Graduate Prospects - September 5, 2007 - (Page 14)

14 PROSPECTS GRADUATE Issue 50 · 5 September 2007 · Fortnightly www.prospects.ac.uk POSTGRAD OPTIONS THE STUDENTS AND THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN FURTHER STUDY CLIMATE FOR STUDY objective is to help the UK meet targets for renewable energy which have been set by various pieces of climate change legislation. It’s clear that if we are going to meet these objectives we need to train more people in renewable energy, waste management and water treatment so the routes to employment are there and in fact the career prospects are very bright.’ Dr Harrison is equally certain that courses within environmental sciences can lead to careers that are profitable both to the environment and to the individual. ‘I run a climate change consultancy working with some of the world’s biggest companies and they are desperate to get access to people who are informed about climate change. In the future I think all decision making in big business will have to have climate change as one of the factors that they’re going to have to take into account. The only way they’re going to be able to do that is by employing people who have got qualifications in this field. There are enormous opportunities for climate literate people, not just in business but in local authorities, governmental roles and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).’ Who is responsible? Opportunities for students in environmental sciences are highlighted by the fact that even though the MSc in Renewable Energy is only in its second year, its students are already highly sought-after. ‘The demand is huge,’ explains Dr Esteves. ‘We’ve had companies contacting us and asking if they can have access to the students for projects and to find out whether they are available for employment. We’ve also had companies offering sponsorship for students. Even if a student isn’t interested in private companies there are opportunities in waste management for local government, energy agencies, academia, NGOs, it is such a diverse area for employment.’ Whilst it’s encouraging to see that the demand for environmental studies students has created a premium for their services, it’s just as important to remember that their skills are in demand because of the damage that humankind has done to the planet. If we are to avoid the potential climate catastrophes then the responsibility for making changes happen lies with more than just the students who study the subject. Andrew Shanahan MORE POSTGRADS ARE NOW STUDYING GLOBAL WARMING AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. Over the next century temperatures are predicted to increase by several degrees, causing a massive rise in sea level and other destructive effects. While the response by governments to the impending disaster has not set the world on fire, there has been a dramatic increase in interest in postgraduate study of environmental science and more courses are being offered. Dr Stephan Harrison, who leads the University of Exeter’s MSc in Climate Change and Risk Management, agrees that climate change is the most important issue facing mankind over the next century. ‘Climate change is like a postmodern science now in the sense that it’s going to affect everything. It’s out of the realm now of simply relating to climatology – it is now embedded in political and economic decisionmaking and, consequently, it also affects how society and cultures develop.’ Dr Harrison finds that environment students are now coming from a much more diverse background than in the past. ‘I get emails from students looking to join in on the course who come from law, politics and business backgrounds,’ he explains. ‘They want to know if their first degrees would be relevant and I say “of course”! We have traditional types of students from physical geography and oceanography backgrounds who are interested in climate change as a physical process but equally the wider impact of climate change makes it relevant to all of these other disciplines as well.’ Fossilised fuel If catastrophic climate change is to be avoided there needs to be a move away from relying on polluting fossil fuels. The University of Glamorgan has established an MSc in Renewable Energy and Resource Management. Course leader Dr Sandra Esteves says that there were several reasons for launching such a course. ‘The thinking behind it was to bring the expertise from our Sustainable Environment Research Centre (SERC) and transfer the knowledge we have from there. The other HOW DO YOU RATE THIS ARTICLE? INFORMATION AND ADVICE Search the postgrad database www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pgdbase Postgrad funding facts www.prospects.ac.uk/links/fundstudy Latest postgrad course opportunities www.prospects.ac.uk/links/latestcourses http://www.prospects.ac.uk http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Feature_Articles/Feature_articles_2007/How_do_you_rate_page_14_of_50/p!egicmml http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pgdbase http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/fundstudy http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/latestcourses

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Graduate Prospects - September 5, 2007

Editorial: Can Agencies Help? Editorial: Job Blogs R S Consulting Group 4 Securicor Editorial: Get into the Olympics Majestic Wine Warehouses Ltd First Conferences Granta Design Ltd O2 Conquest Research Ltd University of Brighton BSRIA Crouch Chapman Resin Express Matson Driscoll & Domico UK Perriam & Everett Recruitment University of Manchester QS Network Editorial: Climate for Study

Graduate Prospects - September 5, 2007

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