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At Virginia Tech we have a program called Biological Systems Engineering that combines many of your interests. That program offers a focus on water resources, preparing students to manage wastes from agriculture operations as well as industrial and household wastes. You can find more information about that program here: https://www.bse.vt.edu/undergraduate/index.html. Other universities offer similar programs, especially land grant universities that have colleges of agriculture and colleges of engineering, like Cornell, Ohio State, or North Carolina State.
Best wishes,
Hi Liza -
1) Sometimes, it depend on the job, if you go into the construction side of it you will travel often to see your job sites. The design side is less traveling.
2) I also was not at the top of my class, it had very little affect on my career. While in college look for other opportunities, I highly recommend co-ops and internships to get work experience, it will make it way easier to get a job.
3) Hands down, civil engineers change the world, literally. In my job we do lots of work for very rural populations, giving people roads that do not wash out, or access to clean drinking water is a huge deal.
Also if you want to travel and change the world look at some of the overseas opportunities for civil engineers, the NGO term is WASH adviser.
I did civil engineering as a Peace Corps Volunteer and I know I made a difference, doing work that would not have been done if I had not been there.
That's awesome that you are interested in engineering! The obvious way to combine art and engineering is through architectural or civil engineering. Both of those disciplines design buildings and structures that usually have to be somewhat aesthetically appealing and your background in art would fit in very well in either of those. But the field of engineering is so diverse that art can fit in almost anywhere!
The most important thing that you probably have that a lot of engineers might lack is creativity. Engineers can be taught to collect and analyze data, but when it comes down to the actual problem solving part, that usually requires creativity and a different perspective. Especially in well-established industries, a lot of major problems have already been solved and now the focus is on improvement, so all the obvious, low-hanging fruit is gone. I would assume the kind of thinking and problem solving you do with your art work is very different than what most engineers do, so, in my opinion, your artist's perspective would be very valuable when it comes to solving any problems.
A couple side notes that you may not know about: ASM International hosts a microstructure art competition in which people submit photos taken with a microscope. Also, there are other fields like industrial design or human-machine interfaces that might interest you that also combine art and engineering.
Hi Karen,
Another great option for you would be Industrial Design which combines engineering design with human factors and aesthetics to design various products - from medical devices to toys to electronics ...basically a whole host of consumer products where ergonomics, usability, aesthetics are very important.
I'm an aerospace engineer myself but my local art college offers an Industrial Design program including evening classes. I took an intro class and loved it.
Highly recommend looking into it.
I'm not familiar with the engineering education system in India. Here in the U.S., a few schools offer undergraduate degrees in environmental engineering. I happen to have one, but the school no longer offers it. I found when I was interviewing for jobs after earning my bachelor's degree that some employers did not know what to do with an environmental engineering undergraduate degree. The faculty members in my department helped me to make connections with employers who were looking for environmental engineers.
Hi, I received my bachelors' degree in history and French two years ago. But after working as a project coordinator in an engineering company, I would also like to pursue a degree in engineering. After doing a bit of research, it is kind of discouraging to read about a lot of the engineering jobs are being offshored to other countries like China and India, but I think a future in biomedical engineering and environmental engineering still look bright comparing to computer engineering. So these are the two fields of engineering that I would like to focus on. However the problem is that the university that I would like to attend (which is the only one close to home and ABET accredited) do not offer the program of biomedical engineering nor environmental engineering. So my question is if I had to choose from the programs being offered below from this college, which of the program should i choose that will be closely aligned with either biomedical or environmental engineering?
thank you for your time!
ENGINEERING - CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT: BS-Minor in Business Administration
Swati, You are in an excellent position to be wondering the things you are wondering right now. Thanks for writing. Ironically, I was in a very similar position when I was a student - initially studied biology... and then found myself in Engineering, specifically environmental engineering. My 2nd year, I, too, felt very bogged down with all the technical general engineering coursework. Not necessarily because it was too difficult, but because I couldn't picture myself actually using any of that in my real life. It didn't relate to what I was truly interested in or passionate about. Keep in mind that your undergraduate degree is kind of like your starting point. It does not at all dictate what you will do - it simply is a statement about what kind of working mind you have. What is going to differentiate you, and capture all of the ideas and subjects that you are genuiniely interested in, is the extra activities and jobs that you do. My advice is to continue with engineering. You are clearly a natural problem solver, and you can think of your diploma as proof to the world that you are a good problem solver. That's kind of what any degree in engineering represents. What will get you into the field that you are interested in is the extra stuff- spring break internships, writing a column for the paper, working extra hours in a biology lab. Use your extra activities to DIVERSIFY what you're doing and flesh out your college experience into something that better represents YOU. Then, when you get out into the working world, you can point to all of that as the basis for your decision, even if it's a little different than what you studied. Keep in mind that you do not have to simply do what everyone else in your major does. If your school allows you to change what type of engineering you are studying, you might consider that as an option. Talk with other students in the Biological or Environmental Engineering departments and see if it sounds like something you might like to try. Chances are, you're taking all the same first and second year basic classes that they are so you could easily switch. However I don't think continuing with your current trajectory would hurt you in any way. You will have time to work in whatever field you choose and use the skills that you already have and you could learn to apply them in a really unique way! Good luck. Molly Lebowitz
Hello Sierra. These are great questions you are asking, and at the perfect time. Let's get right to it:
1) What sort of classes should I take in high school to prepare for this field?
I think you should focus on taking as many courses in sciences and math as you can. If your school offers honors and Advanced Placement (AP) levels, I strongly suggest you enroll in as many as is comfortable. But it is also very important to be a well-rounded student. So be sure to include some classes that will add to you as a person and an engineer. Philosophy, writing, and a foreign language are all excellent options.
I went to a very poor school district in Puerto Rico, with limited electives. A course I wish had been offered in my high school was computer programming, as it would have helped me out in my college career.
2) What kind of college course(s) and degree would be optimal for a successful job in environmental engineering?
The most potent degree is Chemical Engineering with Environmental Engineering electives. Be prepared; it is very challenging, but you will be head and shoulders over your peers in the market. If you follow this route, the more intense focus on chemistry will give you superior knowledge when analyzing contaminant transport and remediation techniques. In other words, you will be able to observe with more accuracy any environmental problem you may encounter.
In addition to the required courses, such as Engineering Design, Fluid Dynamics, and Environmental Chemistry, try to add Groundwater Hydrology, Hazardous Materials Management, and Air Pollution for an understanding of all media: water, air, and land.
I have a degree in Civil Engineering, but most of my classes had an environmental focus. The courses I have used the most in my career, in addition to the ones I mentioned before, are the following: Environmental Toxicology, Groundwater Modeling, Risk Analysis, and Water Reuse.
3) As an environmental engineer, what sort of tasks/ obligations do you have?
As a civil servant, I have the obligation to protect human health and the environment by ensuring adequacy of cleanup activities under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action program. I manage and direct all technical and engineering work conducted at assigned RCRA facilities, including investigations and remediation. I develop cleanup strategies and schedules to meet legal mandates; manage and direct the work for issuing hazardous waste permits; and assist EPA's counsel office in defending legal challenges to a permit. I also provide guidance and policy to stakeholders on RCRA and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) issues, communicate technical information verbally to varied audiences, and ensure the proper storage, treatment, and disposal of hazardous waste.
4) What kind of company is best to work at for an environmental engineer?
It is not who you are working for, but what you are doing. If you are engaged in projects that are important to you, then the name or type of the company is not significant.
I have worked with many kinds of companies: research institutions, private corporations, consulting firms, state government, federal agencies, and not-for-profit organizations. The most important factor for all of them was what I was doing.
5) What kind of college is best for an aspiring environmental engineer?
I think that most universities in the USA will provide you a sound education in engineering. When choosing a university, just make sure that the engineering program has been accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
My three favorite universities are the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the École polytechnique (also known as X) in Palaiseau, France.
6) What things can I do now to prepare for this field?
Other than the standards, such as volunteer work and internships, get in contact with local environmental organizations and find out what help is needed locally. This will give you experience in the real world with very little pressure; and it will help you to "think globally, act locally."
Salaries depend on a number of different things including experience and location, but you can see the Environmental Engineer page to get an average starting salary for someone with a bachelor's degree.
Hi Liz,
I'm not positive, but I don't think you will have to get an entirely new degree. However, you will probably need to take a number of extra classes. My best advice is to contact the graduate program that you are interested in. Find out about pre-requisite classes, and explain your situation. You can ask if they would accept less than a bachelor's degree in your chosen field if you can demonstrate aptitude by doing well in a number of related classes. I think most universities would be open to such an arrangement if you can demonstrate how your past experiences are relevant. Good luck!
Valeria, hello! Thank you for the chance to reach out to you, and hopefully, to many other students experiencing similar challenges.
