Occupational Video - Environmental Engineer

Summary

Environmental engineers apply engineering skills and environmental science knowledge to prevent and repair ecological damage. They are involved in planning, designing, and executing solutions for environmental issues, including soil, air quality, and groundwater. Their work includes environmental impact assessments, site assessments, remediation plans, environmental audits, policy advice, and water quality assessments. The profession is multidisciplinary, often collaborating with scientists, lawyers, and government agencies. It requires strong organizational skills, creativity, and a passion for the environment.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Environmental engineers combine engineering skills with environmental sciences to prevent and repair ecological damage.
• 🛠️ The profession involves planning, designing, and executing solutions to environmental problems related to soil, air quality, and water.
• 📋 Environmental engineers may conduct environmental impact assessments to evaluate the potential effects of developments on the environment.
• 🔬 They may work on site assessments, contamination analysis, and remediation action plans for soil and groundwater issues.
• 🌍 Environmental engineers collaborate with various professionals like scientists, geoscientists, and lawyers, making the profession multidisciplinary.
• 👷‍♀️ The job often involves travel, sometimes to remote or international locations, for tasks like site inspections or audits.
• 📝 Registration with a professional engineering body, such as APEGA in Alberta, is required to practice as an environmental engineer.
• 🎓 A four-year engineering degree and four years of work experience under a professional engineer are needed for registration.
• 📊 Environmental engineers can advance into consulting, higher management, or academic roles, with opportunities to modify their career paths.
• 🔑 Key skills for success include strong organizational abilities, creative problem-solving, and a passion for environmental care.

Q & A

What is an environmental engineer?

An environmental engineer is a professional who combines engineering skills with an understanding of environmental sciences to prevent and repair ecological damage.

What are the typical responsibilities of an environmental engineer?

Typical responsibilities include planning, designing, and executing solutions to environmental problems related to soil, air quality, and groundwater. They may also be involved in environmental impact assessments, remediation action plans, environmental audits, policy advising, and water quality assessments.

What does an environmental engineer do on a typical day?

A typical day for an environmental engineer might involve going to the field to conduct assessments, analyzing data, and working on various projects related to environmental protection and remediation.

How does Anjum describe the impact of environmental engineering on society?

Anjum describes environmental engineering as a profession where you can help society and the environment using engineering skills.

What are some of the interdisciplinary collaborations environmental engineers might engage in?

Environmental engineers often work with scientists, geo-scientists, lawyers, government agencies, and clients, indicating a multidisciplinary approach to their work.

What personal skills are important for an environmental engineer?

Important personal skills include the ability to think independently, seek assistance when necessary, and have good organizational skills.

What are the requirements to practice as an environmental engineer in Alberta?

To practice as an environmental engineer in Alberta, one must be registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), have a four-year engineering degree from a recognized institution, and four years of work experience under a professional engineer in good standing.

What career advancement opportunities are available for environmental engineers?

Career advancement opportunities include consulting, higher management positions within organizations, and teaching in universities.

What kind of work can environmental engineers do in remote locations?

Environmental engineers may work at gas plants, remote locations, or head offices, and their job can involve travel, such as inspecting mines in different countries.

What challenges might an environmental engineer face in their work?

Challenges can include managing workload, determining priorities, and ensuring deadlines are met.

What advice does Anjum have for someone interested in pursuing a career in environmental engineering?

Anjum advises that environmental engineering is a rewarding career with many opportunities for growth and modification as one progresses in their career.

What additional qualities does Anjum suggest are important for an environmental engineer?

Anjum suggests that, apart from a strong educational background, being an environmental engineer requires good organizational skills, a creative approach to problem-solving, and a passion for environmental care.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Introduction to Environmental Engineering

The script introduces the profession of an Environmental Engineer, emphasizing the combination of engineering skills with environmental sciences to prevent and repair ecological damage. Anjum, an environmental engineer from Alberta, explains the role involves planning, designing, and executing solutions to environmental problems related to soil, air quality, and groundwater. The profession includes environmental impact assessments, field assessments, data analysis, and developing remediation plans. Anjum highlights the rewarding aspect of helping society and the environment through engineering skills.

🔍 Duties and Responsibilities of an Environmental Engineer

The script outlines the broad range of duties and responsibilities of an environmental engineer, which may include site assessments, soil and groundwater assessments, remediation action plans, environmental audits, policy advice, and water quality assessments. The profession is multidisciplinary, requiring collaboration with scientists, geoscientists, lawyers, government agencies, and clients. Personal skills such as thinking independently and seeking assistance when necessary are also emphasized.

