PLANNING CAREERS IN

ENVIRONMENT

Post graduate education and Beyond

Prasad Modak

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Evolution .. Environment as a formal post graduate

education programme has evolved over the

past four decades…

...Civil Engg – Sanitary and Public Health Engg –

concerned more about water supply and sewage;

municipal solid wastes, managing public health

Life sciences/chemistry – ecology,

environmental sciences

Architects – environmental planning,

environmental policy, choice of materials

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Evolution .. Chemical Engg – Pollution control, pollution

prevention, cleaner technologies…

...Product design – ECO-design – designing for

environment

Economics – Environmental economics,

policy

Environmental management – preventive

environmental management, business and

sustainability, trade and environment

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Post-Graduate Programmes in

Environmental Engg in India

IITs – IIT Kanpur, IIT Mumbai, IIT Delhi, IIT Chennai, IIT KGP, IIT Roorkee

RECs- VRCE, : NITs –

MNIT, Suratkal

Universities – Jadhavpur, Anna

University, Sangli College, Delhi

College of Engg, S J College of

Engg, Kolhapur IT

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Post-Graduate Programmes in

Environmental Sciences in India

JNU, Pune, Mumbai, Kochin, Usmania, Kolkatta

Management

Central University, Hyderabad, IIM A

and B, Symbiosis, TERI University

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Observations

Engg Programmes generally civil engg biased; very

few chemical engg driven courses,

some hybrid courses like CESE, IIT, Mumbai that are

truly interdisciplinary;

Science programmes generally lack engg and

management perspective

Availability of full time faculty is a constraint for many

recently initiated programmes

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Key core subjects

Ecology (Environmental Assessment)

Environmental Chemistry

Principles of Environmental Engg

Transport, Dispersion and Fate of Pollutants

Environmental Law

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Subjects that are desirable ….

EIA

Preventive Environmental Management

(Pollution prevention, Sustainable Consumption,

Environmental Management Systems)

Health and Safety

Principles of Environmental Economics

Environmental Policy and Planning

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Choosing Research Thesis Should be topical..

Design of activated sludge based sewage treatment plant for

Miraj OR

Technology selection chart for sewage treatment

Should have a good mentor ..

Who has time, interest, commitment and a network with

practioners

If you don’t have one at your Univ, look “outside”

Should be manageable in time and available resources

Do not embark on something ambitious alone – try for a group

project

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Choosing Research Thesis

Should not be mere survey/sampling work

Air Pollution Profile of Pune

Should not be too trivial

Comparative assessment of solid waste characteristics of

Mumbai and Thane

Should adequately demonstrate your acquired skills

Assessment of public hearings in EIA

Passive air quality monitoring in urban areas

Designing eco-restoration schemes

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www.enviroeducation.com

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http://environment.about.com/od/environmentaljobs/

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www.envindia.com

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http://www.worldwidelearn.com/environment.htm

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Options for Job

Consulting companies

Industries

Research organizations

Training/Education organizations

Environmental NGOs

International development agencies

Financing institutions

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Stepping in …

Research Associate, Intern

Staff on probation

Associate, Junior Consultant

Full time staff

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Some Strategies

Networking – know the business and regulatory world!

Memberships

Group projects

Documentation – build your own library

Keep habit of regular surfing

Remain updated on issues – have your “own” views

Don’t just stay on the superficial knowledge – get into the

depth (distinguish yourself)

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Environment is often considered as “survival

science” for tomorrow

Boundaries between economic, social and

environmental issues are fast blurring

Opportunities in environment field often get

created … there are rarely stacked to pick!

You sometimes need to provide the stimulus

Remember…