I had the opportunity to explore diverse career paths in the environmental field through my participation in various internships. Nothing beats having a 10-week hands-on experience developing differential equations for modeling water vapor in the troposphere to realize that programming is absolutely not for me. I strongly encourage you to pursue a few co-op opportunities as soon as you can.
Valeria, did you already take Physical Chemistry? How about Dynamics or Hydraulic Engineering? These are, among many others, very difficult courses that will consume all your waking hours, and then some. So to deal with the pursuit of a career that is inherently challenging, I recommend the following:
Hello Jill. Thanks for writing! These are all excellent questions to think about.
Your interest in 'going green' is definitely something that relates to Environmental Engineering. But it also could relate to biology, architecture, politics, agriculture, or business! Did I confuse you yet? My point here is that environmental sustainability can be applied in so many ways. What's going to dictate HOW you put that passion to good use is what kind of person you are, and what you like to do. Are you a problem solver and into math and science? If so, engineering might just be the right thing. Are you more of a people person with good energy and wit? You might look into environmental public policy. Do you have an excellent memory and an analytic process driven mind? Perhaps its biology that you would like. Are you an artistic an observant person with an attraction to structures? You could be an architect specializing in Green design.
So, back to Engineering. If you decide engineering is for you, you will need to complete four years of college in an accredited college or university. Your first two years will probably consist of the basic engineering courses that all engineering students take including: three or four types of math, mechanics (static for structures and fluid for water/air), thermodynamics (relating to combustion), heat transfer (about energy transfer within materials). Environmental engineers will also need a good amount of basic Biology and Chemistry (some of this could be done in high school if you take AP classes). You will then get into the specific courses required for the major during your junior and senior years. There will be various offerings that you will be able to choose from, probably including courses on wastewater treatment, environmental remediation, ecological engineering, natural resource management, etc. I would also recommend three additional types of courses which may or may not be required - technical writing, geographic information systems (map making), and some type of computer programming.
Do not worry about gender distribution. It is not a factor that you should make any decisions based on. (If you absolutely want to know, environmental engineering classes will likely have 40 to 50 percent females, while all the other engineering core classes are likely to have more like 20 percent. Honestly, this does not matter an ounce).
Take Care and Good Luck!
Environmental engineering is a very diverse field and environmental engineers come from many different backgrounds. Prerequisites for graduate degrees vary across programs, so you should look into some of the graduate programs that interest you to find out what courses are required. From there you can probably determine what kind of preparation you need. Some environmental graduate programs focus on treatment process design, which might require more chemistry or unit operations background than you get in a typical electrical engineering program, but other programs focus on mathematical modeling, and you probably have the background for those types of classes. Your best bet is to look around for programs that interest you and contact them directly. Either a faculty member or an administrator can help you determine how best to prepare.
Finding that first job can be intimidating depending on your experiences while in school. Ideally you would have had an internship or summer position while studying that could have generated some ideas and job leads while you finished your degree. If you don't have that I would suggest that you talk to the professors that you worked with in school. Many of them may have connections that could help you, and networking is a skill you will need to develop for the rest of your career. Begin telling everyone you know that you are looking for a career in environmental engineering and search job boards online that may have listings you would qualify for. If you can make connections with some of the people that work in the companies that interest you it could help you land the right position. Keep in mind that you don't have to get the perfect job right away. Just make sure there is a clearly defined path for how you can move from what you start with into what you ultimately want to be working on. Good luck.
We continue to make great strides toward advancing wave energy through research, development and testing - and yes, fully exploring wave energy as a strong contributor to our renewable energy portfolios continues to be a passion of mine.
Hi Claire! That is totally possible. I was in a dance organization for a short period while in college, but I knew many people who were long time members of dance companies in college as well as outside dance instructors, etc. while still being an engineer. Although it might be slightly more difficult that doing something like math where you have to take most of those courses anyways for your major, it is not impossible. Many universities have resources for students who are studying two very different fields and sometimes have special advisors or more than one advisor for those students, so make sure you inquire with your college when you get there about what support can be given to you so that you choose classes that will make your schedule easier. Great question, let me know if you have any further questions! :)
Hi Cori,
This will obviously depend on the schools that you apply to, but I think you will have a hard time without calculus. I would contact the admissions department at the schools you are considering and ask about what courses you would absolutely need to handle their graduate program.
Since I'm a mechanical engineer, it would be great if you stayed with mechanical. On the other hand, it sounds like you need to explore environmental engineering and chemical engineering to see if you would like one of those better. I don't know much about jobs in chem eng or env eng. In mechanical engineering, there is a wide variety of jobs. Many jobs involve design and manufacturing of consumer products, but there are lots of other possibilities too. You might check out some of the senior design projects in the different majors in your school. That will give you an idea of the type of work the various types of engineers do. If you have the time, take a chem eng or env eng class to check it out. Good luck.
