Reasons To Study Environmental Science

Isaias Hernandez

17 Jan 202330:29

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script provides an insightful and candid perspective on pursuing an environmental science degree. The narrator shares their personal journey, highlighting the challenges faced with math and science courses, self-doubts, and the lack of diversity in the field. Despite the obstacles, they emphasize the value of perseverance, finding supportive communities, and staying true to oneself. The script also explores the employment prospects, networking importance, and the potential to influence positive change. Overall, it offers a realistic yet inspiring look at the rewards and difficulties of an environmental science education.

Takeaways

🎓 An environmental science degree involves studying a broad range of subjects like math, chemistry, biology, and social sciences to understand environmental issues from multiple perspectives.
⚖️ Environmental science is a diverse field with opportunities in atmospheric sciences, ecology, environmental chemistry, geosciences, and social sciences, but lacks representation from minorities and underrepresented groups.
🧠 The degree can be challenging, especially for those who struggle with math and science, as it requires taking tough prerequisite courses like calculus, physics, and organic chemistry.
🌳 Finding a community or support system is crucial for staying motivated and grounded, especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
👥 Networking, building connections, and being open to different career paths are essential for finding job opportunities after graduation.
💼 Many environmental science graduates end up working in fields tangentially related to their degree, such as creative agencies or social media, due to a lack of opportunities in traditional environmental organizations.
🚫 There is a perception that the environmental sector doesn't offer well-paying jobs compared to other industries, but the green economy is growing rapidly with plenty of job opportunities.
💡 It's important to follow your passion and interests when choosing a degree, rather than societal or parental expectations.
🔄 Be open to changing your major or career path if it doesn't align with your well-being and interests, as there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
🙏 Ultimately, an environmental science degree can be worthwhile if you're passionate about the subject, but it's essential to be realistic about the challenges and potential career paths.

Q & A

What is environmental science?
-Environmental science focuses on fundamentally Sciences like math, chemistry, biology, physics, atmospheric science, earth science, and geology. It covers both the biological, social, and physical sciences, which gives a holistic foundation and diverse perspectives. The five major fields of environmental science are atmospheric sciences, ecology, environmental chemistry, geoscience, and social sciences.
Why did the speaker choose to study environmental science?
-The speaker was passionate about the environment from a young age and wanted to combine their interests in the environment and social studies. They applied to environmental programs in college without fully understanding the differences between environmental science and studies.
Is an environmental science degree considered difficult?
-The speaker found the degree to be challenging, especially the prerequisite courses like calculus, biology, physics, chemistry, etc. in the first two years. However, they felt the upper-division courses were more manageable as they were able to choose electives that aligned with their interests.
How diverse is the field of environmental science?
-According to the statistics provided, the field lacks diversity, with the majority of environmental scientists being white (86%), followed by Hispanics/Latinos (4.7%), Asians (3.6%), and African Americans (1.8%). Only 38.3% of environmental scientists are women, and LGBTQ+ representation is around 8%.
What challenges did the speaker face as a student of color in the environmental science program?
-The speaker felt isolated as there were very few people of color in the program, and it was difficult to relate to many of their peers' experiences. They also faced homophobia and transphobia in professional spaces, feeling the need to hide their sexuality and identity.
Did the speaker regret studying environmental science?
-No, the speaker does not regret majoring in environmental science, despite the hardships they faced. They enjoyed the challenge and the opportunity to learn, but they did not appreciate the racism and elitism they experienced in academia.
How did the environmental science degree prepare the speaker for the real world?
-The degree did not directly prepare the speaker for getting a job, as they were rejected by many environmental non-profits initially. However, the speaker was able to apply their knowledge and network to eventually build their brand and share environmental education.
What advice does the speaker offer to current or prospective environmental science students?
-The speaker advises students to be open to different experiences and industries if one path is not working out. They also recommend networking, building connections, and being true to themselves regardless of societal or parental expectations.
What are the speaker's final thoughts on pursuing an environmental science degree?
-The speaker believes that getting an environmental science degree was worth it for them, as it allowed them to build their brand, network, and share environmental knowledge. However, they caution that if someone is pursuing the degree for the wrong reasons, they may be misaligned and confused in their work.
What recommendations does the speaker have for those interested in environmental programs?
-The speaker recommends that prospective students check out different environmental degree programs and departments to see what works best for them, as environmental science is just one of many environmental degrees available.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Understanding Environmental Science as a Major

This paragraph provides an overview of what environmental science entails as a major. It covers the fundamental sciences involved, such as math, chemistry, biology, physics, atmospheric science, earth science, and geology. It explains the five major fields within environmental science: atmospheric sciences, ecology, environmental chemistry, geosciences, and social sciences. The paragraph highlights the diverse perspectives and holistic foundation that environmental science offers, catering to individuals passionate about understanding the environment, climate change, and ecological well-being.

