 per
year.
Environmental
scientists with a post-graduate degree
make an average of $64,000.00 per
year.
Environmental
scientists with several years of experience
and education can make up to an average
of $75,000.00 per year.
Financial
Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following awards are
specific to environmental scientists:
Syncrude Aboriginal Education Awards
Program
Six scholarships worth $2,000.00 are
awarded to Aboriginal students in
programs related to the oil sands
industry, finance, accounting or business.
Contact: Syncrude Canada Ltd.
Aboriginal Scholarship Program
PO Box 4023
MD 1200
Fort McMurray, AB
T9H 3H5
Telephone: (780) 790-6388
Fax: (780) 790-6215
Golder
Associates Environmental Award
$1,000.00 is awarded to a student
entering or in their first year of
study in the Natural Resource Industry
Environmental Technology program at
Keyano College.
Contact: Diana Erlinger-Ford,
Awards Officer
Keyano College
8115 Franklin Avenue, Room 167
Fort McMurray, AB
T9H 2H7
Telephone: 1-800-251-1408 or (780)
791-8926
Fax: (780) 791-4952
email: registrar@keyano.ca
website: www.keyano.ca
Toyota
Earth Day Scholarships
Fifteen awards of $5,000.00 each
are awarded to students entering their
first year of post-secondary full-time
studies in Canada, in any discipline.
Contact: Toyota Earth Day Scholarship
Earth Day Canada
111 Peter Street, Suite 503
Toronto, ON M5V 2H1
Telephone: (416) 599-1991
Fax: (416) 599-3100
email: scholarship@earthday.ca
website: www.earthday.ca
website: www.toyota.ca
|
|
|
 |
|
Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Learn from your Elders'
traditional ways of assessing and
reversing environmental damage. Although
you’ll be expected to have a
strong scientific education, employers
will also be impressed by your traditional
knowledge of the natural world.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Environmental
lawyer
- Environmental
policy analyst
- Aboriginal
liaison
- Traditional
ecological knowledge (TEK) advisor
Relate
to and interact with environmental
scientists. Ask them what they like
about their jobs and how you should
get started.
Sierra Youth Coalition / Coalition
jeunesse Sierra.
Telephone: 888-790-7393
website: www.sierrayouthcoalition.org
The
Canadian Environmental Network / Le
Réseau canadienne l’environnement
(with regional chapters across Canada)
300-945 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1Y 2X5
Telephone: (613) 728-9810
Fax: (613) 728-2963
email: info@cen-rce.org
website: www.cen-rce.org
Relate
to other students. Most universities
have Aboriginal student associations
and resource centres. Visit these
centres to find out what they have
to offer. Also look into community
centres, friendship centres, and multi-cultural
centres.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
