What ecologists? Advantages and disadvantages of the ecologist profession
Key items: Mathematics, Russian language, Biology, Chemistry.
Tuition cost (average in Russia): 478,700 rubles
Job description:
*The cost is indicated for 4 years of full-time undergraduate studies
Ecologist (environmental engineer) - a specialist involved in analyzing the situation and developing measures to reduce existing and possible harm to nature. An ecologist identifies the causes of natural disasters and develops ways to reduce the impact of human factors on the environment.
In the future, problems of environmental conservation will occupy an increasingly important place. Due to the increasing emission of harmful elements into the atmosphere, environmental problems are being placed at one of the top places. The demand for professional ecologists will increase, but the requirements for them will also increase. The profession of an ecologist will become one of the most popular and important.
Ecologists are trying to understand and explain, for example, why lakes dry up or their inhabitants die. They study the state of the earth, water, air, as well as the degree of impact of industrial production on people, plants, and animals. Ecologists identify the degree of pollution, analyze the causes and make a forecast of the situation in the future. Environmental specialists study the consequences of certain events affecting the environment (for example, rocket launches), monitor the proper disposal of various wastes, and monitor hazardous industries.
Environmental engineers are faced with the development and approval by government environmental authorities of documents that justify the environmental safety of various projects and industrial production. Specialists in laboratories conduct research on the content of specific and basic pollutants in the air of cities.
At the moment, qualified ecologists are needed to conduct examinations when starting the construction of any residential buildings, factories, or transport road facilities. Without a positive conclusion, none of the construction projects will begin. Moreover, each enterprise must conduct its activities under the close supervision of environmental engineers.
Studying the fundamentals of environmental management is especially important in connection with Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The World Trade Organization (WTO) plans to adopt and implement international ISO standards in countries that have joined the WTO, providing a unified global system of requirements for quality management of services and goods. One of the most important world standards is ISO 14000. The subject of this standard is an environmental management system (EMS), the use of which makes it possible to effectively combine the economic growth of a company's income with the preservation of a favorable environment. Knowledge of ISO series standards and their implementation in organizations are mandatory requirements for future ecologists.
Required professional skills and knowledge
- be able to fluently understand environmental legislation, standards and regulations
- knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology, processes occurring in the environment
- have an idea of the procedure for conducting environmental impact assessments
- know environmental monitoring methods
- have computer modeling skills
- understand foreign and domestic experience in the field of environmental protection
- be able to draw up the necessary reporting and documentation on environmental protection
- knowledge of a foreign language (for the possibility of business trips or work abroad)
Personal qualities
- diplomacy, flexibility, civic courage (to challenge the actions of officials, authorities, government agencies)
- internal discipline
- stress resistance
- scrupulousness, responsibility, accuracy
- accuracy (no mistakes allowed)
- Analytical mind
- passion for living nature, ability for scientific creativity
- skill to work in team
- independence
- decency
- performance
Pros of the profession
- obtaining moral satisfaction from the work done, in connection with receiving a salary through improving the environment
- qualified ecologists are popular among employers and this demand will grow
- University graduates already have some work experience due to undergoing the necessary internships in production, which helps them acquire useful contacts and recommendations (this will simplify and accelerate career growth)
- An environmental engineer who has received the necessary qualifications can count on a fairly lucrative job in the petrochemical, construction or energy industries.
- the profession of ecologist is international, which makes it possible to work abroad (this profession is in greater demand abroad than in Russia)
- The work of an ecologist is quite interesting and involves business trips
Cons of the profession
- low salaries for environmentalists
- ability to work in extreme conditions
- health hazard due to the need to work with hazardous substances
Place of work and career growth
Ecology graduates can begin their careers in government agencies (for example, Rostekhnadzor, Rosprirodnadzor, Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Monitoring, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources, etc.). In environmental organizations, large enterprises, and municipal structures, there is an ecologist staff position.
A young specialist usually starts his career as a technical assistant. Later he can become a coordinator and take on a certain direction. The next stage of career development could be supervising several coordinators.
