Career in Environmental Sciences

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TRAINING FACILITIES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE                

                Environment includes all the physical parts of the earth such as air, soil, minerals, rocks, water and all the organisms such as animals and plants living in it. Environmental  Science provides an understanding of the environment , the impact of human life on it, and ways and means to preserve the delicate balance between various parts of the environment in the process of human development .

Since exciting and fulfilling avenues are opening up in this field, you may plan a carees in various areas related to environment. The subject of study include Ecology,  Environmental  Planning, Pollution Biology etc.

Educational Facilities

A good number of college and institution offer diploma degree and post-graduate courses in environmental science. If you are interested in taking up a career in this field, the academic programmes listed in Appendix A, may be of interest to you.

Employment Opportunities

On completion of your education in the field of environmental sciences, you may get jobs in the areas of teaching  research  and  development, pollution control etc. Some of the possibilities have been discussed below:-

 Lecturers

                Those who have a post- Graduate degree in any field of Environmental Sciences and with a Doctoral work may take up the teaching profession as a lecturer  in the pay scale of  Rs. 2200-4000. They are supposed to take graduate  or post-graduate classes of environmental  related subjects such as air water quality management, environmental ecology, industrial waste treatment, environmental chemistry etc. They are also expected to guide students that are involved in environmental related research . Lecturers are also appointed in  Research Institutes that impart education in this field. Promotional avenues are open to the posts of Associate Professor/Reader in the grade of Rs.3700-4500 and subsequently to the post of Professor.

Ecologists

Ecologists study environmental influences such as temperature, rainfall, altitude, kind and quality of food etc. and their effects on plant or animal growth and development. They run experimental farms or laboratories under natural   and artificial conditions to watch effects of climatic conditions  on crops, plants and animals.

                The industries that deal with synthetic  dyes, pesticides, metals, minerals, plastic dust or plastics etc. employ environmentalists to comply  environmental control provisions in the plant. They are designated as Manager (Ecology), Environmental  Planner etc.

                One should be a graduate in Environmental   Eng. or a post graduate in Environmental Science for these posts.

Engineers

Engineers in this field develop and modify systems to keep the environment clean and safe for living. They plan, design renovate the  systems to control pollution. Those who have a degree or post- graduate degree in Environmental Engineering or Industrial  Engineering are eligible for the posts. They are appointed as Jr. Engineers or Engineer. Jobs are available in  Pollution Control Units. Environmental Engineering  Process Laboratories .Water and Sewage Treatment Plants Public Health  Engineering  Departments, Industries dealing with Environmental pollutants etc.

 Scientists
Scientists involved in toxicity testing and evaluation of industrial chemicals and products are supposed to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of pollution control systems. They are involved in applied research in order to develop new concepts relevant to the Environment  sector. They also promote research and development in the related areas such as Wild Life Science, Social Forestry etc. One should be a post-graduate with a doctoral  degree in the concerned field for being eligible for the posts of Scientists

 Research Officers/Project Officers/Consultants
Those who have academic excellence in the field of Environmental science may work as project  officer, research officers or as consultants. They are concerned with educating masses and making them  aware about natural environment. For the purpose they conduct training  programme for teachers and other concerned persons. They are also employed to look after a specified research project relating to environmental  issues. Highly qualified persons who work as consultants get very handsome salaries  which are negotiable. Jobs are available  in Research Institutes  and  Government Departments that deal with environmental  problems. The private organisations that are concerned  with these issues also employ these people.

Technicians/ Research  Assistants
Technicians help Engineers and Scientists in their day to day working. Lab Assistants, for example, look after the equipments/chemicals in the laboratory. They perform testing of chemicals etc. as directed by their supervisors. They are also  responsible for cleaning the apparatus. Research Assistants in this field collect, compile and analyse the   scientific data pertaining to multidisciplinary aspects of environmental protection. One should have a M aster’s degree in any branch of Environmental Sciences or Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering. Those who have experience get preference.
Since the subject of environmental  science is a multidisciplinary subject, jobs are available in several other fields also. These may be the jobs of Environmental planner in Housing  and Town Planning Sectors, Foresters in Forestry Sector etc.

Employment Outlook
Today, there is considerable concern all over the world for  preservation  of the environmental balance and eco-systems control of pollution, preservation and regeneration of forest areas, afforestation of dennded lands, soil conservation measures . This aspect has now been receiving significant attention in India and is expected to be attached considerable importance  in years to come. There is, therefore, scope for increased employment of personnel with qualification in environmental sciences both in the public as well as private sector. 

