this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2023
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I don’t have a background in it. I’ve been a public school music teacher most of my career, but I’m also a lifelong nerd and the draw of making a difference in climate change using math has been just too attractive these last few years. In January I start online classes in statistics, Python, and data management/analysis from a local university. I don’t want to end up in a university lab though. I understand that breaking in in a new career will mean taking what I can get until I’m better experienced.
What area of the country are you in?
Water conservation and environmental protection are probably your best available avenues into a climate science career of any sort. I've worked in environmental since 2012 when I got my master's. I specialize in hydrogeology, but there are lots of fields. The problem you will run into is they are gated by credential barriers at a certain point - specifically PE/PG requirements. If you have the math portion you are probably well capable of passing the PE exam, you just need the experience and recs, so you may want to tailor your class load to put you on that path. Engineer's also generally have higher pay brackets so there's that little carrot as well.
Most environmental based companies, regardless of their area of focus, have modelers and need engineers of various backgrounds. You typically don't get hired into modeling, but can sort of steer yourself that way once you're established. I'd recommend you avoid environmental consulting - it does not sound like the work environment you're looking for, and most clients end up being polluters. Water Purveyors could be a really interesting target to aim yourself at. They do SO MUCH more than water supply, and they are constantly looking into all kinds of interesting projects. When your job is to supply an ever increasing population with an ever dwindling supply of a crucial resource, creativity is very much necessitated.
"what area of the country" 🙄🙄 You know there's more than one country?
I'm am absolutely positive that OP only lives in one country, not two or three. Do you think he lives in more than one? Or are you just surfing around trying to be pedantic?
Water Purveyor wasn’t even on my radar - thanks so much for that insight! I will definitely look into it. I did worry there would be some certification barriers that might be difficult to achieve either because of time or expense. I’m on the east coast, though, so not perhaps in an area where water conservation is front of mind for many.
As far as barriers, better to know where they are and how big they are now so you know exactly how high the metaphorical ladder you need has to be. All municipalities have water purveyors of some sort, but you're right in that they'll likely be less focused on conservation. They won't however be less focused on protection and they may still have beneficial use projects. Also that's not inherently bad news for you - it means a likely lower barrier to entry.
Anyways best of luck.