In commercial organizations, environmental specialists have higher salaries, but the experience and qualifications of an environmental engineer are of great importance when determining salaries.
The highest demand for an environmental specialist is in industrial enterprises. However, you can also get a job in a design organization that provides services to all kinds of factories and construction companies.
Main places of work of ecologists:
- Research laboratories
- Ecological structures at the enterprise
- Government structures, control and supervision bodies
- Environmental organizations
- Construction companies
- Plants and factories
Education
Currently, a large number of universities graduate environmental specialists. During training, the student chooses the most interesting basic discipline (for example, physics, chemistry, biology, soil science). Most ecologists have a technical or natural science background.
Employers require knowledge of the legislative framework, environmental management, environmental auditing and environmental certification from future ecologists.
To fully master the profession of ecologist, a higher education is required. Training in specialized courses is not enough. Also, to get a profitable job, it is desirable to have the opportunity to study within the framework of international programs.
To be able to freely understand environmental legislation, standards and regulations; to have knowledge of physics, chemistry, biology, and processes occurring in the environment; to have an idea of the procedure for conducting environmental assessment; to know methods of environmental monitoring; to have computer modeling skills; to understand foreign and domestic experience in the field of environmental protection; to be able to compose necessary reporting and documentation on environmental protection; knowledge of a foreign language (for the possibility of business trips or work abroad)
The Russian language explanatory dictionary defines the word “ecology” as “the science of the relationships of plant and animal organisms to each other and to their environment.” However, in the modern world the word “ecology” has begun to take on a new character. Since technological progress has appeared in our lives, ecology has turned rather into a science that studies the interaction of living and inanimate nature.
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What else do ecologists study?
Representatives of this specialty study the world around us as a single system. Their scientific interests include a variety of things. Here's just a small list:
- food chains,
- animal populations,
- air pollution,
- human extermination of plants and animals,
- irrational use of mineral resources.
Where do ecologists work?
Environmentalists can often be found at large industrial enterprises, environmental protection and construction organizations. There, representatives of the specialty are involved in developing environmental policy, interacting with environmental agencies, and organizing work at the enterprise in emergency situations. In addition, environmentalists take an active part in eliminating problems and the consequences of industrial accidents.
Where to study to become an ecologist?
In Moscow, ecologists are trained in many specialized and non-core universities. If this profession interests you, study the information on the website of the faculty that interests you. Review the curriculum, topics of students’ work, and, if possible, groups on social networks. Among the universities that are worth paying attention to, we have identified 3.
Moscow State University
The Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University trains future specialists within the framework of the bachelor’s program “Ecology and Environmental Management”. To enter, you need to pass 4 Unified State Examinations (biology, geography, mathematics, Russian) and an additional entrance test in biology. In 2017, to gain admission you had to score 237 points in all exams. The cost of training at the contract department was 310,500 rubles per year.
RUDN University
The Faculty of Ecology at Peoples' Friendship University also offers future ecologists training in the specialty “Ecology and Environmental Management”. To get admitted, you need to pass only 3 exams. This is the Unified State Examination in geography, mathematics and Russian language. To study on a budget in 2017, you had to score 166 points for all tests. The cost of paid training was 217,500 rubles per year.
Russian State University of Oil and Gas named after I.M. Gubkin
You can become an ecologist at the Russian State University. Gubkina. To do this, you need to pass subjects similar to RUDN (geography, mathematics, Russian language). But you need a little more points, 202. The cost of training on a contract basis last year was 185,800 rubles.
MGIMO
Yes, at the Institute of International Relations you can become not only a diplomat or translator. The Faculty of Applied Economics and Commerce trains bachelors in the specialty “Ecology and Environmental Management”. For admission you will also need the Unified State Exam in Geography and Russian, but they also require not mathematics, but a foreign language (MGIMO, really). To enroll on a budget, you need to bring at least 290 points. And to study in a paid department, you need to prepare (yourself or your parents) for expenses of 500,000 rubles annually for 4 years.
