Environmental Science
The study of how nature and humans are linked, and how our actions can help or hurt the world we live in. Environmental scientists use biology, physics, geology, social science and more to solve problems like climate change and biodiversity loss.
Median annual salary$82,660
People employed in the U.S.113,160
Job growth score80/100
What would you do?
- 1Measure the world through sensors or fieldwork
- 2Simulate climate change and nature on computers
- 3Develop solutions to problems like pollution and waste
- 4Report findings to governments and companies
- 5Educate and advocate to put solutions to work
Relationship to climate change
The key to tracking climate change, and finding ways to help.
Track climate change
- Measure greenhouse gases
- Monitor glacier melting
- Track temperature and sea level
- Use satellites to fight deforestation
Create plans
- Write environmental assessments
- Shape city and community policy
- Advise companies on climate
Design solutions
- Find wins for economies and ecosystems
- Study carbon storage in forests and wetlands
- Fix lagging sectors
Advocate
- Teach students to fight climate change
- Study habits and build a sustainable culture
Use environmental science for these Project Drawdown solutions
- Abandoned Farmland
- Agrivoltaics
- Agroforestry
- Annual Cropping
- Aquaculture
- Biochar
- Biomass Crops on Degraded Land
- Coastal Wetlands
- Diets
- Enhanced Rock Weathering
- Feed Additives
- Forest Management
- Forests
- More solutions →
Expert insight
Kristen Averyt
Executive Vice President of Science at the American Geophysical Union, the world’s largest association of Earth and space scientists. Former Drought Director for the Biden Administration and member of the Nobel Prize-winning IPCC. She loves the ocean and always dreamed of being an astronaut.
Read her insights on Environmental Science →
Get started
A great fit if you’re into a wide range of sciences, nature, how the world works, and sharing ideas.
Recommended high school classes
- AP Environmental Science
- Chemistry (H)
- AP Chemistry
- Physics (H)
- AP Physics 1/2
- AP Physics C
- Biology (H)
- AP Biology
- Geometry (H)
- Precalc/Trig (H)
- AP Calculus
- Statistics
- AP Micro / Macroeconomics
- Government
- AP Seminar / Research
Project ideas
- Explore and analyze online emissions datasets
- Look for microplastics in water or soil samples
- Map the biodiversity of a specific region
- Give feedback on local environmental policy
- Build a scale model of an ecosystem
Written by Aiden Miao, Palo Alto High School (2027)
