Environment has been the greatest source of life for the living beings on earth. Be it food, shelter, clothes, water, sunlight, air, or any other substance for supporting life, everything is provided to us by the environment. The rapid growth in urbanization and industrialization, however, has badly disturbed and destroyed the balance of our environment, s a result of which there has been unsustainable growth and development. Though temporarily, this growth may seem beneficial to us but in the long run, this will prove dangerous. Owing to this, there has now been greater realization and effort to protect and conserve the environment and its precious substances or components.
At this juncture, there is a huge responsibility on the part of the environmentalist or the environmental scientists to propose several environmental friendly processes of development. Rising consciousness can be witnessed at all levels, international, national, state and local level to carry on the development process and yet without harming the environment in any way; but if at all that is possible or not, is a question the answer to which lies only with the environmentalist. In order to protect our environment, research institutes re in the constant process of developing eco-friendly methods or technologies. MNCs are adopting environment friendly methods in their works. Hence wide and varied areas of opportunities have been created in the field of environmental studies. So Check out for a Career in Environmental Science!
The process of cleaning air, noise abatement, water protection, pollution control, waste management etc calls for new services and goods and services that has helped in creating numerous jobs. A career in Environmental Science promises wonderful employment opportunities, for the environmental scientists, environmental engineers, environmental modelers, environmental biologists, environmental journalists and many more.
Environmental science is basically the study of conservation of energy, biodiversity, climatic change, ground water and soil contamination and also the many technologies developed for treating air pollution, water pollution, sound pollution, industrial pollution, vehicles pollution and plastic menace. Lately Environmental science has emerged as a sought after career since people all over the globe have become more aware about keeping the environment clean and protected.
22nd April is observed as the Earth Day, every year. Innumerable people gather on this day for cleaning the litter, protesting against the dangers to the environment and celebrating the progress in case of reducing pollution.
The question that however remains is this sufficient to preserve and protect the environment that took almost over 2.4 billion years to get t its present shape?
The issue involving the protection and conservation of our environment spans to a great extent. There is the need for a specialized discipline like the Environmental Science, Ecological Sciences, Environmental Technology and many more. The 1 way to address the environmental problems is by way of environmental education. Environmental education first saw its mention at Stockholm Conference on Environmental Education, held in the year 1977, in Tbillisi, Georgia Republic. Here several guiding principles were laid down for the adoption of programs in environment education, in many countries that included India as well.
From 1980 onwards, many environment related programs were started in the Indian Universities and at many places; separate departments were also established for the study of environmental science.
Personal Attributes
Since the Environmental Science programs are multi – disciplinary and holistic in nature, they need an in-depth knowledge on the subject
One must possess a strong inclination and desire to build a career in environmental science. One should also have an interest for issues related to public health and the environment
Aspirants willing to make a career in Environmental Science should be self – starters and must also have the capability to work in a team or lead a team
Courses and Eligibility
Several institutes and colleges in India, these days offer both Undergraduate and Post-graduate programs in Environmental Science. One can go for B.Sc or a B. E degree in Environmental Science. The minimum qualification required for this is the candidate must have passed his 12th standard with Science subjects. The course duration is of three years. You can also pursue postgraduate courses in Environmental Science such as M.Sc in Environmental Science. The duration of this course is two years and the minimum eligibility criterion in this regard is a B.Sc degree in Environmental Science or any other science subject. Some institutes also offer a 2 year M.Tech program in Environmental Science, for which B.Tech or B.E candidates are only eligible. Apart from these, short term Postgraduate Diploma programs are also there in Environmental Science and Environment Management. Doctoral or post-doctoral programs such as M.Phil and PhD in Environmental Science can also be undertaken by students.
Career Prospects
Environmental Science as a career offers immense job opportunities. The word ‘Environmental Science’ incorporates within several activities for the protection of the environment. This in turn creates immense job opportunities for the environmental scientists, environmental biologists, environmental modelers, environmental engineers and environmental journalists. There is the need for them in
- Industries , distilleries, fertilizer plants, mines, refineries, textile mills etc
- Social Development
- Research and Development
- Forest and Wildlife Management
- NGOs
- Pollution Control Boards
- Urban planning
- Water resources and Agriculture
- Public institutions and Private industries and firms
- Colleges and universities
Environmental Science Institutes in India
- Jamia Hamdard University, Kamdard Nagar, Delhi
- Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi
- Department of Environmental Biology Delhi University, Delhi
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Kashmere Gate, Delhi
- Jawahral Nehru University (JNU), School of Environmental Sciences, New Delhi
- Aligarh Muslim University, Zafarabad Road, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Purvanchal University, Zafarabad Road, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh
- University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi
- GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttar Pradesh
- Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Merrut
- Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Hardwar, Uttar Pradesh
- Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
- Awadh University, Faizabad-224001, Uttar Pradesh
- Guru jambheshwar University, Hisar, Haryana
- University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir
- Babasaheb B R Ambedkar University, Lucknow-226016, Uttar Pradesh
- B R Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad-431004, Maharashtra
- Anna University, Guindy, Chennai-600025, Rajastahan
- University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajastahan
- Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Tamil Nadu GD Agricultural University, Coimbatore
- Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi
