5 Public Health Careers for Nature Enthusiasts
- Hydrologist
- Air Quality Technician
- Urban Planner
- Health Geographer
- Environmental Safety Inspector
If you’re passionate about the welfare of people and our Earth, consider public health careers. Many jobs involve field investigation, enabling you to work outdoors. The key to qualifying is to gear your college curriculum toward environmental science. Here are five rewarding vocations for nature-loving public health grads.
See our ranking of the 10 Best CEPH Accredited MPH Degrees Online.
1. Hydrologist
The vital role of this public health professional is to guard our water sources against contamination. A hydrologist monitors the purity of lakes, underground streams, rivers, watersheds, reservoirs, and water wells. Once pollutants are detected, the hydrologist designs ways to prevent water toxicity.
To avoid ecological harm, hydrologists advise safe locations for waste treatment facilities. To meet public water needs, they assist reservoir managers in water storage and release. In suburbs, hydrologists help homeowners improve backyard drainage. In rural areas, they aid farmers with irrigation and curbing soil erosion. Where flooding is frequent, they devise management strategies.
Field responsibilities include analyzing water composition, volume, and flow. Pertinent findings are reported to public health officials, changing water use procedures. When new building developments are proposed, the hydrologist consults with project managers to ensure safe public water.
Hydrologists are employed by federal, state, and local government agencies. As consultants, they work for engineering, scientific, and technical firms.
2. Air Quality Technician
This employee ensures we have clean air to breathe, both indoors and outside. The Air Quality Technician works with environmental scientists to protect air from noxious fumes.
Responsibilities include testing air samples, analyzing data, maintaining equipment, and researching new technology. During chemical spills and fires, Air Quality Techs lead evacuation efforts and sound the “all clear” when safe to return. Techs also develop air quality measurement procedures and enforce compliance with carbon emission laws.
Duties may involve travel to forests, spill sites, and highways, along with schools, office buildings, factories, and residential communities. Air Quality Technicians are hired by government departments, utilities, engineering firms, and mapping companies.
3. Urban Planner
This vocation designs sustainable communities, either as new developments or renovated districts. The urban planner ensures that community members have easy access to public facilities, services, and resources.
A primary responsibility is investigating sites for proposed construction and expansion. This role includes researching area demographics and environmental features and surveying land. Based on the findings, the urban planner submits suggestions for land use that adhere to zoning laws.
The urban planner also reviews building proposals, to determine their ecological impact. In this regard, they may promote green technologies, such as solar-powered traffic signals and parking meters. A core concept of sustainability is connecting streets and sidewalks to transit stops. By creating bicycle lanes and walking trails, urban planners offer a commuting alternative to cars.
Most urban planners work for government agencies. From Next City, here’s a glowing example of urban planning achieved in Dubuque, Iowa, including a new park, pedestrian bridge, sidewalks, and green home improvements.
4. Health Geographer
This position involves researching the physical and demographic features of a region. The health geographer acquires data through field observation, photographs, and satellite images. They may also conduct interviews, surveys, and focus groups.
Based on research findings, the geographer creates maps, reports, and presentations, yielding insights into human relationships, customs, and environmental hazards. Governments and businesses then use this information to plan housing, roads, healthcare facilities, schools, and disaster responses.
Health geographers are mostly employed by federal, state, and local agencies. Among fascinating public health jobs, this one offers travel to foreign countries and remote areas! Filmed at the University of Alberta, here’s a video interview with a health geographer, describing her area of specialization.
5. Environmental Safety Inspector
This vocation eliminates health hazards in the workplace and natural habitats. The Environmental Safety Inspector enforces government laws regarding management of food, water, pollution, infectious waste, hazardous materials, noise, housing, and workplace conditions. Public health grads can connect with nature by specializing in water protection, air quality, pesticide management, or wildlife health.
Tasks may involve analyzing samples of water, air, soil, and pollutants, and calibrating testing equipment. Inspectors may advise medical personnel of potential health and environmental threats, such as disease outbreaks. To establish compliance with health regulations, Inspectors oversee clean-up projects. In businesses, they make workstations more ergonomic, fostering employee comfort and productivity.
Jobs are plentiful, available at hospitals, wildlife parks, government health departments, private corporations, environmental watchdog agencies, schools, and consulting firms.
Earth Angel
Public health careers with an ecologic focus enable you to advocate for both people and the environment. Jobs that interface with nature include hydrologist, air quality technician, urban planner, health geographer, and environmental safety inspector. All entry-level positions require a bachelor’s degree, except for urban planner, for which you need a master’s.
Our world will be a better place to live, because of you!