🌐 Opportunities and Work Environment in Environmental Engineering

The script discusses the potential for travel and varied work environments in environmental engineering, including gas plants, remote locations, and head offices. Anjum shares her international experience, including a project in Bolivia inspecting mines for closure and reclamation costs. The requirement to be registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) is mentioned, along with the need for a four-year engineering degree and four years of work experience under a professional engineer.

📈 Career Advancement and Personal Life of an Environmental Engineer

The script highlights the career advancement opportunities in environmental engineering, such as consulting, higher management positions, and teaching. Anjum shares her personal interests in travel and spending time with family, including skiing and outdoor activities. She also discusses the challenges of managing workload and meeting deadlines, and encourages those interested in the profession, emphasizing its rewarding nature and the flexibility to modify one's career path.

🎓 Educational and Skill Requirements for Environmental Engineers

The script concludes with the educational requirements for becoming an environmental engineer, which include a strong educational background, organizational skills, a creative approach to problem-solving, and a passion for environmental care. It directs interested individuals to the ALIS website for more information on the occupation, including educational requirements, salary ranges, and related occupations such as Sustainability Specialist and Hazardous Waste Management Technologist.

Keywords

💡Environmental Engineer

An environmental engineer is a professional who applies engineering principles to solve environmental problems, such as pollution control and waste management. In the video, Anjum, the environmental engineer, describes her role as dealing with planning, designing, and executing solutions to environmental problems related to soil, air quality, and groundwater. This profession is central to the video's theme of promoting a clean and safe ecological environment.

💡Ecological Damage

Ecological damage refers to harm caused to the environment, including natural habitats and ecosystems. The video mentions that environmental engineers work to prevent and repair ecological damage, illustrating the importance of their role in maintaining environmental health.

💡Environmental Sciences

Environmental sciences encompass the study of physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the environment, and how they interact with human activities. The video highlights that environmental engineers combine their engineering skills with an understanding of environmental sciences to address ecological issues.

💡Environmental Impact Assessments

Environmental impact assessments are evaluations conducted prior to a development project to determine its potential effects on the environment. Anjum mentions that environmental engineers can be involved in such assessments, which is crucial for preventing negative environmental impacts and aligns with the video's focus on proactive environmental management.

💡Soil Contamination

Soil contamination refers to the presence of harmful substances in the soil, which can affect ecosystems and human health. The script discusses how environmental engineers assess soil and groundwater to determine if there is any contamination and develop remediation plans, showcasing their role in protecting soil quality.

💡Remediation

Remediation is the process of cleaning up contaminated environments to restore them to a healthy state. Anjum describes developing and executing remediation action plans as part of her job, emphasizing the practical solutions environmental engineers provide to environmental problems.

💡Environmental Audits

Environmental audits are systematic evaluations of how well an organization manages its environmental responsibilities. The video mentions that environmental engineers may conduct audits of industrial sites, which helps companies comply with environmental regulations and improve their environmental performance.

💡Water Quality Assessments

Water quality assessments involve testing and evaluating the quality of water in various contexts, such as potable water or industrial waste. The script highlights the involvement of environmental engineers in water quality assessments, which is essential for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources.

💡Infrastructure Projects

Infrastructure projects refer to the construction or improvement of public facilities and systems, such as bridges and roads. The video discusses how environmental engineers assess the environmental impact of such projects, demonstrating their role in sustainable development.

💡APEGB

The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) is a professional organization that registers and regulates engineers and geoscientists in Alberta. The video mentions that to practice as an environmental engineer in Alberta, one must be registered with APEGA, indicating the importance of professional certification in this field.

💡Professional Engineer

A professional engineer is an individual who has met the educational and experience requirements and is licensed to practice engineering. The video explains that becoming a registered professional engineer requires a four-year engineering degree and four years of work experience, emphasizing the rigorous standards for entering the profession.

Highlights

Environmental engineers combine engineering skills with environmental sciences to prevent and repair ecological damage.

They deal with planning, designing, and executing solutions to environmental problems.

Involved in environmental impact assessments prior to development.

Typical day includes field assessments and data analysis.

Helping society and the environment using engineering skills.

Duties include assessment and design of environmental aspects of a site.

Assess soil and groundwater contamination and develop remediation plans.