Hi Enya,
Choosing a college for engineering is a little harder than just looking at the rankings in any particular study. Make sure the college you choose is ABET accredited, but also consider the size of the school, the location, the philosophy of the school, expense, and what the professors are working on. All of those things will make a school more or less attractive to you personally. To get started look at the University Finder or tryengineering.com. That will give you a list of accredited programs that you can begin to investigate. Good luck!
Hi Jackie,
This is not an easy question to answer, because the answer will be different for everyone. I would suggest that you not focus too much on your title. If there is some specific area of environmental engineering that you would like to work in, see if you can find a way to apply your current skills. Look into attending conferences on the topic and see if you can attend some talks or workshops where you will get to meet people in the area. The annual Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) conference was recently held in Baltimore, and may be one example. The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists my be a good place to start and may be able to help you find a job in a field that interests you. Good luck!
All of the engineering disciplines you mentioned can support your renewable energy career pursuits. For example, I'm a civil and structural engineer by training but I now manage renewable energy work and education for potential customers. The more important factor will be your grade point average and progress shown in your transcripts. We all will have difficult semesters; however, you can show progress if you worked hard to improve your grades (should you need to).
The most important is to follow a passion which sounds like renewable energy and this also my passion. Good luck with your endeavors.
There are many different paths that you can take as an "environmental engineer". Science is directly involved in all of these paths. My main focus is water resources and science definitely plays a huge role in that field. We have to understand a great deal of chemistry, to identify pollutants to water and soils and the subsequential environmental impacts. We also have to understand fish, wildlife and plant habitats when working in the water resources field of environmental engineering, a few examples where this is important are designing stormwater management structures, rehabilitation of dams, and wetlands creation or restoration. The best part of environmental engineering for me is being able to see, explore and create first hand in the field. I get to travel to locally to many different places.
Yes, absolutely Hallie. This was one of the reasons I wanted to become an environmental engineer. I know that I didn't want to always be sitting behind a desk! It depends what kind of career path you choose for yourself, but I knew I wanted to work outdoors. Since graduation from college about 10 years ago, I have had three different jobs. My first job out of college was dealing directly with remediation, site clean up contaminants, etc. This position allowed me time out of the office for things like investigative sampling. My second position was as a consulting engineer. I worked to design dam structures, infiltration basins, wetlands, and streambanks. I was able to be outdoors quite often (but not all the time) with this position as well, for things like inspections or observing construction activities. With my current position, I am outside the majority of the time. I now strictly oversee the construction of dams and I travel to various locations around the State.
Thank you for your questions.
1.What do you love about Environmental Engineering? Is there anything you dislike?
I've always had a fascination with water as a young child and was good at Chemistry in high school. I did not actually know about Environmental Engineering until my husband decided to dual major in civil and environmental engineering. After I graduated I wanted to work in environmental science but still wanted to get an engineering degree. Overall, I find all aspects of environmental engineering very interesting but have to say solid waste management and wastewater are my two favorite areas.
I do not have any specific dislikes within environmental engineering. It is a challenge sometimes for the public to understand environmental concerns or dealing with regulatory hurdles.
2. Do you see the field growing in the future?
Yes I do see the future growing mainly due to more stringent regulations as well as our desire to be a more sustainable society. We are not going to stop throwing items away and using the bathroom. So to some extent I call that job security.
3. What have your experiences as a woman in the field been like?
Environmental engineering seems to have the largest percentage of females (~50%) at the university level. I have not dealt with any negative issues being a "female" in a somewhat male dominated workforce. I actually enjoy the challenge.
Thank you for reaching out to me. I have attempted to answer your questions below, please let me know if you have any additional questions. I wish you nothing but luck in your engineering studies.
1. What drew you to the field of civil engineering instead of environmental or another field of engineering? Someone once told me if you look at something, say a fan, and wonder how it works you should be a mechanical engineer. I never wondered that, so I got into civil engineering. I am passionate about the environment, but was told that a civil engineer can work as an environmental engineer but not all environmental engineers can do civil work. I did not want to limit myself since engineering is everything around us. Like you noticed, what I do is related to stormwater engineering. I just stumbled into this field and so happy I did. You never know where life, your career will take you so be open and try not to limit yourself or focus on one thing while in college. Learn as much as you can in your undergrad studies.