Sebila Temurkaeva
An ecologist (or environmental engineer) is engaged in identifying, studying and minimizing natural and human factors that negatively affect the environment. He examines any negative phenomena in nature, establishes their cause and methods of preventing them. Also, no construction begins without an environmental assessment and its positive result.
Considering the state of the atmosphere and nature in the modern world, the importance of the ecologist profession is growing every year, as are the demands placed on the knowledge and experience of these specialists.
Places of work
The position of ecologist is in demand in environmental and construction organizations, in the field of healthcare, municipal structures and large manufacturing enterprises.
Responsibilities of an ecologist
The main job responsibilities of this specialist will help you better understand who an ecologist is:
- Development of an enterprise’s environmental policy and monitoring its compliance.
- Drawing up environmental documentation necessary to support the activities of the enterprise.
- Interaction with environmental structures, including during inspections.
- Interaction with organizations that issue initial permits and coordinate project documentation.
- Organization of work at the enterprise in emergency situations or in the event of an industrial accident.
- Consulting company employees on environmental issues.
Requirements for an ecologist
Main requirements for an ecologist:
- Higher education.
- Knowledge of environmental legislation.
- Experience in conducting environmental assessments.
- Knowledge of environmental monitoring methods.
- Experience working with organizations that issue initial permits and coordinate project documentation.
- Knowledge of PC and computer environmental programs.
Also, given the possibility of business trips and exchange of experience with colleagues from other countries, an environmental engineer may need knowledge of written and spoken English to work.
Ecologist resume sample
How to become an ecologist
A person with higher education in areas such as agronomy, agrochemistry, biology, geology, ecology and environmental management can become an ecologist. In addition, you need to obtain postgraduate professional education, which includes graduate school, doctoral studies and internship.
Risks of the profession
An ecologist periodically has to work with harmful substances that negatively affect his well-being and the body as a whole. In addition, it is possible to work in extreme conditions that undermine the performance and health of a specialist.
Ecologist salary
The salary of an ecologist varies from 25 to 80 thousand rubles per month. If there are foreign business trips, the salary of this specialist may be higher than the specified amount. Project bonuses are also possible. The average salary of an ecologist is 50 thousand rubles per month.
Environmental problems are becoming more serious. Currently, no large enterprise can operate without an environmental protection specialist on staff.
Environmental problems also concern ordinary citizens, which makes the work of a visiting ecologist in demand. More and more people want to connect their profession with ecology. Where can you get the necessary knowledge to become an ecologist?
Where to study to become an ecologist or the main universities for future ecologists
To become an ecologist, it is not enough to complete certain courses: you need to obtain a higher education. The main universities that specialize in ecology include the State University of Land Management and Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov.
In addition, the Russian Chemical-Technological University named after D.I. will be suitable for future ecologists. Mendeleev, as well as the Higher College of Environmental Management.
These educational institutions offer full-time education. If a future student does not have the opportunity to constantly attend classes or pay large amounts of tuition, he can choose a university that has a correspondence department, for example, the International Independent Ecological and Political Science University.
How long does it take to study to become an ecologist?
When entering the Faculty of Ecology, those wishing to study must pass several exams. Basically, these include biology, mathematics and the Russian language. Geography may also be required. The university admission process may be easier if the applicant has good Unified State Examination results. An additional bonus upon admission may be victories in Olympiads. Sometimes universities themselves hold competitions to select students.
The duration of study is four years according to the type of education - bachelor's degree. The student must choose a discipline that he will study in depth. This could be soil science, physics, chemistry or biology. In addition, the faculty may have various directions, for example, “Forestry” or “Aquatic biological resources”.
How much does it cost to study to become an ecologist?
The cost of training to become an ecologist changes every year. In addition, the price depends on the specific educational institution and the city. For example, at ChelSU (Chelyabinsk) this amount is 70 thousand rubles.
