Environmental Scientists & Specialists, Including Health

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.

On the job, you would:

• Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
• Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
• Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.

Education

• bachelor's degree
• high school diploma/GED

Arts and Humanities

• English language

Math and Science

• biology
• chemistry

Business

• customer service
• administrative services

Safety and Government

• law and government

Basic Skills

• listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
• reading work related information

Problem Solving

• noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

• changing what is done based on other people's actions
• teaching people how to do something

Investigative

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

• Integrity
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Cooperation
• Dependability
• Adaptability/Flexibility

Verbal

• listen and understand what people say
• read and understand what is written

Ideas and Logic

• notice when problems happen
• use rules to solve problems

Math

• choose the right type of math to solve a problem
• add, subtract, multiply, or divide