Environmental science is often referred to as an ‘interdisciplinary’ subject. This basically means that it uses skills and knowledge from a variety of different specializations. For example, environmental scientists may find themselves dipping into biology, chemistry, physics, ecology, geography, geology, marine science and social sciences. The idea is to use as many perspectives and disciplines as necessary, to build up a fuller understanding of both natural and human environments. As this suggests, environmental science is a huge subject, and one of immediate relevance to many of modern society’s most pressing challenges. Fieldwork is an important part of most environmental sciences degrees, which often include trips to a variety of different countries and world regions, to give students experience of different habitats, climates, land formations and societies. You can also expect to spend a fair amount of time in the lab, learning how to carry out different types of test.

Environmental scientists are needed in a wide range of sectors, including: • Climate change research • Natural disaster preparation and response • Waste disposal • Water supply • Conservation and habitat management • Natural resource management • Environmental policy development • Air quality assessment