Without equivocation the best things I learned in the environmental science concentration were how to conduct independent research and how to present those ideas effectively to my peers. The seminar for environmental science concentrators was intellectually stimulating and relaxed.In addition, I can't stress enough how important computer skills are. Environmental management will increasingly depend on the interpretation of remotely sensed and GIS data, so even if you can't manipulate the data yourself, the ability to critiques someone elses' analysis will be crucial. Learn ESRI's
Arcview and ERDAS's Imagine. HTML is also a valuable skill, even if only to put your CV on the web.After leaving Bryn Mawr last May, I got a NASA space grant to assess land cover change in the Pugnet Sound Watershed. That led to a position at the World
Resources Institute researching environmental trends and indicators in the rapidly growing nations of South East Asia. My current goal is to help create a comprehensive model of biogeochemistry and hydrology in the major watersheds
of SE Asia. I hope to participate next in WRI's global water scarcity assessment through modeling and scenario building... watersheds are the new common currency of environmentalists, modelers, and policy-makers.Some very cool things I've come across in the last year:
1) QUEST, an interactive environmental scenario builder ith a demo on the web.
It was created as the masters thesis of a University of British Columbia student for the Lower Frasier River Basin. He's now creating similar scenario builders for watersheds around the world.
www.envisiontools.com2) PRISM, for Pugnet Sound Regional Synthesis Model, is the most massive
environmental modeling attempt I've ever seen. It has interacting models for weather, runoff, mixing, nutrient transport, fisheries, forestry and the human economy as a driving force. They're also developing very cool virtual reality exercises and fly-by scenes.
www.prism.washington.edu3) The Scorecard from the Environmental Defense Fund is an interactive map server covering the entire United States. It has detailed information about pollutants in your hometown, and you can even find out what company is doing the polluting and write to their CEO.
www.scorecard.org
I did not complete the Environmental Concentration. Between writing a thesis for biology and anthropology I did not have time to take the envisci senior
seminar.I've spent my time since graduation teaching environmental education during a
summer camp and throughout the fall to school groups through a local nature
center.If there are any undergrads with questions about environmental education I
would be happy to talk with them!I was an Anthropology major with an Evironmental Science concentration at Bryn Mawr. I am currently working as a Program Manager in San Fransisco for a non-profit organization called GreenInfo network (www.greeninfo.org).
GreenInfo network makes GIS, or Geographic Information systems
(computer-based mapping) available to non-profits that couldn't otherwise afford it. Non-profits use GIS to identify geographic relationships, such as locations of critical ecosystems in relation to logging operation sites. I also help manage a
national granting program (www.ctsp.org) that makes GIS technical and training
grants to conservation groups so they can use stronger science in their advocacy efforts.Last year, I worked as an intern for 9 months in a Spanish-speaking village in
northern New Mexico, doing economic development through sustainable forestry
projects. This shows the great variety of career options open to recent graduates
with environmental science training. The market looks very good, particularly for those who can combine strong technical skills with good writing, speaking
and organizational skills.In my job I write grant proposals, organize and analyze data, provide phone and
email support to grantees, edit web pages, run meetings, do market research and
marketing, and work with various types of specialist to do interdisciplinary
projects. I need very strong writing skills, good phone/public speaking skills, the ability to learn new software quickly and manage considerable amounts of data,
and the patience to work with many different kinds of people. I also need to be
able to see how a project will develop from the planning stages to implementation
and review.My advice to undergrads is to get some work experience in the environmental field before going on to grad school--the market is great now, and you'll need
hands-on experience to know what a career is really like, versus what it seems
like on paper. Don't be afraid of computers! --learn as much about computers
and software as you can--you'll be glad of it whether you end up in advocacy,
business research or education. And learn to write clearly and concisely in plain
language.
Websites:
www.idealist.org
is a great website for those interested in non-profit environmental jobswww.opportunitynocs.org
is also very good, particularly if you are looking in the Bay Area
Take your time and look for a job you think you'll really like, but be prepared for
grunt work. Do it well and keep asking for more responsibility after you've
shown what you can do. Only stay in a job as long as you're still learning new
things, but while you're in it learn all that you can.
