Environmental scientist

JOB

Environmental scientist

Among other things, environmental scientists work on research to identify, reduce or stop the source of pollution or other hazards in the environment. An environmental scientist works with scientific information, often from different scientific disciplines, using it to create proposals for environmental action.

An environmental scientist can work independently, for private companies or in the public sector. As an environmental scientist, you could, for example, work for the Environment Agency, the Planning Agency, municipalities, science and research institutes or consulting companies.

Main tasks

• reviewing and implementing environmental rules, policies and standards
• analyzing and explaining data, for example on exhaust, water and air pollution
• providing information to the public and public institutions
• advice on policy making and implementation
• environmental monitoring and investigations into environmental offenses
• research to assess the environmental impact of projects

Competence requirements

An environmental scientist must have extensive knowledge of the environment and nature as well as an interest in environmental and nature protection. Good knowledge of science subjects is necessary as well as organizational skills and the ability to manage and be responsible for projects. In environmental science, there is also an ever-increasing emphasis on the collaboration of different disciplines, where knowledge of economics and sociology, for example, is intertwined with more traditional natural and environmental sciences.

Study

Studies in natural and environmental sciences at the Agricultural University take three years and end with a BS degree. Furthermore, a master’s degree program in environmental and resource science is available at the University of Iceland.