05:00

🧭 The Challenging Path of an Environmental Science Degree

The paragraph discusses the author's personal experience pursuing an environmental science degree at UC Berkeley. It describes the initial shock of realizing the extensive course requirements, including calculus, biology, physics, chemistry, environmental economics, and statistics. The author candidly shares the struggles faced during the first two years, grappling with the challenging prerequisite courses and self-doubt. Despite failing midterms and barely passing some classes, the author persevered through determination and seeking additional support.

10:02

🌳 Diversity and Inclusivity in Environmental Programs

This paragraph addresses the lack of diversity within environmental science programs and the industry. It presents statistics on the underrepresentation of minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals in the field. The author shares personal experiences of feeling isolated and disconnected from peers due to differences in backgrounds and access to outdoor activities. The paragraph also highlights the author's challenges in navigating predominantly white spaces and grappling with the homophobia and transphobia present in some academic and research environments.

15:02

🤔 Questioning One's Choice of Major

The paragraph discusses the internal conflict and external pressures surrounding the decision to change or abandon one's chosen major. The author reflects on the hardships faced during their environmental science degree, including failed courses and poor mental health. Despite the challenges, the author persisted due to a sense of calling and the fear of disappointing family expectations. The paragraph encourages self-reflection, open communication with mentors and loved ones, and embracing change as an opportunity for growth.

20:03

🔍 Navigating the Job Search After an Environmental Science Degree

This paragraph explores the author's experiences in seeking employment after obtaining an environmental science degree. It details the shift in focus during the senior year towards securing jobs, internships, or pursuing graduate studies. The author shares the challenges faced in getting rejected by various environmental non-profits due to a perceived lack of documented climate work experience. The paragraph highlights the importance of building a network, seeking mentors, and being open to different career paths, even if they don't directly align with one's degree.

25:06

✨ Reflecting on the Value of an Environmental Science Degree

In this paragraph, the author reflects on whether obtaining an environmental science degree was worthwhile. While acknowledging the hardships and struggles faced during the degree, the author expresses no regrets and recognizes the value of the knowledge and experiences gained. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of passion, personal alignment, and being open to different paths in life. It encourages readers to explore various environmental degree options and choose the one that best suits their interests and goals.

30:08

🙏 Closing Thoughts and Appreciation

The final paragraph serves as a closing remark, expressing gratitude to the audience for watching the video. The author invites viewers to like, comment, subscribe, and provide feedback or suggestions for future video topics. It reiterates the author's interest in understanding the viewers' perspectives on the content shared in the video.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Environmental Science

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on studying the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the environment, as well as their interactions with human activities. In the video, environmental science is presented as a major that covers subjects like math, chemistry, biology, physics, atmospheric science, earth science, and geology. The speaker highlights that environmental science provides a holistic understanding of environmental issues from diverse perspectives.

💡Diversity

Diversity refers to the representation of people from various backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations within a particular field or industry. The speaker emphasizes the lack of diversity within the environmental science field, citing statistics that show a predominance of white males and underrepresentation of people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The speaker shares personal experiences of feeling isolated and having to hide parts of their identity due to the lack of diversity and inclusivity in their program.

💡Academia

Academia refers to the educational and research institutions, such as universities and colleges. The speaker discusses their experiences within academia, specifically in their environmental science program at UC Berkeley. They describe the challenges faced, including the rigorous coursework, lack of support, and the perpetuation of elitism and homogeneity within academic spaces. The speaker also highlights the disconnect between academia and the real-world application of knowledge.

💡Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses, also known as "weeder courses," are introductory or foundational courses that students must complete before advancing to higher-level courses in their major. The speaker mentions struggling with prerequisite courses like calculus, biology, physics, and chemistry during the first two years of their environmental science degree. These courses are designed to test students' abilities and weed out those who may not be suitable for the major.

💡Intersectionality

Intersectionality refers to the interconnected nature of various forms of discrimination and marginalization, such as race, gender, class, and sexuality. The speaker highlights the intersectionality of their experiences as a person of color and a member of the LGBTQ+ community within the environmental science field. They discuss the compounding effects of racism, homophobia, and transphobia, as well as the need to acknowledge and address these intersecting oppressions.

