6 Skills that will make you an in-demand environmental researcher
Last week marked the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day—an event that brings together people from all walks of life to celebrate environmental action taken to build a more sustainable world. What has formed the basis for much of this environmental action? Compelling evidence gathered over years through the tireless work of researchers in this field.
Environmental research is one of the most challenging, exciting, and rewarding fields of academic work. Few disciplines are as directly crucial to addressing urgent concerns related to human and ecological health. And few involve as many complexities, because environmental research explores very deep and intricate relationships between humans and their (changing) natural and social environments.
So, if you are an aspiring environmental researcher, what are some of the important career skills and strategies you need to focus on?
1. Embracing interdisciplinary approaches
You possibly have higher-education degrees in either specialized disciplines or broader environmental sciences. But irrespective of your background and your specific area of current interest, it is important to stay abreast of what’s happening in a broad range of disciplines, such as ecology, geosciences, economics, social sciences, public health, and data science.
This does not necessarily mean that you need to become an expert in multiple disciplines. But just staying up to date on developments in other fields will help you contextualize your own work against a broader picture and may spark new ideas by helping you connect dots. It will also help you find interdisciplinary collaborators whose skills may be valuable in your work as well. A wide knowledge base will then also give you the language and terminology to use to communicate ideas effectively with collaborators from other fields.
2. Managing and analyzing data sets
Complex data analysis is at the core of most environmental research. So, focus on learning data/statistical analysis techniques for different research designs, data interpretation and visualization, and modeling. Moreover, you will also need to learn efficient and ethical ways to collect, store, and share data and familiarize yourself with standard data-management requirements.
Even if your formal education has not equipped you with all these skills, you can seek guidance from your mentors/supervisors or peers who have this expertise or request for training if your organization offers it. You can also sign up for specialized courses on your own; explore open educational resources.
3. Adhering to rigorous standards of research ethics
The implications of environmental research are far-reaching. Your research may directly or indirectly inform policies related to climate change, biodiversity conservation, climate/ecological justice, food security, and sustainable economic development. And so, it is crucial to educate yourself about how to ensure that your research is reliable and replicable.
This also means conducting your research in a way that meets standard ethical guidelines on how to protect from harm any human participants, experimental or wild animals, and sensitive ecological areas. Ensure that you acquire all the necessary ethics board approvals, permissions, and informed consent from human participants before you conduct your study, and maintain records scrupulously.
You will also need to duly acknowledge and credit any individuals (researchers or otherwise) who contribute to your research efforts in any way. Finally, your research needs to be conducted in an environmentally responsible way. For this, you will need to adhere to sustainable research practices that minimize negative environmental impact.
4. Engaging local/indigenous communities
Fostering meaningful and respectful connections with local communities is important for two main reasons. First, your research findings may be highly relevant to them, and so, sharing what you learn with them should be considered a responsibility toward them and can benefit them greatly.
Second, they can provide invaluable support to you in your research itself. They may help you gather and analyze data (as researchers/citizen scientists) or serve as guides who can help you navigate difficult terrains. They may also share knowledge about their environments, traditional practices, and the signs of threats they face, which may not always be available through published literature. Their inputs can also help you develop and fine-tune your research questions and strategies.
If you plan to engage citizen scientists in your projects, ensure that the research objectives and methodology are explained clearly. Confirm that participants are provided with sufficient guidance on the appropriate ways to gather, record, and share their observations such that these meet scientific and ethical requirements.
5. Communicating science effectively and advocating policy changes
As you build your expertise through research, you will accumulate insights that are important for various policy arenas (e.g., conservation, mitigation of air/water pollution, and climate migration). You will then need to share this expertise with not just the scientific community but beyond. Much of this will mean translating what you know into a clear message that is accessible to and customized for specific target audiences.
Often, your position as an expert in the field would also make you the best person to initiate discussions on important policy changes or lend your voice and authority to them. Both science communication and advocacy will still need you to base your message on solid academic research, but you may need to learn new ways to present knowledge and build a case for policies in a clear, convincing manner.
6. Focusing on self-care
The threats our planet faces from ecological degradation, climate change, and the potential suffering these can bring upon humans and other life forms can be overwhelming to contemplate. Being at the forefront of work that studies or uncovers such threats may therefore be more challenging and contribute to ecological grief. As passionate as you may be about your work—be it research, education, or advocacy—it’s important to ensure that you do not neglect self-care. Focus on maintaining good health, fostering meaningful personal and social connections, and pursuing other interests. This can help you build the resilience to sustain your research activities and persevere in the face of multiple challenges. It may also allow you to better appreciate the progress you and others make through your work.
Your work as an environmental researcher will be multifaceted. For this reason, you are likely to be engaged in a diverse mix of activities and connect with a diverse mix of individuals. This can be enriching both professionally and personally. Building the skills listed above will not only enable you to handle challenges creatively and progress in your career but enjoy your journey as well. And, you may just serve as an inspiration to many others around you to take concrete environmental action.
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