CAREERS OBJECTIVE 5 01 Careers in the Environmental

CAREERS OBJECTIVE 5. 01 Careers in the Environmental Science Industry

4 MAJOR CAREER AREAS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE • Water Resources • An essential nutrient for all plant and animal life • Soil Resources • The top layer of the earth’s surface, which is suitable for the growth of plant life • Wildlife • Animals that are adapted to live in a natural environment without the help of humans • Forestry • Industry that grows, manages, and harvest trees for lumber, post, paper, and many other commodities

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAREERS • Soil Conservationist: • Assist landowners in implementing best land use practices • Soil Scientist: • Classify soil according to the most appropriate use. • Requires a bachelors degree (4 yr)

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAREERS • Silviculturist: • One who scientifically manages forest • Specializing in the care of trees • Forestry consultant: • Advises private forest land owners

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAREERS • Loggers: • One who harvest trees • Forester: • A person who practices forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAREERS • Timber Cruiser: • Are hired by private landowners and companies to estimate tree volume on a tract of land • Logging foreman: • Is responsible for overseeing and managing logging operations

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAREERS • Skidder Operators: • Moved felled trees from cutting site to the loading area • Urban Forester: • The one responsible for health and well being of our cities tree

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAREERS • Wildlife Biologist: • Does research on habit and wildlife • Advises government agencies in establishing fish/game laws & habitat improvement programs • Requires minimum bachelors degree • Wildlife Manager: • Often work in government agencies advising land owners and managing game populations on public lands

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAREERS • Wildlife Officer/ Game Warden: • Works for the agency (NC Wildlife Commission) and are responsible for controlling the harvest of wildlife • Soil Technician: • Uses soil auger/soil tube to take soil samples and do technical field work

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAREERS • Wildlife Technician: • Works in the field tagging animals, gathering data and assisting with research • Ecologist: • Studies the effects of the environment on animal life

BIOTECH IN ENVIROMENTAL OBJECTIVE 5. 02 Understanding Biotechnology in the Environmental Science Industry

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY • Biotechnology is playing a large part in detecting and monitoring pollution as well as helping us determine how much is present in the environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY EXAMPLES: • Indicator species: • Any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment • Lichens are widly used as environmental indicators or bioindicators • If air is very badly polluted with Sulfur Dioxide, there may be no lichens present, just green algae may be found

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY EXAMPLES: • Bioremediation: • Is a process used to treat contaminated media • Bacteria is used to clean up oil & fuel spills • Oleophilic (attracted to oil) bacteria used

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY EXAMPLES: • Biostimulation: • Involves the modification of the environment to stimulate existing bacteria capable of bioremediation • The Exxon Valdez clean up • Used the addition of nutrients to feed the oleophilic bacteria

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY EXAMPLES: • Biodiesel: • Made from oil seed • Soybean • Canola oil • Proven to decrease harmful emissions

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY EXAMPLES: • Phytoremediation: • Refers to technologies that use living plants to clean up soil, air, and water contaminated with hazardous contaminants • Oregon Poplar Site (illegal industrial waste dumping site) • J-Field at Aberdeen Proving Ground (disposal site of chemical warfare agents, munitions and industrial chemicals) • used hybrid poplar trees • remove VOC’s • volatile organic compounds from contaminated soil

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY EXAMPLES: • Genetic Engineering: • Altering an organism • Bacterial strains are under development to convert solid waste from humans and livestock into sugar and fuel

LIMITATIONS OF USING BIO & PHYTOREMEDIATION • Time • Often considered slower than chemical techniques • Applicability • They do not apply to all situations • Fear • Those who live near treatment sites often would rather have the contaminated soil removed than treated • Fear that the process will not uncontaminated soil