9781422270622

CAREERS IN BEAUTY AND FASHION CAREERS IN BUSINESS CAREERS IN CONSTRUCTION CAREERS IN ENGINEERING CAREERS IN THE ENVIRONMENT CAREERS IN NURSING CAREERS IN SAFETY AND SECURITY CAREERS IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE WEB CAREERS IN SPORTS CAREERS IN THERAPY AND REHABILITATION

BY ANDREW MORKES

PO Box 221876, Hollywood, FL 33022 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) • www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2024 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-4751-8 Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4222-4753-2 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-7062-2 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress Developed and Produced by National Highlights, Inc. Project Manager: Andrew Morkes Cover and Interior Design: Tara Raymo • CreativelyTara Layout: Priceless Digital Media, LLC Publisher’s Note: Websites listed in this book were active at the time of publication. The publisher is not responsible for websites that have changed their address or discontinued operation since the date of publication. The publisher reviews and updates the websites each time the book is reprinted.

You may gain access to certain third-party content (“Third-Party Sites”) by scanning and using the QR Codes that appear in this publication (the “QR Codes”). We do not operate or control in any respect any information, products, or services on such Third-Party Sites linked to by us via the QR Codes included in this publication, and we assume no responsibility for any materials you may access using the QR Codes. Your use of the QR Codes may be subject to terms, limitations, or restrictions set forth in the applicable terms of use or otherwise established by the owners of the Third-Party Sites. Our linking to such Third-Party Sites via the QR Codes does not imply an endorsement or sponsorship of such Third-Party Sites or the information, products, or services offered on or through the Third-Party Sites, nor does it imply an endorsement or sponsorship of this publication by the owners of such Third-Party Sites.

CONTENTS

Introduction................................................................... 7 Chapter 1: Is an Environmental Career for You?................11 Chapter 2: Environmental Career Paths...........................17 Chapter 3: Charting Your Path in the Environment...........35 Chapter 4: Exploring Education and Careers in the Environment............................53 Chapter 5: Learning More about the Environment and Career Choices........................................77 Index............................................................................92 Photo Credits................................................................94 Educational Video Links.................................................95 Author’s Biography .......................................................96 Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text while building vocabulary skills. Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! Series Glossary of Key Terms: The Key Terms glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field.

An environmental technician collects a water sample.

6

Introduction

Students are often interested in learning more about careers, but many don’t take the steps necessary to do so, according to a survey of 14- to 18-year-olds by the nonprofit ECMC Group. It found that while 74 percent of respondents believe it is important to have their career plans determined when they graduate from high school, only 39 percent have taken classes or participated in programs to explore occupations. Many young people are not aware of the wide range of activities that are available to help them explore the field they’re considering, discover career paths, and learn what it takes to train and be successful in a given occupation. If you are a middle school or high school student, here are just a few of the exploration activities in which you can participate: • science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) competitions • school clubs • interviews and job-shadowing experiences with

environmental professionals • summer exploration camps • volunteer opportunities

• tours of nature centers, national parks, laboratories, and other places where environmental professionals do their work • books

• websites • podcasts • videos • mentorship programs

• resources from professional environmental associations, nature organizations, companies, and government agencies

7

Each title in the Getting Started series provides everything that you need to know about exploring careers while you’re in middle and high school. It also includes a wealth of information about more than 50 occupations, educational requirements, paying for school, and many other resources. If you’re looking for some great—and fun— ideas on how to learn more about a specific occupational field, you should check out this series. After exploring some of the suggested activities and learning more about environmental occupations, you may be inspired to become a wildlife biologist, environmental activist, environmental engineer, or enter one of dozens of other careers in this field. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s begin exploring education and careers in the environment.

8

Getting Started: Careers in the Environment

The effects of air pollution on human health are a major area of study for environmental scientists. 9 Introduction

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

apprenticeship: a formal training program that combines supervised practical experience and classroom instruction; the program is free to apprentices, who receive pay that increases as they obtain experience aspiring: planning to do something, such as going to college or pursuing a specific career ozone: a naturally occurring gas—in small, trace amounts—in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere) of Earth; ozone is created by chemical reactions between air pollutants from vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and other emissions soil erosion: a naturally occurring process in which topsoil is worn away by the natural physical forces of wind and water wind turbine: a mechanical device with more than 8,000 parts that captures the energy of the wind and converts it to electricity

10

1 Chapter

Is an Environmental Career for You?

What’s So Great about Environmental Careers?