2. A lot of environmental engineering jobs I've seen involve water and waste management; could an Environmental Engineer do Stormwater Engineering? In my experience, I have only hired civil engineers. Not to say I would not hire an environmental but I would look for a candidate that has taken hydrology, hydraulics and maybe another water related course.
3. My mom is also an engineer within the aerospace/defense industry and has faced some discrimination in the office because she is one of the few females. What have your experiences as a woman in the field been like? My experiences have been mostly positive. I felt that I was one of the few women engineers while in college. That experience prepared me for working in a male dominated field. I tend to enjoy working more at firms that have women in leadership positions. However, you do notice it more at conferences and professional organizations. I have been fortunate to work with talented women throughout my career and I am always excited when a young woman shows interest in engineering. We need more of them!
4. Do you know of any other environmental or civil engineers that I could get into contact with? I'd really love to learn as much as I can about the fields before I start taking classes in a certain specialty. And, I'd really like to interview as many people as I can. I would continue to use this site, however I do know some environmental engineers and will reach out to them on your behalf. If you don't mind I can just send them the questions you sent me.
Thank you!
Hello Payton! You have some GREAT questions and I'm thrilled that you're spending some time researching and learning as much as you can before you start your college education! I translate your "I'm only average with math" that you understand there is some math involved with ANY engineering degree and the "trick" to mastering math is practice. You will need to take and pass some calculus, linear algebra and differential equations and your science would also include some physics but don't forget you'd also want to include some Matlab or programming language courses, if they are available to you now. If you're committed to a degree, you can definitely pass your required math and science courses. I failed an intro-civil engineering course and an advanced Calculus course the first go-round, but you can't quit and also note, sometimes those courses are used to "weed out" those who are not committed to the degree. You have to hang in there and focus! PRACTICE, group study sessions, committing to the homework and your own desire to an engineering degree are key to your success - the learning will happen if you're focused. Environmental engineering is an exciting career and if you already have an interest in chemistry and biology along with working with water and all the processes we as humans need then I want you working as an environmental engineer!! Water treatment, analysis, sources, sampling, wastewater treatment, control systems...the list goes on and on that you'll want to also include an internship or work-study program to better inform yourself of what you prefer career-wise once you've completed your degree. I'm wishing you GREAT success and hopefully I was able to answer your questions. If not, please feel free to reach out again and we'll dig a little deeper and find you some more answers. Never stop learning!! -P
Internships, Research work, details of all your small and large projects, engineering leadership and entrepreneurship experience.
I am an atmospheric scientist, and feel it is the most interesting and rewarding career. As you know, climate change is a most important danger facing humankind, together with the degradation of the environment due to over-exploitation of Nature and natural resources. As an environmental engineer you will be able to guide people towards reducing these dangers that past generations, including mine, have created. You might want to look at a paper on Human and Nature Dynamics (HANDY):
There are many more aspects of human interactions with the environment that are dealt by environmental engineering, and they all have an impact on the future of society.
With best wishes,
Eugenia Kalnay
Have you thought about industrial design?
That field is a great mix of art and engineering.
Check out the company IDEO for some cool industrial design projects.
There are definitely companies out there focusing on environmental industrial design.
Hi Uyen - First things first - You need to stop putting yourself down. If you say, my grades and SAT scores are horrible, other people will believe you, even when they are no horrible. Here is a link showing admission profile for 2013 for the UC schools: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/freshman/profiles/. You are doing fine with your grades and SAT score (although it looks like you will need to take the ACT).
Do not worry about your AP scores, here is link showing that AP scores do not hurt college admissions: https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/help#faq9.
Statistics is used in engineering, and most likely you will need to take a statistics class as part of the engineering school curriculum, but you do not need to do while in high school. The same is true for a computer programing classes.
If you want help picking what classes you should take next year, I would recommend looking at the college websites, they will have a list of requirements. You might also want to contact an adviser within the department you are looking at, they can also give you recommendations.
There is more to college admissions than just your grades, being a well rounded person, who participates in clubs or sports is also important. When planning your classes for next year remember that having fun is a critical part of your schedule, and you need something interesting to write about for your college essays. Your college essay is a great place to show your passion.
Lastly I would recommend you read this article for the Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/04/the-confidence-gap/359815/
It talks about the confidence gap between men and women. The take away I took from the article, was that I need to learn to fake it till and make, and that planing is not always the most important thing.
Good luck! I am sure you will do great.
Hi Mahalia!
It's so great to hear from you, and to see that you have interest in becoming an environmental engineer! Enrolling in a variety of math and science courses while in school is a great start. If your are interested in the environmental aspect of engineering, taking classes like chemistry, physics, astronomy and biology are an important base for engineering. When I was in high school, I found several science/engineering/math based summer programs/camps offered by local universites and colleges that I enrolled in, that really helped further my interest in engineering.
Hope that helps!
Lauren Helland
My advice to a homeschooler interested in becoming an environmental engineer is pretty much the same advice I would give to any young person. Study as much math and science as possible in order to be prepared for college engineering classes and seek out opportunities in the local community to learn more about what engineers do. Local sections of professional organizations like the Society of Women Engineers or the American Society of Civil Engineers often host activities for pre-college students to give them a chance to learn more about engineering. Colleges also may offer weekend or summer programs for high school or middle school students to come to campus and learn about science, technology, and engineering.
Hope that is helpful!
Hi. These courses will suit you well for environmental engineering. I am not familiar with your curriculum requirements, however, in the States, I never took any mechanics based courses during University. All of my education was based around what you described: physics, chemistry, biology and maths. To achieve an environmental engineering degree from Drexel University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), I was required to take a great deal of chemistry and math courses. I would also recommend that you begin to think about a path of environmental engineering and your choices for study will become more clear. For example, as an environmental engineer, you can focus on remediation and contaminant transport, etc, which would be all chemistry. I, however, focus more on streambank restoration, construction of dams and spillways, wetlands, etc. Therefore my profession is more hydraulic, or math, based. Thank you! Good Luck.
The environmental engineering niche market should be huge, because the impacts of the humans on the environment, including climate change are huge, and increasing dangerously. More efficient and cleaner use of water, soil, energy, etc, are such niches.
Perhaps you could include a link to our paper
Hi Mika,
I would highly suggest starting with the engineering undergraduate degree. Yes, you will be able to get an engineering masters degree later and could also still possibly find a job in the environmental field with only a biology degree, but your pay would be significantly less and your career advancement would progress slower. Plus, most biology programs are probably geared towards medial or research, which have nothing to do with environmental engineering or environmental science.
Typically, most engineers in the environmental field do have a masters degree. If you did want to earn an engineering masters degree it would be significantly harder without the engineering undergraduate degree as there is a lot of math skills that you would not have practiced with a biology undergraduate degree.
With a degree in engineering the career paths are limitless! I know engineers who are working in all types of industries in traditional and non-traditional engineering roles.
What else can you do with an undergraduate degree in biology? What would be your starting salary options? Are you getting student loans to pay for school? Could you afford to pay those loans on a salary of a biologist?
Best of luck!
A lot of Environmental Engineers have a bachelors in Civil Engineering. Civil Engineering focuses on 3 major areas: structural, water resources, and soils. Both water resources and soils have major impacts on the environment. Environmental Engineering also covers 3 major areas: air, water, and soil. So, it's easy to see the overlap between Civil and Environmental. Choosing classes at this point in your education is still a broad learning experience. Even in college, most engineering majors take the same classes their first two years in an engineering program. The basics of general sciences and math teach problem solving and analysis. Just push yourself to learn and understand how to solve problems. That's what engineering is all about.
Danielle Forget Shield
Hi Lisa!
What a great question! Depending on what aspect of Environmental Engineering you are interested in (sounds like renewable energy!), you definitely have the opportunity to use computer science and programming skills. Though I personally have not done much with programming or renewable energy, I know there is definitely a need related to wastewater treatment system design, water modeling (groundwater, surface water, contaminant transport, geochemical modeling, etc), and other avenues of environmental engineering. If you get started with an environmental engineering program at a college or university, I highly recommend asking the faculty of that department if they have connections to people in the industry that would be able to answer your question more specifically.
Best of luck!
Hi Lisa,
I used to work with a geotechnical engineering firm that specialized in designing foundations for windmills. I personally have a Civil Engineering degree. There is a lot of work for Environmental engineers but mainly on feasibility studies of windmills. It was fun working with them. Best of luck on your adventure.
Hi Erin!
First off, would you be more interested in ensuring the building would be able to support the garden, selecting the right plants or designing a rainwater filtration system & cistern? A civil engineer would be involved with the calculations to determine if the roof and building structure could support the garden. Soil is VERY heavy, plus the plants would need water which adds to the weight that the building would need to support. If you'd be more interested in the layout of the garden and selecting plants based on what grows well in the area then a program in landscape architecture may be what you should look into. Landscape Architects select the types of plants and where they would be located to ensure the garden functions ascetically and biodiversity. Almost all projects that I work on involve a landscape architect. A rainwater filtration system and cistern would probably need to be designed by an engineer, but not necessarily a civil engineer as some mechanical engineers design these types of systems. Calculations for the volume of rainwater the system would need to store as well as the design of an emergency overflow would be done by an engineer. I am not familiar with a degree in environmental studies, but I would recommend that you speak with someone who has completed this degree to determine the types of job opportunities that would be available to you once you graduate. I'd also like to point out that the salary of engineers tend to be much higher than someone with an environmental science degree and sometimes the entry level positions would be basically the same!
I would highly suggest that you reach out to local urban gardeners before you begin your degree program as they may know of resources that would be highly beneficial to you. Plus, ask about their background you may learn that a degree isn't even needed to reach your dream! Have you heard of UpGarden or Seattle Urban Farm Company? A quick google search led me to those two organizations! A plethora of start-up incubators exist that may be a good route for you to explore as well. Such as UnLtd USA that is based in Austin, TX specifically for social entrepreneurs. Are there any in Seattle that would fit your dream?
Hope this helps!
Hi Leslie. I'm going to assume you are asking about design projects while in college. I worked on two major projects in my environmental engineering degree courses. One was designing a bio-filter for a swine farm. It was really difficult to try and make pigs smell good! The second project I worked on as my senior design project was a water chilling/recycling system for a tart cherry farm in northern Michigan. The best part about that project is that the farm actually used what we designed! It saved them money in the long run as they were able to produce a higher quality product. ~Kristin
Hi Michelle. Well, most of the engineers that I know are well-rounded in their interests, meaning that not all of us LOVE math and science. However, the classes that you need to successfully conquer in pursuing an engineering degree can be daunting if you truly despise math/science. So, to answer your question, yes, I do know many engineers that have a tendency towards social sciences and the arts. However, the path of an actual engineering degree could be really difficult for someone who doesn't have any aptitude towards math/science. I would say that it depends on your level of "challenge" as you stated. I certainly didn't love Calculus, by the time I got to Calc 4, I was just hoping to make it through and not kill my GPA. Engineers are inherently problem solvers- that's what you need to LOVE about being an engineer. Sometimes you need math to solve a problem, but more often than not, you will use a combination of all your skills and not only rely on math. I hope this helps put things in perspective for you! Good luck in your adventure. ~Kristin
Hi Aleena- it's not a stupid question!
If you think you are interested in environmental engineering then you probably like math and science. Most engineering schools have an environmental engineering program, sometimes it is associated with the Civil Engineering program and sometimes it is associated with the Agricultural Engineering program. Classes that you would take for an Environmental Engineering degree would include wastewater design and treatment systems, landfill design, air pollution control, for example. While still in high school, take as much math and science as you can- if you can add an advanced Biology or Physics or Math class- do it! When you are looking for colleges, be sure to look specifically at the engineering school to see if they highlight a specific environmental program. Good luck! ~Kristin
Vanessa, it's great to hear from you. I am a structural engineer and have not interfaced much with environmental engineers, but here's my two cents.
Hi Katherine! I can give you a few examples of the types of careers that I personally know Environmental Engineers may have, in no particular order: President/Owner of an Environmental/Civil Engineering Consulting company; Director of Environmental, Health & Safety at a steel manufacturing company; Permit Writer/Inspector working for the USEPA or state agency. There are several websites that post specific jobs for Environmental careers, one that I would suggest you look at is: www.ehscareers.com
There you can find several real job postings for Environmental Engineers, this may help you see what a career could entail. I hope this information helps you. Good luck! ~Kristin
Hi Grace,
I'm going to tackle your question a couple different ways. First of all, I love that you're thinking of combining something you're passionate about (outdoors) and something you're good at (math). I think it's really awesome that you're thinking about that and that you're thinking about environmental engineering (I'm maybe a little biased because that's what I do).
Next, I would love for us to try to get away from the idea that engineering equals math and science. I think having this idea in our heads makes engineering seem intimidating and defers young people from wanting to be engineers even though in my experience it is definitely not true that engineers have to be good at math and/or science. I think that being good at math and science is the only way you're going to get through an engineering program in college, but you by no means have to be a math and science whiz to be an engineer in the real world, at least in the civil/environmental field, which I work in. While there is still a bit of math and science type stuff going on in the civil/environmental field, being an engineer in this field is largely about being able to work with other people - to work with a team - and to be able to come up with practical solutions. Most of the math my coworkers and I do on a daily basis is simple math, multiplication, division, etc.
