Environmental Science

Environmental science is the study of interactions among physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment. It is an interdisciplinary science overlapping the categories in Natural sciences, Engineering sciences and Social sciences. In nature, Environmental science focuses on pollution and degradation of the environment related to human activities and their impact on biodiversity and sustainability. As an interdisciplinary field, environmental science also applies knowledge from economics, law and social sciences. It can be applied to cyberspace environment also. In nature, Physics is used to understand the flux of material and energy interaction and construct mathematical models of environmental phenomena. Chemistry is applied to understand the molecular interactions among natural systems. Biology is fundamental to describing the effects within the plant and animal kingdoms.

Environmental science came alive as a substantive, active field of scientific investigation in the 1960s and 1970s. This was driven by the need for a large multi-disciplined team to analyze complex environmental problems, the arrival of substantive environmental laws requiring specific environmental protocols of investigation, and growing public awareness of a need for action in addressing environmental problems.

Environmental science encompasses issues such as climate change, conservation, biodiversity, groundwater and soil contamination, use of natural resources, waste management, sustainable development, air pollution and noise pollution.

Careers

Biological Scientists
Wage: $102,840
10 Year Growth Rate: 3.7%
Education Requirements:
Doctoral degree
Biochemists and Biophysicists
Wage: $102,270
10 Year Growth Rate: 5.0%
Education Requirements:
Doctoral or professional degree
Geoscientists and Hydrologists
Wage: $83,680
10 Year Growth Rate: 7.0%
Education Requirements:
Bachelor's degree
Microbiologists
Wage: $79,260
10 Year Growth Rate: 5.0%
Education Requirements:
Bachelor's degree
Environmental Scientists and Specialists
Wage: $76,530
10 Year Growth Rate: 8.0%
Education Requirements:
Bachelor's degree
Conservation Scientists and Foresters
Wage: $63,750
10 Year Growth Rate: 7.0%
Education Requirements:
Bachelor's degree