Conduct environmental audits of industrial sites.

Advise on policies and implementation of environmental regulations.

Involved in water quality assessments for potable and industrial waste.

Work on large infrastructure projects assessing environmental impacts.

Multidisciplinary profession working with scientists, geo-scientists, lawyers, and government agencies.

Personality and mechanical aptitude are important qualities for environmental engineers.

Job can lead to travel and international work opportunities.

Must be registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA).

Requires a four-year engineering degree and four years of work experience under a professional engineer.

Career advancement opportunities include consulting, higher management, and teaching.

Work-life balance includes hobbies like traveling and spending time with family.

Challenges include managing workload and meeting deadlines.

A rewarding career with many opportunities and room for career modification.

Requires strong educational background, organizational skills, creativity, and passion for the environment.

Discover more about the occupation on the ALIS website, including educational requirements and salary ranges.

Related occupations include Sustainability Specialist and Hazardous Waste Management Technologist.

Transcripts

♪ ♪ ♪

If you have the patience and skill

to logically think through detailed problems,

like working with both people and mechanical devices,

and enjoy promoting a clean, safe

ecological environment,

you might want to design yourself an occupation

as an Environmental Engineer.

Environmental engineers combine their engineering skills

with an understanding of environmental sciences

to prevent and repair ecological damage.

To check on the drawings on this green line of work,

we spoke with an environmental engineer

in Alberta.

♪ ♪ ♪

Hi, my name is Anjum, and I'm an environmental engineer.

Primarily we deal with planning,

designing, and executing solutions

to environmental problems that deal with soil,

air quality, ground water, or design systems

to deal with those issues.

Environmental engineers can be involved with

environmental impact assessments

which are assessments prior to a development occurring

and determining what potential impact

that development may have on the environment.

A typical day might be going out to the field

to do some assessment work and analyzing data.

What I like about environmental engineering

is that you're actually helping society,

your clients, the environment

using those engineering skills to do so.

The duties and responsibilities are quite broad.

We may work on the assessment and design

of the environmental aspects of a site.

We might do an assessment of soil and groundwater

to determine if there is any contamination on the site

and then develop a remediation action plan

and execute the remediation.

We could do environmental audits of industrial sites.

We might advise clients or government on policies

or how to implement policies

and environmental regulation.

We may also be involved in water quality assessments,

both for potable or industrial waste.

We can also be involved with large infrastructure projects

such as bridges, roads also,

determining what the environmental impact would be

from that development.

This profession is multidisciplinary,

we often are working with scientists,

geo-scientists, we may be working with lawyers

if there's a legal implication,

government agencies and of course our clients,

so on the day to day you have to have personal skills.

When hiring environmental engineers,

we first and foremost look at personality.

What we also look for is whether or not perhaps

they have a mechanical aptitude.

You should be able to think on your feet

and independently

and be able to seek assistance when necessary.

Some environmental engineers work at gas plants

or remote locations,

or they may be working at a head office.

The job can definitely lead to travel.

I've had the opportunity to work abroad.

Last fall I was actually in Bolivia

inspecting different mines

to determine the cost of closure and reclamation.

To practice as an environmental engineer

in Alberta you have to be registered

with the Association of Professional Engineers

and Geoscientists of Alberta,

also known as APEGA.

To be a registered professional engineer

you need to have a four-year engineering degree

from a recognized institution.

You then need to have four years of work experience

where you're working under a professional engineer

who is in good standing.

This career definitely can lead to advancement:

anywhere from consulting,

our higher management positions within organizations,

or teaching in a university.

In my spare time I like to travel.

I like to spend a lot of time with my family

and we like to go to the mountains and ski

and be outside.

"Hello, Anjum speaking..."

Challenges with my work can be sometimes...

just managing the workload

and determining what your priorities are

and making sure that you're meeting deadlines.

I would say to someone who's interested

in pursuing this profession is that

it is a very rewarding career

and I think there's a lot of different opportunities

and there's a lot of opportunity

to modify your career as you go on.

The possibilities are endless.

Apart from a strong educational background,

being an environmental engineer

takes good organizational skills,

a creative approach to problem solving,

and a passion for taking care of the environment.

Discover more about this occupation,

such as educational requirements and salary ranges,

in the occupational profile on the ALIS website,

and learn about related occupations,

like Sustainability Specialist,

or Hazardous Waste Management Technologist.

Go to:

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