Description
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
- • Conduct environmental audits or inspections or investigations of violations.
- • Evaluate violations or problems discovered during inspections to determine appropriate regulatory actions or to provide advice on the development and prosecution of regulatory cases.
- • Review and implement environmental technical standards, guidelines, policies, and formal regulations that meet all appropriate requirements.
- • Provide advice on proper standards and regulations or the development of policies, strategies, or codes of practice for environmental management.
- • Analyze data to determine validity, quality, and scientific significance and to interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.
- • Determine data collection methods to be employed in research projects or surveys.
- • Prepare charts or graphs from data samples, providing summary information on the environmental relevance of the data.
- • Develop the technical portions of legal documents, administrative orders, or consent decrees.
- • Investigate and report on accidents affecting the environment.
- • Monitor environmental impacts of development activities.
- • Develop programs designed to obtain the most productive, non-damaging use of land.
- • Research sources of pollution to determine their effects on the environment and to develop theories or methods of pollution abatement or control.
- • Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
- • Design or direct studies to obtain technical environmental information about planned projects.
- • Develop methods to minimize the impact of production processes on the environment, based on the study and assessment of industrial production, environmental legislation, and physical, biological, and social environments.
- • Plan or develop research models, using knowledge of mathematical and statistical concepts.
- • Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
- • Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
- • Provide scientific or technical guidance, support, coordination, or oversight to governmental agencies, environmental programs, industry, or the public.
- • Process and review environmental permits, licenses, or related materials.
- • Supervise or train students, environmental technologists, technicians, or other related staff.
- • Conduct applied research on environmental topics, such as waste control or treatment or pollution abatement methods.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
