Working Green
Do you think about what kind of job you’d like to have when you grow up? Next week, on Sept. 3, we’ll celebrate Labor Day in the United States. Labor Day honors working people who contribute to the country’s success and strength.
The Mini Page explored seven “green” jobs to “plant” some ideas in your mind about careers that might interest you.
Urban and Regional Planning
Urban
planners come up with ideas about how to use land.
They help develop communities and figure out the best ways to work with growing populations. They also make plans for older towns and cities that will revitalize them, or bring them back to life.
Geoscience
Geoscientists study our planet’s physical (FIZ-ihkul) qualities, such as what the planet is made of and how it is changing. They use historical records and current data to find out what changes might happen in the future.
Mini Fact:
Solar power is the most plentiful energy source on Earth.
Hydrology
A hydrologist is a scientist who studies how water moves on and beneath the Earth’s surface. Hydrologists are concerned about the Earth’s water supply, so they work with engineers and public officials to figure out the best ways to save and use water.
Atmospheric Science
Atmospheric (at-mus-FEER-ick) scientists and meteorologists (me-te-orAHL-o-jists) study our climate and weather. They examine how these processes affect the planet and people, and how people affect the processes.
Forestry and Conservation
Foresters keep track of our forests, measuring growth and studying how events like wildfires and insect attacks change and shape our wild lands.
Alternative Energy
Alternative energy sources include
wind, geothermal (energy created from the heat of the Earth’s interior), solar, waves, tides and biofuels. Biofuels are sources of energy created from biological raw materials, such as plants, grains or animal-based oils. Workers in these fields include scientists, technicians, construction workers, farmers and salespeople.
Recycling
Recycling goes way beyond putting your paper and plastic in a bin at home. For recycling to work, the industry needs drivers to pick up the materials, facility workers to process them and salespeople to sell the processed materials for reuse.
Looking ahead
What do most of these jobs have in common? Many of them depend on a good knowledge of science! So if any of these green careers appeal to you, work hard in your science classes, and think about ways you can be eco-friendly now.