FAST FACTS

Best Schools: Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi, Delhi College of Engineering, TERI University
Qualifications: BSc or equivalent degree, multi-disciplinary curricula are also offered
Our advice: Choose a course that gives you in depth exposure in an area of interest
Career Avenues: Consulting firms, governmental agencies, NGO’s and private companies.  Most companies require advice from environmental scientists before making big decisions

ALAN M.Eddison had said, “Modern technology owes ecology an apology”. Environmental Sciences as a discipline emerged in response to concerns of pollution, depletion of natural resources, and general deterioration in the living environment. Though it’s concerns encompassed plants, flora and fauna, and animal life, it primarily was focused on human habitat.

In terms of career, you can become an environmental scientist, environment educationist or environment-related technologist working in laboratories that engage in soil and water testing, pollution detection and control. And as a discipline it draws from basic sciences primarily and few universities do provide inputs drawn from politics, socio-economics and law.

Are you eligible?
As a general rule, students opting for this degree should possess a BSc or equivalent degree in natural sciences, chemistry, environmental science, agriculture, geography, environmental economics or engineering. Work experience is preferred by some institutes when you opt for an MSc in Environmental Science, so do keep that in mind before applying.  Basic knowledge of mathematics, physics and chemistry is a prerequisite, as is computer literacy.   According to Dr. Prateek Sharma, Associate Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences at TERI University, if you possess a genuine interest in environmental issues, you can excel in this field.

What do they teach you?

Where can you study?

Where would you fit in?

A career as an environment engineer, or a professional in the field of water resource engineering and management, environmental scientist, solid waste management, air pollution management, water quality management, land conservation, eco-tourism, environment journalism and environmental law are some of the opportunities in this field. 

With Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives being taken up by most companies on a global platform, opportunities for an environment science professional are endless. 

You can also consider a career as a scientist - perhaps develop specific tools in your area of specialisation and become an expert in a field such as remote sensing.

There is also scope for work at an international level and also within the government sector. Plan ahead and work towards contributing to a desirable change in terms of the current climate change scenario and future needs.

For those who have developed essential skills,  work on areas bordering more on  mitigating environmental degradation naturally rather than using hard science would also be an exciting career  option. Some, however, would term that more suited to an ecologist rather than the environmental scientist. 

Marya Mannes, as early as 1958 had stated, “The earth we abuse and the living things we kill will, in the end, take their revenge; for in exploiting their presence we are diminishing our future”. This surely is something to remember and act upon for all who choose environmental science as their area of academic pursuit in particular, and for society at large.