In addition, already established specialists can take additional courses to improve their skills. Times are changing, new technologies for environmental research are emerging, and legislation in the field of environmental protection is changing every now and then. The cost of environmental safety courses can be 13 thousand rubles.
Where do ecologists work?
Representatives of this profession have a very wide scope of activity.
- They can work in enterprises where environmental monitoring is required.
- A good option would be employment in a government organization that carries out environmental control. For example, you can go to Rosprirodnadzor, Rostechnadzor, Ministry of Agriculture.
- Many ecologists work in laboratories that accept orders to study the composition of air, water, etc.
- As a rule, ecologists who began their careers in such an organization gain the necessary knowledge and experience within several years, and subsequently can open their own laboratory.
- In addition, ecologists can be useful in construction organizations.
Is it worth studying to become an ecologist?
Those who want to become an ecologist need to carefully consider all aspects of the profession and weigh the pros and cons.
Firstly, many students are attracted by the apparent simplicity of ecology, because at school this discipline is taught at a simple, accessible, understandable level. A graduate must understand that at work he will have to perform much more complex tasks than while studying at school.
In addition, the work of an ecologist involves harmful and sometimes dangerous substances in production, which can cause serious respiratory diseases, and some harmful emissions can be carcinogenic.
You should also pay attention to the salary: yes, there are vacancies that promise from 40 to 70 thousand rubles, but most likely, a novice ecologist will have to be content with a more modest position with a salary of 18 or 25 thousand rubles. By the way, most vacancies require at least one year of experience, so you will most likely have to start with more modest salaries.
Due to the low level of public awareness, not many people know why the world needs ecologists and what exactly they do. And this despite the fact that, according to experts, in the near future this profession will become one of the most in demand. We invite you to fill the knowledge gap and become more familiar with the specifics of the work of specialists responsible for nature conservation.
Development of heavy industry, testing of nuclear missiles, urbanization and human indifference to all living things around... As a result, climate changes occurring in the world due to the release of gases into the atmosphere and water pollution with toxic waste threaten the future of all humanity.
To avoid the disappearance of humanity from the face of the Earth, the world community is increasingly beginning to pay attention to the problems of environmental pollution, and state governments are trying to develop methods to prevent natural disasters and slow down global warming. In this regard, the relevance of the ecologist profession is increasing. After all, if anyone can find ways to solve the problem of environmental pollution, it will be these specialists.
Due to the low level of public awareness, not many people know why the world needs ecologists and what exactly they do. And this despite the fact that, according to experts, in the near future this profession will become one of the most in demand. We invite you to fill the knowledge gap and become more familiar with the specifics of the work of specialists responsible for nature conservation.
Who is an ecologist?
A specialist whose activities are aimed at analyzing the state of flora and fauna, as well as finding ways to reduce the negative impact of human activities on the environment.
The name of the profession comes from the ancient Greek οἶκος (dwelling, house) and λόγος (concept, teaching, science), which can be literally translated as “the science of the house.” That is, ecologists study our common home (the planet) in order to understand all the complex relationships in nature.
The profession of ecologist is quite young (although the first mentions ecology, how science can be attributed to ancient Greek treatises). Its origin dates back to the second half of the 20th century. During this period, society began to realize the importance of protecting the environment, which is daily exposed to pollution from industrial production and the release of gases into the atmosphere.
Today, specialists in this field provide an expert assessment of areas allocated for the construction of factories, residential buildings and roads, and only after receiving a positive expert opinion can a construction company begin work. In addition, most production facilities employ a qualified ecologist who closely monitors compliance with environmental norms and standards.
Their responsibilities include:
- analysis of the level of pollution of the entrusted area;
- making forecasts about the future environmental situation in the region;
- control over toxic waste disposal;
- monitoring the activities of hazardous industrial production;
- study of nuclear and missile testing zones.
