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Sustainability / Conservation / Energy

Welcome to the Sustainability, Conservation and Energy interest community!

Members of this community are interested in careers that 1) Provide sufficient amounts of energy for today’s world without undermining environmental integrity or draining future resources. 2) Produce a good or service that benefits the environment or conserves natural resources. This good or service could be renewable energy, pollution reduction, an organic product, or environmental compliance. 3) Reduce the environmental impact of an organization’s production processes. Responsibilities might include establishing cost-cutting initiatives such as energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, waste management, or resource conservation.

People who pursue careers in Sustainability/Conservation/Energy may focus on issues ranging from reducing ecological footprint and minimizing pollution to working directly on environmental and sustainability issues in various sectors, or in areas like solar energy, wind power, hydropower and more. These jobs exist in emerging green sectors and in traditional sectors such as manufacturing, technology, insurance, and the state and federal government, making the world of sustainability/conservation/energy one that is both deeply rooted in our day-to-day life and the subject of much innovation and research.

Examples of career pathways include (but are not limited to): Air Quality Forecaster; Aquatic Biologist; Biofuel Production Operator; Ecotourism Guide; Environmental Public Relations Specialist; Geoscientist; Hydrographic Surveyor; Landscape Architect; Soil Conservation Technician’ Sustainability Program Coordinator; Watershed Manager; Watershed Science Technician; Wetland Specialist; Wind Energy Engineer

Interested in the professional sciences?

Check out the Rice University Weiss School of Natural Sciences’ Professional Science Master’s Program!

See the flyer below for information on the different focus areas and what you can achieve with them.

The deadline for Fall enrollment is February 15.

By Meaghan Wood (She/Her)
Meaghan Wood (She/Her) Career Coach
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Huskies@Work: Sign Up by Oct. 22!

Whether you’re looking for inside info on a field you’re curious about or want to talk to someone about their profession, the UW Alumni Association can help you get connected to alumni who can help.

Taking place twice a year,

By Alondra Rodriguez (She/Her)
Alondra Rodriguez (She/Her) Program Coordinator
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Have Climate Anxiety? Try Out These 7 Resilience-Building Resources

Read the full article by Sarah Sloat on the Inverse website. Start reading below…

“As the climate crisis worsens a related phenomenon has emerged: climate anxiety. People, especially young people, are reporting increased distress as a result of the …

By Meaghan Wood (She/Her)
Meaghan Wood (She/Her) Career Coach
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Why conservation groups are trying to restore native prairies in WA 

Read the full article by Erica Brown Grivas on The Seattle Times website. Start reading below…

Douglas fir forests dominate Western Washington, but for thousands of years, prairies and oak savannas covered 180,000 acres of this land. Those native prairies supported …

By Meaghan Wood (She/Her)
Meaghan Wood (She/Her) Career Coach
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A timber triumph: Seismically resilient and sustainable

Read the full article by Brooke Fisher on the Civil & Environmental Engineering news page. Start reading below…

“It may sound like a tall order: a seismically resilient and sustainable mid-rise building constructed entirely out of timber. But a team …

By Meaghan Wood (She/Her)
Meaghan Wood (She/Her) Career Coach
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Student Stories & Advice

Cesar Robles

Student Stories & Advice
  • Edison Engineering Development Program GE Vernova
Meet Cesar >

Margot Adam

Student Stories & Advice
  • School for Public and International Affairs Princeton University
Meet Margot >

Greta Weise

Student Stories & Advice
  • Soundwatch Boater Education Program Intern The Whale Museum
Meet Greta >

Mitsuki Shimomura

Student Stories & Advice
  • M.S. in Aeronautics & Astronautics University of Washington
Meet Mitsuki >

Peyton R

Student Stories & Advice
  • Master's of Science in Energy & Sustainability Northwestern University
Meet Peyton >

Ashleigh Bell

Student Stories & Advice
  • Grad Student - Sustainability in the Outdoor Industry University of Colorado, Boulder
Meet Ashleigh >

Tanner Poling

Student Stories & Advice
  • AUV Operations Engineer Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Meet Tanner >

Evan Mickelson

Student Stories & Advice
  • Electrical Engineer Electric Reliability Council of Texas
Meet Evan >

Featured Resources

CoolWorks

Since 1995, CoolWorks has been a leader in CONNECTING PEOPLE seeking meaningful and exciting work with the EMPLOYERS who are …

Nethubb  

Nethubb makes it easy to start building your professional network to be discovered for career opportunities. They provide you the …

Sustainability / Energy / Conservation Search Engines

Energy Jobs Network

The Energy Jobs Network (EJN) has been helping employers find qualified candidates for their energy related positions …

Scholarships & Fellowships Supporting Sustainability/Conservation/Energy Career Goals

Many different types of organizations, companies and agencies provide scholarship opportunities to support students in preparing for careers related to …

Tips for Job Searching in Handshake – Sustainability/Conservation/Energy

With thousands of jobs and internships for students on Handshake, how can you find the ones that are right for …

Virtual Interview Practice

StandOut is a mock video interviewing platform. You can access an Environmental Science practice interview.

Career & Industry Guides

Vault Guide to Energy Jobs, Third Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Vault Guide to Alternative Energy Jobs, Third Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Vault Guide to Nonprofit Jobs, Third Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Vault Career Guide to Energy, Third Edition

In the midst of an energy boom that has positioned the United States as one of the world’s top oil-producing …

Vault Guide to Utilities Jobs, Second Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Vault Guide to Nuclear Power Jobs, Second Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …