Industrial Ecologists

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Ecologist, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Protection Agency Counselor, Research Scientist

What they do:
Apply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems. Use knowledge from the physical and social sciences to maximize effective use of natural resources in the production and use of goods and services. Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.
On the job, you would:
  • Identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects.
  • Identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes.
  • Analyze changes designed to improve the environmental performance of complex systems and avoid unintended negative consequences.

Knowledge

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • chemistry

Engineering and Technology

  • product and service development
  • computers and electronics

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

  • manufacture and distribution of products

Skills

Basic Skills

  • reading work related information
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Abilities

Verbal

  • communicate by writing
  • communicate by speaking

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems

Math

  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Initiative
  • Persistence
  • Achievement/Effort

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software

  • StataCorp Stata
  • Substance Flow Analysis STAN

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology

Data base user interface and query software

  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
  • Oracle Database Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 5 of 5)
master's degree or
bachelor's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training
Apprenticeship.gov

Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about industrial ecologists.