Facilities for Environmental Education in India

S.No.       Name of the Institution                    Courses offered                  Eligibility


1                             2                                                 3                                             4

ANDHRA PRADESH

  1. 1.      Department of Zoology, Kakatiya      M.Sc. in Zoology with specialisation             B.Sc.
    University. Warangal –506009.      Environmental  Biology Ph.D. 
    Environmental Biology/Ecology           M.Sc.Zoology

 2. Department of Botany, Nagarjuna      M.Sc/M.Phil/Ph.D. in Plant and                     B.Sc./M.Sc.
University, Nagarjunanagar-522510    Vegetation Ecology; Weed Biology  

 2.   Andhra University, Walatair, Andhra    Diploma /M.Sc.in Envir.                             MSc./B.E./B.Phar-
Pradesh.                                              Science                                                       macy/M.B.B.S.

 

4. Sri Venkateshwara University,            M.Tech-Environmental and Public
Tirupati, Andhar Pradesh                    Health Eng. M.Sc./M.Phil/Ph.D. in               _____
Environmental Chemistry

  BIHAR

1.  Indian School of Mines,                   Bachelor of Engg.( Envir. )                           B.Tech. in   relevant
Dhanbad Bhir                                 M.Tech. Environmental                                 subject/Graduate
Science &Engg.                                            Eng. Are also
eligible.     
DELHI

1. Indian Institute of Ecology and      Post-Graduate Diploma in Ecology ,                Bachelor’s Dgr. 
Environmental Saidulajab, Saket,   Maidan  and Environmental.
Grahi Road, New Delhi-110030

2. School of Environmental Science   M.Sc./M.Phil/P.D in Envi.                               ForM.Sc.-B.Sc  
Jawahar Lal Nehru University         Sciences.                                                      M.Phil-M.Sc.Ph.D
New Delhi-67.                                                                                                       M.B.B.S.

3. School of Planing and Agri. I.P.   Master’s Degree in Envir.                            B.Arch./B.E. Civil 
Estae, New  Delhi-110002          Planing                                                          M.A. (Admission
Is made through
Entrance Exam.)


4.    Department of Environmental                  B.Sc/M.Sc. Environmental                 B.Sc. Life Science
Biology Univ.of Delhi,South                      Biology                                               Environmental
Campus, Benito Juraez Rd.
New Delhi-110021 

5.   Center for Energy Studies, Indian         Degree in Non- Conventional                  ___
Institute of  Technology, N.Delhi.          Energy. 

            JAMMU AND KASHMIR 

1.   Faculty of Science, University of               M.Sc/Ph.D. in Terrestrial & Aquatic         For B.Sc-10+2
Kashmir, Hazrat Bal ,Srinagar-190006,     Ecology.                                                  (Science) For
Jammu & Kashmir                                                                                                       M.Sc- B.Sc
Forestry For
Ph.D- M.Sc.

            MANIPUR 

1.   Mainpur University,Chanchi.                  B.Sc. Environmental Sciences                      ____ 

           PUNJAB 

1.  Punjab University,Sector-14,                   Under Graduation Ecology                                 B.SC.B.A.                              
Chandigarh.                                                                                                                 B.Com.B.E.
M.Sc.Life/Sc/
Earth Science.
2.  Punjabi University ,Patiala,      Post-Graduation Ecological                                                 ____
Punjab                                      Genetics. 

3.     Environmental Engg.                              M.E. Civil Environmental                                 B.E. Degree
Centre, Thapar Inst.                                                                                                     In Agri. Eng.
Of Engg. & Technology                                                                                                 Chemical Eng.
Patiala Punjab.    

          RAJASTHAN 

1.  University of Jodhpur,                Post-Graduate in Environmental                                             ____
Jodhpur-342001                       Biology & Plant Ecology.  

  1. 3.      University of Rajasthan,
    Jaipur, Rajas than. 

 

MEGHALAYA

1.   North-Eastern Hill Univ. Lower               B.Sc. Environmental  Sciences                              B.Sc. 
Lach Aumuere. Shillong, Meghalaya 

           PONDICHERRY 

1.  Salim Ali School of Ecology,     M.Sc. M.Phil/Ph.D. in  Ecology                                                 B.Sc.
Pond cherry Central University                                                                                           B.Com. B.E
Kalapet Pondicherry-605014                                                                                           M.Sc.Life     
Sc./Earth
Science