Eco Scientist Job Kit

CAREERS

withSTEM JOB KIT ™

eCO

scientist Explore your career options in environmental, earth and climate science

Guaranteed work-integrated learning and field experiences.

Choose QUT to access hands-on learning, real industry projects and research experiences from your first semester at uni.

QUT Bachelor of Science TEQSA Provider ID PRV12079 Australian University | CRICOS 00213J

FOREWORD

science to the rescue

Professor Patrick Mo ss physical geography researcher, QUT

e Want to help solve some of th ing? big challenges our planet is fac t!

You should be an eco scientis

IMAGE: QUT

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ace Professor Helen Wallogy Agriculture and ecol researcher, QUT

ething honest. e’d like to begin with som up in is facing ng The world you’re growi nge is cha te real challenges. Clima s are cie spe s, tem reshaping ecosys and ter wa an cle to disappearing, and access same the At re. ssu pre sustainable food is under y, protecting oceans, and time, improving air qualit for clean energy are sourcing critical minerals n ever. becoming more urgent tha e’s what gives us hope, her t Bu in. e tak It’s a lot to sen this field: these and why we’ve both cho unities for solutions! challenges create opport tions need people who Across the world, organisa t ironment and act on tha can understand the env s, nie s, energy compa knowledge. Government cies, and research teams tan sul environmental con decisions. Whether it’s all rely on experts to guide renewable energy planning cities, building systems, environmental systems, or protecting eco insight is essential. exciting is that no two What makes it even more e of us (Helen) has built careers look the same. On y with food production, a career that blends ecolog to rainforests in the Pacific travelling from tropical s ha rk wo s thi the way, farms in Australia. Along sustainable food re mo g pin elo involved dev as native pollinators, such systems and supporting re. ltu icu bees, that are vital to agr w landscapes have ho ne mi exa k), tric (Pa I nge and human impacts cha responded to climate nmental changes. by analysing past enviro apes have changed over By studying how landsc

organisations need people who can understand the environment and act on that knowledge” time, we can better under stand how ecosystems and societies adapt, helpin g us respond to challenges like fire, clim ate change, and environmental degradati on.

The way we do science is changing rapidly too.

Tools like AI, satellite dat a, environmental DNA and drones allow us to stu dy the planet in ways that weren’t possible bef ore. Scientists can now track species, monitor env ironmental change, and make better decisions usi ng real-time data.

What we’ve both found is that this work is deeply meaningful. It con nects ideas with action and gives you the chance to contribute to something bigger than you rself.

Professor Helen Wallace Agriculture and ecolog y researcher Professor Patrick Moss Physical geography res earcher

Check out CareerswithSTEM.com for more insights, information, inspiration and advice about eco scientist careers!

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ECO SCIENTIST

DEEP DIVE

t e n a l p e h t e v Get paid to sa Put down the lab coat. There’s a world full of conservation roles out there, and lab time is optional. uably some climate scientists are arg nvironmental, Earth and ht now. rig EM experts in the world of the most important ST , these ies nit mu y real threat to com With climate change a ver . rld wo of protecting the natural folks are at the forefront g on policies and plementing and advisin im g, pin elo dev , ing dy Stu ources is all in protecting the world ’s res plans for managing and l shortage of na tio na a lest bit? There is coo the d An rk. wo ’s day a means the nmental scientists, which both geologists and enviro e grads are epic! opportunities for scienc

E

Pay day

Accord ing to SEEK , the average an nual sala ry for environmental scien tist jobs in Austral ia ra nges from $90,000 to $110,000.

Study up

There are so many different pathways and careers to look into — animal and plant ecology , marine science, planetary science, geology, environmental con sulting, meteorolog y, atmosp heric science, and conser vation are just a few examples — so thin king ahead and get ting clued up in a relevant field is importa nt.

Year 11 and 12 science is a great foundation for any car eer as a scientist, but sticking with biology, chemistry, geology , geography, and environmen tal studies electives is a par ticular plus for eco careers.

Totally natural

In an eco STEM career, every day on the job is different! Depending on whi ch pathway you head down, you could be spe nding your 9-to-5 patrolling parks, monitoring plants and animals, digging up samples , studying the ocean or watching the weathe r. Among the many things you could be resp onsible for are:

Suss out undergraduate deg rees like a straight-up Bachelo r of Science with relevant majors like biology, climate science , ear th science or environmental scie nce. And if you’re still keen to keep learning? Postgraduate deg rees are also another way to knu ckle down and soak up your spe cialisation.

IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK, SUPPLIED

• Reporting on carbon footpr ints to decision makers • Educating others about conser vation practices and policies • Undertaking ecological sur veys and habitat assessments • Managing environmental restoration projects • Advising organisations on sustainability initiatives • Improving air quality • Exploring other planets • Responding to natural haz ards • Discovering critical minera ls

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• Restoring ecosystems

The list of employment opp ortunities for recent grads is just as long! You cou ld score a job with a uni, a local or overseas indu stry, a large corporation, or government agencies such as local councils, the Bureau of Meteorolog y, ANSTO, or CSIRO.

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Fact or fiction?

Don’t know loads abou We sort the real from t eco scientists? the rumour and bust some eco career myth s

Fact You get to work outside!

Jobs in environmental, Ear th and climate science often involve field trips, and so does study!

Fiction

There is only one career outcome

Fiction You have to study Earth or environmental science at high school!

There aren’t any prerequisites for the Bachelor of Science at QUT. English and mathematics are recommended. Adding Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Earth & Environmental Science to your schedule will help, too!

Fiction

what At uni, you have to decide away ht you’re specialising in rig

and you can totally No pathway is too winding, r career at any stage. you of change the trajectory

Awesome opportunity: Environmental Science Outback Internship When QUT Environmental Science student Haylee Catania sifted through a tray of sediment on a dig site in outback Queensland, she wasn’t expecting much more than clay and rock fragments. But within half an hour, a tiny 9-millimetre shard caught her eye. Once cleaned and examined under a microscope, the serrated edges revealed she had uncovered a prehistoric crocodile tooth.

“It was a surreal moment,”Haylee says.

“Realising that something so small could tell part of a much bigger story about Australia’s prehistoric environments was incredible.”

That discovery was just one highlight of her internship with the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, where she spent time learning fossil preparation techniques, sorting collections, and sieving sediment to ensure even the smallest fossils weren’t overlooked.

You could end up doing a bun planet-saving gigs.

ch of exciting

• Air pollution analysts • Biodiversity assessment officers • Botanists • Ecologists • Environmental consultants • Sustainability officers • Geologists • Geochemists • Geophysicists • Land degradation analysts • Landcare workers • Life scientists • Marine scientists • Meteorologists • Planetary scientists • Vegetation officers • Volcanologists • Water quality analyst • Zoologists

Yeah the girls!

Although not totally equal (yet), we’re stoked to see that women are slowly creeping up in representatio n in th is field – 45% of envi ronmental scientists are wom en, accord ing to Jobs an d Sk ills Australia.

Read more about her studies helped her: bit.ly/outbackinternship

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ECO SCIENTIST

REAL PEOPLE

the righT environment

to uni. lly unsure about going na igi reer! or s wa ON AT r HE Erica kstart he dream ca kic to e ac pl e th st Turns out it was ju

Erica Heaton environmental officer

IMAGE: SUPPLIED

E

career paths before rica explored a few different ty. ersi univ deciding to pursue school and thought I didn’t “I hadn’t per formed well in e a degree,” she says. have what it takes to complet ntal helor of Science (Environme “When I enrolled in the Bac it e gav I if l: goa a simple Science) at QUT, I set myself through. I still remember the pe scra just ht mig I ing, everyth ment result of 100%.” ess shock of receiving my first ass every opportunity available to n While at uni, Erica was ope in a range of volunteer roles, to her. She became involved in research, and par ticipated assisted PhD candidates with key a ed play ch proactive approa commit tees. “I believe this e giving me a competitive edg and ls skil my ing role in develop s. lain ,” she exp when entering the workforce e the Nor thern Territor y to tak to ed cat relo a Eric 0, In 202 and for environmental advantage of the strong dem iod in construction, she per f professionals. After a brie tal officer. In this position, men iron secured a role as an env d programs including weed she coordinated and delivere ion, water quality monitoring, management, bushfire mitigat atened species monitoring feral animal control, and thre given She was soon promoted and across Defence proper ties. entire these programs across the responsibility for overseeing NT Defence estate.

Bachelor of science (Environmental Science), QUT

I’ve had the opportunity to work in remarkable landscapes” That role offered a rewarding balance of field and office-based work, along with lots of challenges. “I’ve had the opportunity to work in remark able landscapes, collaborate with Traditional Owners to inco rporate their knowledge and practices, and undertake aer ial operations such as weed mapping and aerial incendia ry deployment,” Erica says.

“While I feel fortunate to hav e found this role, it reflects the time, effort, and knowledge I developed during my studies at QUT, which ultimately helped me secure the position.”

