Career Prospects

Career opportunities in this field are immense today, and the horizons are widening in India as well as abroad. The non-governmental organizations are growing both in numbers and in strength, particularly in the area of environmental awareness and protection. There is, therefore, great scope in these organizations. 

The growing concern with environmental protection has also made the manufacturing industry more conscious about ensuring that industrial waste and other industrial materials are not hazardous to the environment and about the need to appoint environmental specialists to handle this area. Universities and the Ministry of Environment, also offer opportunities to environmentalists.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Prospects for environmental scientists are very bright. With an increase in environmental awareness, the scope in this field is increasing tremendously. In fact, in many parliamentary democracies, such as Germany, the so-called `Green Parties' are important organizations for the
formulation of public opinion. 

Environmental science is a very wide-ranging subject, and therefore the scope for diversification in this field is also immense. The scope varies from teaching and research, engineering and journalism, to active social work. Job opportunities are available in the public as well as the private sector, apart from the government. At present there is greater scope abroad, although in India too, the opportunities are increasing rapidly. 

Environment protection is one of the fastest growing industries in India. Many business houses are going into environment protection services and the manufacture and sales of environment-friendly goods. The market for such products currently stands at $ 200 billion worldwide and it is expected to touch $ 300 billion by the year 2000. 

It is estimated that by the turn of the century, air pollution from large-scale industries would go up nine times, waste paper discharge four times and hazardous waste by 14 million tones a year, requiring the work of thousands of environmental specialists.

RELATED CAREERS

Forest management, biotechnology.