Industrial Ecologists

I. JOB SUMMARY

Main Topic: Environment and Society
Secondary Topic: Physical Geography

Overview: Industrial ecologist are a type of environmental specialists that study the flow of materials and how it impacts the environment. In general, environmental specialists use their knowledge to protect the environment and human health through collecting environmental data, analyzing samples, develop plans fix environmental problems, give guidance about environmental hazards or health risks, and prepare reports on their analysis. Industrial ecologists work with industries to limit their environmental impact through increasing the efficiency of productions and operations. Along with the environmental impacts, they determine the costs and benefits of adjustments to production processes. Geographers are suited to this job because they understand natural systems and processes that can be applied to the industry. These specialists will tend to work for industries or as consultants. Due to increasing interest in the environment this field will continue to grow in the future.

Geographers at work: Environmental geographers, Physical geographers, Health geographers

Recommended College Courses: Introduction to Physical Geography, Environmental Management, Introduction in Environmental Geography, Natural Resource Use and Management, Water Resources, Air Quality Management, Climatology, Urban Geography, Environmental Hazards, Water Policy, Maps and Mapmaking, Cultural and Political Ecology

Skills: Environmental Mapping and modeling, GIS and remote sensing, Geospatial technology, Field methods, Communication

Occupation Group: Life, Physical, and Social Science

Learn more about Industrial Ecologists from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/environmental-scientists-and-specialists.htm#tab-2