A Day in the Life of an Environmental Scientist

We recently caught up with Bright Network member, Lauren, to chat about how her career is going. Lauren has been working as an environmental scientist in a graduate scheme and told us about her personal experience of what a day in the life of a scientist is really like. Read on to learn what an environmental scientist does and whether it’s the career path for you.

What does an environmental scientist do?

Environmental scientists encompass many areas of science, but broadly speaking they work to bring about greater understanding of environmental issues or work on projects to improve either the way society treats the environment, or the impact we have on the environment. Lauren works on a nuclear programme trying to reduce the impact on the environment that nuclear energy can have.

We started by asking Lauren to reflect on working as an environmental scientist.

Is there a task or project that you’ve worked on that has stood out to you?

As part of my current work, I am looking into how nuclear technologies can support net zero goals and why nuclear innovation is important. It's inspiring to see the work that is being done within the industry to help increase sustainability and meet environmental targets.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned since starting?       

I have learned that it's extremely important to gather a variety of ideas and comments whilst working on projects, to ensure that alternative suggestions are considered appropriately. By creating an environment where collaboration is encouraged, innovation has the chance to occur.

The working conditions of a scientist

Scientists generally have a reputation for working in labs. This can be true but is likely only one aspect of their jobs, with office work involved in their researching and writing up processes. As an environmental scientist, some of the work you’ll do will be in the field, for example working in nuclear plants and gathering samples from the soil and other environmental matter.

We asked Lauren about what it’s like working as an environmental scientist.

What has been the highlight of working as an environmental scientist?

Being on the nuclear graduate scheme has been a dynamic and exciting time, where I have had a multitude of opportunities to gain experience across the industry. Within my short time in the industry, I have been on secondment in three different roles across the nuclear industry. The nuclear graduates programme also offer a diverse training plan and support towards your chartership goals, which has been a great help during my early career stages.

What’s one thing you didn’t expect?

I didn't expect to have so many opportunities to learn about new subjects and topics which are outside of my typical line of work. Teams I work with are very supportive and helpful in explaining concepts, which helps me gain a wider appreciation and understanding of the industry I am working in.

A typical day in the life of an environmental scientist

Working as an environmental scientist like Lauren means being aware of the current goings on in the nuclear industry, from the advancements to the incidents which can happen around the world. Typically, environmental scientists work standard office hours of 9am to 5pm on Monday to Friday, but may require some additional hours around deadlines. We asked Lauren to take us through what a typical day in the life of an environmental scientist is like, from the tasks she completes to the offsite visits she makes.

What do you do throughout the day?

In my work, no day seems the same, which keeps my role dynamic and interesting. I find myself always learning new concepts, which is one of my favourite things about my role. Parts of my day may include visits to nuclear sites and plants, having meetings with stakeholders to discuss topics and new potential approaches, and looking into environmental and sustainability issues and opportunities.

What are the main tasks in your job?

My responsibilities within my role are diverse and consist of a variety of tasks. Some examples of work themes include maintaining and improving the environmental strategy and sustainability programme, conducting environmental and radiological risk assessments, ensuring environmental compliance and reporting on environmental performance.

How you could become an environmental scientist

Being an environmental scientist requires having a high level of education. This usually means a master’s degree and sometimes a PhD. You should have an in depth understanding of the impact of the area you’re working in on the environment. For Lauren, this is nuclear energy. Additionally, you should be analytical and always looking for the explanation behind an observation. 

We asked Lauren for her advice on how you can break into the scientist profession.

What top tips would you give Bright Network members wanting to follow in your footsteps?

If you are looking at pursuing an environmental role, or joining the nuclear industry, I would recommend keeping up to date with new innovations and technologies across the industry, as they are very interesting to learn about. Additionally, look out for courses online too, if you are looking to know more about the environment and sustainability, there are lots of helpful resources out there to help your development. There are lots of free-to-join events where you can have further insights into the industry, such as webinars and lectures. These are great chances to meet like-minded people. Finally, look into your skills and interests and see how you can use these within a future role, along with identifying areas in which you want to develop.

Have you been inspired by Lauren? Are you considering working life as an environmental scientist? Explore the current jobs in science and research that we have available and read our scientist job profile to learn more.