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Strong employment prospects. There are shortages of science workers in the United States, Canada, and throughout the rest of the world. The DOL predicts that employment of computer and information technology professionals in the United States will grow by 13 percent during the next decade, which is much faster than the average for all careers. Career opportunities for those in life, physical, and social science occupations will grow by 8 percent (as fast as the average), although many specialties will experience growth that is faster than the average. The outlook is also good for engineering professionals. Employ ment is expected to grow by 6 percent during the next decade. The strongest opportunities will be found in the rebuilding of infrastructure, oil and gas extraction, renewable energy, and robotics. By 2030, the DOL predicts that there will be nearly one million new jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Rewarding work environment and many career options. A career in science is fulfilling, because you get to use both your creative and practical sides to develop new technologies (or improve existing ones), solve problems, and make the world a better place. In the case of environmental science, you get to collect and analyze information to protect our natural world and humans. Many careers in environmental science involve fieldwork to collect data and otherwise observe environmental conditions, but you’ll also work in laboratories, research facilities, and even manufacturing plants. Some science professionals launch their own businesses, which can be both fun and very rewarding. Others choose to become teachers or write books and blog posts about environmental science topics. Job opportunities are available throughout the United States and the world. Science professionals play such an important role in our modern world that there are job openings almost anywhere, although many positions are found in large, metropolitan areas.

8 Cool Careers in Science: Environmental Scientists