How to become an environment research scientist

Official title: Environment research scientist

Also called: Aquaculture ecologist, Conservationist ecologist, Conservationist scientist, Ecologist, Environmental toxicologist, Ÿ Conservationist scientist, Ÿ Ecologist, Ÿ Environmental toxicologist

Environment research scientist conducts research or performs investigations for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. He/she uses knowledge of various scientific disciplines and may collect, synthesise, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.

Main tasks

• Conducting research, performing tests, collecting samples, performing field and laboratory analysis to identify sources of environmental problems and recommending ways to prevent, control and remediate the impact of environmental problems
• Assessing the likely impact that potential or proposed activities, projects and developments may have on the environment, and recommending whether such developments should proceed
• Developing and coordinating the implementation of environmental management systems to enable organisations to identify, monitor and control the impact of their activities, products and services on the environment
• Conducting audits to evaluate environmental impact of existing activities, processes, wastes, noise and substances
• Assessing an organisation’s compliance with government and internal environmental regulations and guidelines, identifying violations and determining appropriate remedial action
• Providing technical advice and support services to organisations on how best to deal with environmental problems in order to reduce environmental damage and minimise financial loss
• Developing environmental and resource conservation plans

Ways in

• University: Agriculture & Environment degrees

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Related jobs

• Environmental officer (environmental protection)
• Environmental analyst
• Biologist
• Zoologist
• Horticulturist/Arborist
• Aquaculturist

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Questions people ask

How do I become an environment research scientist?

Ways in include: Agriculture & Environment degrees.

Will AI change the work of an environment research scientist?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026