Environmental Careers Icebreaker

• Introduce yourself to someone.• Ask them one question to help

you discover the environmental career that is pictured on your back.

• Answer one question from the other person.

• Move on to a new person.• When you think you know

what your environmental career is, sit down. (No peeking!)

Arborist, Urban Forester

• I study trees to see whether they should be removed because of Emerald Ash Borer infestations.

Atmospheric Scientist

• I use satellite data to track the warming of ocean currents and predict severe storms

Biological Laboratory Technician

• I test fish tissue samples to see whether pollutants in river water are limiting the size of fish or causing tumors

Biologist

• I conduct bioassays like collecting fish and tissue samples to see whether populations and individuals are healthy

Certified Operator

• I operate a large municipal drinking water treatment plant

Chemical Laboratory Technician

• I test soil samples to see whether there has been contamination from leaking storage tanks

City/County Recycling Coordinator

• I teach people how to recycle, and promote its environmental and economic benefits. I help provide drop-off and collection programs to make it convenient for people to recycle.

Civil Engineer

• I design storm water drains, retention ponds and grass swales around houses, shopping centers and parking lots to prevent flooding and water pollution

Civil Engineer

• I design and oversee construction of landfill cells to be sure they won’t leak or release odors

Civil engineer

• I design wastewater treatment systems for cities and factories

Communications Specialist

• I use many channels – newspapers, TV, social media, video, brochures, websites, community meetings – to provide information to the public about environmental issues.

Conservationist

• I manage our park district’s new prairie to keep out invasive species and provide habitat for migrating birds and butterflies.

Corporate Sustainability Coordinator

• I look for ways to reduce our company’s energy consumption and waste generation, make our products more environmentally friendly, and increase the amount that we recycle and reuse.

Emergency Responder

• I help prevent fires and clean up spills of hazardous materials

Energy Consultant

• I work with landowners to install wind turbines in places where they will generate the most energy with the least environmental impact

Environmental Engineer

• I try to find cleaner, more efficient ways to produce electricity

Environmental Health and Safety Manager

• I am responsible for my company’s compliance with environmental regulations, including securing permits, collecting data, maintaining equipment, and training our employees.

Environmental Inspector

• I inspect power plants and factories to be sure they are not emitting more pollutants than they are allowed to.

Environmental Scientist

• I take samples of ground water around landfills to be sure that pollution isn’t migrating offsite to the neighbors’ drinking water wells

Environmental Scientist

• I study hydric soils and plants to determine where highways and shopping centers can be built to prevent or minimize damage to sensitive wetlands

Environmental Scientist

• I do laboratory and field tests to monitor environmental conditions and investigate suspected sources of pollution

Epidemiologist

• I investigate patterns and causes of disease – like the source of contaminated water that made some residents sick.

Fish and Wildlife Technician

• I help manage fish and wildlife populations through habitat manipulation, stocking fish and birds, and monitoring wildlife populations through surveys

Forester

• I manage forests and calculate the number of trees that can be harvested and the amount of wood that a tree will produce

Game Warden, Wildlife Officer

• I enforce laws to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat, including hunting and fishing permits

Geologist

• I study rock formations to determine whether this might be a good site for coal mining, carbon sequestration or shale gas development

Hazardous Material Removal Worker

• I clean up abandoned factories and dump sites, and oversee removal of asbestos, lead and mold.

Hydrogeologist

• I study underground aquifers to see whether they will provide adequate supplies of drinking water, or to predict where pollution plumes might be moving underground

Hydrogeologist

• I use borings to take samples from underground aquifers to test the safety of drinking water wells and supplies

Marine Biologist

• I study organisms that live in salt water

Microbiologist

• I study microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites and how they interact with the environment.

Occupational Safety and Health Specialist

• I study the workplace to prevent injuries and protect our employees from radiation, lead, asbestos, mold, noise, pesticides, and communicable diseases.

Pollution Control Equipment Technician

• I install emission control equipment on trucks and school buses, to reduce engine idling and air pollution

Naturalist

• I help people identify and learn about plants, amphibians, insects and animals in a park or nature center

Soil Conservationist

• I work with farmers to prevent runoff from their fields into streams

Soil Scientist

• I study soil and determine which types are best for growing crops, building homes, or installing septic systems to treat wastewater

Solar Energy Technician

• I install solar panels to help buildings create and store electricity

Transportation Engineer

• I design mass transit systems and traffic controls to reduce automobile engine idling and air pollution

Urban and Regional Planner

• I help builders design new neighborhoods to provide more green space, manage storm water, and make it easier for people to bike or walk to work and school

Wildlife biologist

• I am studying sandhill cranes to see whether the population has recovered enough to remove them from Ohio’s endangered species list

Wildlife Educator

• I monitor the nest box on a downtown office building, band the new chicks, and use our FalconCam Website to teach people about the recovery of Ohio’s peregrine falcons