💡Networking

Networking is the process of building and maintaining professional and social connections that can lead to career opportunities, resources, and support. The speaker emphasizes the importance of networking and making genuine connections with mentors and industry professionals. They share how networking and leveraging connections were crucial in securing job opportunities after graduation, even when their environmental science degree did not directly translate to specific roles.

💡Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where individuals doubt their abilities and feel like they do not belong or are not deserving of their achievements, despite evidence to the contrary. The speaker alludes to experiencing imposter syndrome during their undergraduate studies, constantly questioning their abilities and feeling like they did not fit in with their peers who seemed more suited for the environmental science field.

💡Resilience

Resilience refers to the ability to persevere and bounce back from challenges, setbacks, and adversity. Throughout the video, the speaker demonstrates resilience by overcoming the difficulties they faced during their environmental science degree, such as failing courses, dealing with self-doubt, and navigating a lack of diversity and inclusivity. They emphasize the importance of perseverance, self-belief, and finding support systems to overcome obstacles.

💡Passion

Passion is a strong and compelling enthusiasm or desire for something. The speaker discusses their passion for the environment as a driving force behind pursuing an environmental science degree, despite the challenges they faced. They highlight the importance of following one's passion and staying true to personal interests and values, even when societal or familial pressures may suggest other paths.

💡Environmental Justice

Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. The speaker touches on environmental justice issues, such as lack of access to green spaces and outdoor activities for marginalized communities, as well as the need for diversity and inclusion in environmental advocacy and decision-making.

Highlights

Environmental science focuses on fundamentally Sciences like math chemistry biology, physics atmospheric science earth, science and geology as an environmental, science major you'll spend much of your, time considering environmental issues, scientific and quantitative aspects.

The five major fields of environmental science are atmospheric sciences, ecology, environmental chemistry, geoscience and social sciences.

I didn't really, know what I was getting myself into as a, young person I've always been passionate, about the environment but I barely took, classes in K-12 education regarding the, environment.

I remember filling out the, environmental majors and I didn't really, know the differences between, Environmental Studies and science which, we'll talk about that later.

Environmental science, Majors generally feature a heavy load of, science and math classes you also need, to be asking yourself are you someone, wanting to spend time doing research, inside Labs or outside in Academia.

My experiences obtaining an, environmental science degree is a bit, complicit and I'm here to share a very, funny story when I was in freshman, orientation to go to Berkeley it was, like a week before school started I, remember walking into my Major's, advisors room where we had to sign up, for our freshman courses and in my head, I thought oh an environmental science, degree maybe you only have to take one, math and one science class.

I had failed the, first midterm past the second midterm so, it was a 50 50 between failing the class, or passing it and I remember taking the, final and I barely passed by I think two, points and I passed the class.

For the upper div environmental, science courses I think that's where I, was able to really flourish well, typically these classes are not, necessarily designed for students within, those Majors to fail.

The reality of this question is that, it's not diverse the environmental, science Industry needs to actually push, forward for diversity and here's some, fact toys that I've pulled up for you.

I looked the complete opposite of, that first of all I'm someone that's, non-white second of all I'm someone that, dressed a lot of stylish like I had, style in college.

I think right off, the bat that did turn me off about UC, Berkeley because I think many, predominantly white institutions in, colleges Proclaim themselves as safe, spaces but then you enter the professor, doesn't look like you the graduate, student instructors or the Tas they, don't look like you and then your own, classmates don't look like you.

I had a really, hard time realizing like, if there's barely any people of color, yet get along any queer people I felt, like there was an extra layer of me, having to decide okay if you're going to, be a person of color then be it but just, hide your sexuality because there was a, lot of homophobia and transphobia in, these spaces.

When, people ask me do you think it was worth, getting an environmental science degree, despite all the hardships that you went, through I'd say yes and no I don't have, any regrets anymore majoring in, environmental science.

I actually got, rejected from all the environmental, nonprofits I applied to Greenpeace, through 350 and our DC WWF all these, large white lead environmental, organizations and they all said no to me.

I got all the, jobs I have today because of networks, because I actually became friends with, people and so when people young people, ask me that they want to work for me I'm, like you know I wish I can hire people, but you know I have a very limited small, team.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

5 honest reasons why you should study Environmental Science

Jobs & Career Choices After a Biomedical Science Degree

Things about a PhD nobody told you about | Laura Valadez-Martinez | TEDxLoughboroughU

Why I decided to get my MBA

10 Brutally Honest Lessons About Doing A PhD | Real PhD struggles and PhD Stress

STEM Major Degree Tier List (2021)