Be passionate about the environment to become an environmentalist.
In view of rising pollution across the world, the need for experts in this field has become a necessity. There is a shortage of skilled workforce needed by different industries in the field of environment.
The sector has a plethora of job opportunities such as environmental scientists, environmental biologists, environmental engineer, environmental modelers, environmental journalist, environmental consultants environmental manager, lecturer, wildlife film-maker, environmental photographer, conservation hydrologist and director of waste management, etc to offer to those opting for any course in Environmental Science.
“Skilled and semi-skilled person in this field can be employed in the pollution control board, water authority and urban planning, food processing industries, refineries, distilleries, fertilizer plants and many more. The higher studies are also an important field to go in research and teaching,” says Rajesh Kumar Ranjan, assistant professor, Department of Environmental Science, Central University of South Bihar, Gaya.
“Owing to a growing focus on eco-friendly practices in industries and sustainable development the demand for experts in environmental science should grow provided there is right kind of political intervention by the successive governments,” says Alok Kumar, assistant professor, Department of Environmental Sciences School of Earth Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan.
Contrary to Ranjan, Kumar and JNU professor Amit Kumar Mishra says that job opportunities for the environmentalist in India are still limited as compared to western countries. Mishra also emphasizes that one needs to be passionate about the environment before stepping into this field.
“Demand for environmentalists is high in India but more people are recruited in foreign countries. Many consultancies are operational in this field to offer their services,” Mishra adds while talking to Education Times.
“The technological advancement and globalization have also played a vital role in making people aware of different environmental issues and subsequent increase in demand for Environmental Science programmes in India,” Mishra concludes.
“Apart from jobs, the sector has plenty of research opportunities in India as well as abroad. In the private sector there are opportunities available in the environmental consultancy,” adds Alok Kumar. The average salary offered may range anywhere from Rs3 -8lakh per annum depending on the expertise and skills in this field. The minimum fellowship for research being offered by the government is currently Rs31000 monthly.
Certificate, diploma, bachelors, master’s and PhD are major categories of courses offered by various universities such as Delhi University, JNU, AMU Aligarh, NEERI Nagpur, FRI Dehradun, ISM Dhanbad, BHU Varanasi, various Central Universities, Amity University, JSS University Mysore, Vikram University, Ujjain, Patna University, Magadh University, Bodhgaya , and other educational institutions across the country.
(Source – Times Of India)