If you are the type of person who wants to make the world a better place, then an environmental career should be in your future. Environmental professionals conduct scientific research, restore wildlife habitats, save endangered species, clean up oil spills, develop and build clean energy technologies, and brainstorm ideas to reduce the negative effects of global warming/climate change, ozone depletion, soil erosion , destruction of forests and other natural areas, and toxic chemicals released during industrial processes. And that’s just a few of the many duties performed by environmental professionals. There are environmental careers for people with high school diplomas all the way through doctorate degrees. You can even train for some positions via an apprenticeship or through the military. These training methods—unlike college—do not cost a cent, and you will earn a salary while you learn.

11

A wide range of work environments are available in the field. There are plenty of outdoor positions for those who want to spend most of their days working in nature. But there are also many jobs in laboratories, research facilities, business offices, and manufacturing plants. Some jobs involve a hybrid indoor/outdoor work environment. Earnings for many environmental professionals are higher than those paid to workers in other fields. For example, life, physical, and social science workers (e.g., conservation scientists, foresters, environmental scientists, hydrologists, zoologists, wildlife biologists) earn a median annual wage of $72,740, according to the US

A wind technician installs a rotor onto a research turbine at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s National Wind Technology Center.

12

Getting Started: Careers in the Environment

Department of Labor (DOL). This is higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $45,760. The vast range of environmental problems that exist today, and the continuing need to study and protect plants, animals, and entire ecosystems, suggests that there will always be a strong need for environmental professionals. Employment for environmental scientists and specialists is expected to increase by 5 percent from 2021 to 2031, according to the DOL. There is also a strong need for renewable energy professionals as the US and other countries seek to develop and expand wind, solar, and other clean energy technologies to reduce global warming and pollution. The career of wind turbine service technician is projected to be the second-fastest growing occupation in the United States from 2021 to 2031, with employment increasing by 44 percent during this time span. Employment for solar power installers is expected to increase by 27 percent, making it the 18th-fastest growing occupation in the country. With hundreds of different careers available, these numbers are very impressive. What Type of People Are Interested in Environmental Careers? People with many different interests can find environmental careers that suit them. But if you’re unsure about your interest in the field, answer the following statements to determine if an environmental career is the best fit for you: • My favorite classes are environmental science, Earth science, and biology. • I also enjoy chemistry and mathematics classes. • I like to conduct research and gather data. • I enjoy doing science experiments.

13

Is an Environmental Career for You?

• I love being outdoors. • I don’t mind getting dirty on the job.

• I care about protecting the environment. • I want to make the world a better place. • I want to educate and inspire people to protect the environment. • I am interested in renewable energy.

If you enjoy conducting experiments in chemistry class, there are a variety of environmental careers for you.

14

Getting Started: Careers in the Environment

If many of the statements above describe you, then you should consider a career in the field. But don’t be deterred if you didn’t check most of the boxes. So many additional environmental occupations exist—such as nature photographer and environmental lawyer—that you are likely to find a great career that will match your skills and interests. In fact, this book provides information on more than 50 environmental careers. What’s Inside This Book In this book, you’ll receive answers to these and other questions: • What are some great careers in the field? • What are some key environmental terms that I should know? • What are some easy and more challenging ways to explore education and occupations in the field? • What advice do high school and college teachers have for aspiring environmental professionals? • What are some important professional associations in the field, and what types of resources do they provide to students, and to those just starting out in their career searches? • What environment-related books and websites should I check out? • How do I train for an environmental career? • How do I pay for my education, and are free training options available? • How do I land my first job in the field? • Does a career in the environment sound like a good fit for my interests and abilities? If so, read on to learn everything you need to know about exploring and preparing for the field.

15

Is an Environmental Career for You?

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND

data analytics: the process of studying information so conclusions can be made about different parts environmental policy: a plan made by government agencies, businesses, or other public or private organizations that pertains to human effects on the environment; specifically, one that is developed to reduce or prevent harm to the environment estuaries: areas where a body of freshwater (such as a stream or a river) meets an ocean land trust: an entity that, by law, permanently oversees and limits the use of a parcel of land to protect it from development or other unwanted use legislation: the preparation and passage of laws remediation: the process of cleaning up or using other strategies to remove or contain a toxic spill or hazardous materials Superfund: Superfund is the common name given to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, which put aside money to clean up some of the most contaminated land in the US, and respond to environmental emergencies, oil spills, and natural disasters

16