Environmental Scientist

Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Environmental Analyst; Environmental Health and Safety Specialist (EHS Specialist); Environmental Health Specialist; Environmental Programs Specialist; Environmental Protection Specialist; Environmental Scientist; Environmental Specialist; Hazardous Substances Scientist; Natural Resources Specialist; Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS)

Tasks

• Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
• Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
• Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
• Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
• Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
• Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
• Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
• Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.
• Prepare charts or graphs from data samples, providing summary information on the environmental relevance of the data.
• Research sources of pollution to determine their effects on the environment and to develop theories or methods of pollution abatement or control.
• Supervise or train students, environmental technologists, technicians, or other related staff.
• Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.

Knowledge

• English Language
• Biology
• Customer and Personal Service
• Law and Government
• Computers and Electronics
• Public Safety and Security
• Chemistry
• Administrative
• Mathematics
• Education and Training
• Administration and Management

Skills

• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Writing
• Speaking
• Science
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Monitoring
• Mathematics
• Learning Strategies

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Problem Sensitivity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Oral Expression
• Written Expression
• Inductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Flexibility of Closure
• Near Vision
• Fluency of Ideas
• Originality
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Far Vision
• Number Facility