What Do Industrial Ecologists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Industrial Ecologists apply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems. Use knowledge from the physical and social sciences to maximize effective use of natural resources in the production and use of goods and services. Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment. They also identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects.

Other tasks include:

• Examine local, regional, or global use and flow of materials or energy in industrial production processes.
• Identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes.
• Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
• Analyze changes designed to improve the environmental performance of complex systems and avoid unintended negative consequences.
• Review research literature to maintain knowledge on topics related to industrial ecology, such as physical science, technology, economy, and public policy.
• Recommend methods to protect the environment or minimize environmental damage from industrial production practices.

We asked Industrial Ecologists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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69% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 65% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Industrial Ecologists identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes. They identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects.

A typical day for an Industrial Ecologist will also include:

• Translate the theories of industrial ecology into eco-industrial practices.
• Review research literature to maintain knowledge on topics related to industrial ecology, such as physical science, technology, economy, and public policy.
• Build and maintain databases of information about energy alternatives, pollutants, natural environments, industrial processes, and other information related to ecological change.
• Identify or compare the component parts or relationships between the parts of industrial, social, and natural systems.
• Examine local, regional, or global use and flow of materials or energy in industrial production processes.

We asked some Industrial Ecologists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	48% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	48% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	52% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	17% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Industrial Ecologists also examine local, regional, or global use and flow of materials or energy in industrial production processes. They may also review research literature to maintain knowledge on topics related to industrial ecology, such as physical science, technology, economy, and public policy.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Industrial Ecologists Recommend methods to protect the environment or minimize environmental damage from industrial production practices. They might also Research environmental effects of land and water use to determine methods of improving environmental conditions or increasing outputs, such as crop yields.

In addition, they Identify or compare the component parts or relationships between the parts of industrial, social, and natural systems.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Research sources of pollution to determine environmental impact or to develop methods of pollution abatement or control.

To some Industrial Ecologists, it is also their responsibility to Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Industrial Ecologist, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/life-physical-and-social-science/environmental-scientists-and-specialists.htm

http://www.americangeosciences.org/

http://www.ihmm.org/certificants/chmm

http://www.neha.org/index.shtml