Researcher, QUT

Environmental and sustainability graduate, Mcconnell dowell

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Occupational Hygienist, Safe Air environmental Services senior environmental officer, Ventia pty ltd

6

A day in the life of a

HYDROGEOLOGIST

Nikki Prater switched from a career in early childhood education to Earth science after watching a docuseries called One Strange Rock!

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ith a new fascination for the systems nature has in pla ce to sustain life, Nikki decide d studying Earth science was the bes t way to learn more about it.

She enrolled in a Bache lor of Science (Earth Science) at QU T, choosing the uni because it prioritised lea rning through lots of lab work and field trip s.

And now? She works as a hydrogeologist for a consultancy. “We do a lot of work on groundwater managem ent for mining and energ y companies,” she explains.

A typical day for Nikki 9am Weekly team meeting where we plan the week ahead, share things we’ve learned, and give shout-outs to colleagues who have been doing an awesome job.

Then it’s time to get stuck into work, whether it be data processing and interpretation, writing reports, or planning upcoming fieldwork.

“My role varies from fieldwork to data processing and report writing.”

Working in the outdoors is her favourite part of the job. “I get to visit new places, overcome different challenges, and learn lots of new skills,” Nikki says.

During fieldwork, she supervises drilling and installation of groundwater bores, which includes geological logging of drill chips, overseeing the construction, and collecting groundwater samples.

If this sounds like something you’d like to do one day, Nikki’s advice is soak it all up, be open to opportunities and to network. “The people I’ve met along the way are all so helpful and supportive.”

10:30am We love our coffee breaks in the office! This is usually around the time where a bunch of us will stretch our legs and try out a new coffee shop.

1pm Each week someone from the team will put together a little presentation for the team.

It could be about a project they’re working on, a challenge they’ve overcome, or a new tech skill they’ve learned.

2pm

I get to visit new places, overcome different challenges, and learn lots of new skills”

Sometimes we’ll have client meetings where we discuss future projects or the progression of current projects.

3pm

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The afternoon is spent wrapping up the day’s tasks and touching base with project managers so they’re up to speed with progress made.

Bachelor of Science (Earth Science), QUT n geologist, Gr aduate exploratio Aurelia Metals

research assitant, SUMMER Intern, CSIRO CSIRO hydrogeologist, ultant ns n Crippen Berger co oh al Kl Ent NM IRO ENV ernational int , ces ien Sc rth Ea Environmental

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ECO SCIENTIST

Get the job!

YouTUBE

Subscribe to these channe ls to immerse yourself in Earth or environ mental science:

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell

These animated videos mak e complex science simple and engaging.

Ready to dig deep into an eco scientist career? Start here

SciShow

Covers environmental science , ecology and climate topics.

Atlas Pro

Great for understanding how

OceanX

Earth works as a system.

Real-life ocean exploration mis sion

CSIRO

Australian research projects

s!

and scientist profiles.

CV stalk look For ultimate mentor goals, In: ked Lin on these people up

entist: Dr Catherine Kim, marine sci ing coral Currently working on predict Great the ss acro tion era gen rubble s risk Barrier Reef and assessing of interventions.

ist: Dr Brett Lewis, coral biolog

dr catherine kim

dr brett lewis

new Leads research developing a oration rest generation of reef and kelp s. tem sys ent materials and deploym

ion Kate Hofmeister, conservat

biologist:

IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK, QUT

n programs for Sunshine Manages wildlife conservatio nce, community, and scie Coast Council, connecting es for threatened com out policy to deliver lasting species and wildlife.

PODCASTS

Career inspiration in your

airpods!

Earth Unscrewed (ABC Sci ence):

This is an Australian-focused series on climate, geology and environ mental change.

It covers real-world issues like bushfires, reefs, and water systems.

Kate hofmeister

Ocean Calls: Hear stories from marine scientists and ocean explore rs.

Future Eco

logies: This one explores ecosystems, biodiversity, and conservation through stor ytelling.

ecklist Electives ch l electives?

h schoo Choosing hig ts will set you up ec bj su These g in science. for an eco gi Biology ✔ Maths ✔ ✔ Geology s ental studie ✔ Environm ts ec ce subj ✔ Any scien

Scienc

e Vs (Gimlet/Spotify): Breaks down environmental topics like climate change, food systems, and plas tics.

The Climate Question (BBC World Service): Short, sharp episode s explain

climate issues from around the wor

ld.

ing

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This edition was published on 14 July 2026