Mostly novice specialists nature conservation can count on the position of technical assistant, and later, after acquiring practical skills, they become coordinators. In this role, they choose a specific area of activity for themselves, that is, a narrower specialization. Among them are:
- specialists in the field of general ecology who study biological systems;
- specialists in applied ecology, whose activity is to identify human influence on the environmental situation and search for methods to reduce harm;
- geoecologists study the organisms inhabiting the planet and its geosphere;
- Environmental engineers develop and coordinate documentation on the environmental safety of a number of industrial enterprises and projects, and study the level of contamination of soil, air and water.
Experience and qualifications are the determining factors in the employment of an ecologist. Every employer who hires a specialist wants to see in him a person who:
- has relevant knowledge of regulations, standards and legislation in the field of ecology;
- has the skills to conduct an examination;
- understands environmental monitoring methods;
- has the necessary knowledge of chemistry, biology and physics;
- familiarized with domestic and international experience in the field environmental protection.
What personal qualities should an ecologist have?
Among the main qualities of an ecologist, love for nature is highlighted, since, as practice shows, it is this that allows them to achieve success in the profession. However, no less significant character traits are their:
- diplomacy,
- stress resistance,
- courage and flexibility in communication (due to the need to interact with government bodies and officials).
Environmental protection requires a high level of responsibility. Working with flora and fauna, the ecologist must be aware that the life of living organisms depends on his actions, so he must be very careful and responsible in order to eliminate the possibility of mistakes.
The profession is a rather complex activity and without internal self-organization and hard work, a specialist will not be able to fulfill his duties to the fullest.
In addition to key qualities, he will definitely need:
- independence;
- Analytical mind;
- decency;
- team spirit;
- developed sense of justice;
- scrupulousness.
Advantages of being an ecologist
Many ecologists view their activities not as a way to earn money, but as a way of self-realization and moral satisfaction. Constant relationship with nature allows them to feel their importance and pleasure from constant communication with the object of their affection.
In addition, very often they go on business trips to different regions of the country and abroad, which gives them the opportunity to expand their horizons, and for some travel lovers this is one of the most important advantages.
From a practical point of view, there are great career prospects for professional ecologists in the future. First of all, this is due to the fact that the need for good specialists will increase from year to year (which is why the profession of ecologist can be classified as professions of the future).
The versatility of the profession provides ecologists with a wide choice of areas of activity: teaching, research, control and expert and design and production. Based on their preferences, each specialist has the right to independently decide what kind of activity he wants to engage in: practical or theoretical.
For those who have the necessary experience and qualifications and whose material well-being is not the least important, there is an opportunity to work in the energy, construction and petrochemical industries. Companies operating in this sector need professional environmentalists and pay their employees decent fees (up to 100 thousand rubles per month).
Disadvantages of the ecologist profession
Since ecologists are concerned with issues anti-pollution, quite often they themselves are exposed to danger. These specialists are the first to encounter toxic emissions in production, and protective measures are not always effective enough to prevent health damage that can be irreparable. In addition, like the teams of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, they go to the sites of incidents associated with natural disasters, where they have to work in extreme conditions.
Another negative factor of the profession is the low demand for young specialists in Russia. According to statistics, only 30% of graduates of environmental faculties work in their specialty. And the income of 70% of environmentalists does not even reach the average level. Depending on the region, most specialists receive from 20 to 40 thousand rubles. This circumstance, along with the need for lengthy training, reduces the attractiveness of the profession among applicants.
Where can I get a profession as an ecologist?
Studying at a higher educational institution is the only way to become a sought-after professional with the necessary set of knowledge and skills in the field of ecology. During their studies, students choose their most preferred basic discipline and gain the necessary knowledge in many natural sciences.
At the moment in Russia there are a large number of universities that train future ecologists, among them:
- Russian Chemical-Technological University named after D.I. Mendeleev;
- State University of Land Management;
- Higher College of Environmental Management;
- Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, etc.
In addition, it will be a great advantage for a specialist to undergo international and other internship programs that will increase his demand in the labor market and expand his knowledge base. For example, an ecologist can improve his qualifications at the courses of the Interregional Academy of Industrial and Construction Complex, which works in the field of additional education and offers professional development and retraining courses in the format distance learning.
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