I think that if you have a passion for the outdoors, then a career in environmental engineering could be very rewarding for you. Environmental engineering is amazing because there are so many great things you can do within the field - drinking water treatment so people have clean water to drink, wastewater treatment to protect our water resources and public health, stream restoration, remediation of contaminated soil and water, and many more very important things. Some environmental engineers get to spend a lot of time outdoors doing sampling and other types of field work. Others spend more time in the office than in the field. It all depends on what type of environmental engineering you are interested in really.
I would encourage you to find engineering firms in your area that have environmental engineers and see if maybe you can shadow someone for a day or a couple of days to get exposed to the different types of things they do. You never know - that one day of shadowing an environmental engineer now could end up being your way in to a future internship or full-time job. And it's better to find out sooner than later if it's not something you can see yourself doing.
I hope this was helpful!
I guess it depends where you want to go with it. I love Physics and started out there but I went to RIT and got a degree in Mechanical Engineering so I would have more opportunities. When I had a choice I took as many classes as I could related to energy such as Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Advanced Thermodynamics, Fluids, Renewable Energy Systems, etc, so that when I graduated I would be better prepared for my current field as an energy engineer.
Dear Nicole,
Hi Diana - I think some of the answer to your question has to do with what you want to do with your degree. Civil Engineering with an Environmental focus or minor is a great option. Remember you can always get a masters degree to help specialize in the future.
Waste water and storm water are two very different things, so you may want to shadow a few engineers or get an internship where you can be exposed to both. But to your question, when I was in college, my adviser told me that "civil engineers can be environmental engineers, but it is harder for environmental engineers to be civil engineers." That advice really seemed to pan out for me. Just having an engineering degree, environmental or civil, will open many doors for you! I have been doing storm water engineering (via civil engineering degree) for 12 years now and will be doing it for many more. I do know you have to like what you are doing, so go with your passion. Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.
Hi Samantha,
My best advice is to talk to the Department Head of which ever college/university you'd like to attend. Since you are interested in "global issues", maybe Industrial Hygiene, Water Resources Engineering (which I think is a branch off of Civil Engineering), or Environmental Engineering may be your best bet. The Department Head of "Engineering", should be able to answer if you should return to get your BS or get your Masters. There might be certain pre-requisites that you may have to take (like a BS). Hopefully someone else with more experience, will read your question and be able to answer with more detail.
Good luck,
Hi Sujit. That's a tough question!
You can apply your engineering skills in any career you choose! I know environmental engineers who are lawyers, work for the USEPA, own their own consultanting company and work in manufacturing- so many choices. Your next step depends on what your current interests look like. Do you like design work? If so, a consultant position might be great for you. Do you find manufacturing processes fascinating? If so, you may want to look at more of a compliance related position in an industrial setting. I started in a consulting company and I found that I was able to work with both regulators and manufacturers. I gained experience with a variety of industries and was able to decide what path to take next. This may be a good option for you if you are undecided on what truly interests you. I hope this helps. Best of luck! -Kristin
Hi Leslie. What a great question!
I am currently working as an Environmental Director at a steel mill. My day-to-day routine changes all of the time. Change is definitely something you have to be able to embrace if your career takes you into a manufacturing environment. It isn't all about being in the office looking at a computer either! I put on my steel toe boots and my hard hat and head out into the operations areas as much as I can. That is where you really get to use your problem-solving skills and put your engineer brain to work. Other paths for an environmental engineer could be as a consultant or working for an agency. Both of these options have a decent amount of work in an office but also field work. I hope this helps answer your question. Best of luck to you! -Kristin
Hi Pneuma,
I'm not sure why your friends are discouraging you! But, regardless of the reason, it's YOUR career, and not theirs, so you should make the decision for yourself. Of course it's good to get input from people who are knowledgeable - for example, talking to people who are working as environmental engineers can give you an accurate picture of what the field is like. I can connect you with those people if you're interested. It may also be good to consult with some of your teachers and professors in the areas you're interested in (probably natural sciences, math and mechanics, based on your desire to be an Env Eng). They might be able to tell you even more paths that may be worthwhile to check out.
And after all that, if your friends don't support you and your decisions... get some new friends!
Good luck.
Hi Candice,
Environmental engineers work at a variety of different kinds of sites, so I'm not sure exactly what you are asking. I'll answer based on the kind of work I used to do investigating hazardous waste disposal sites. We worked on military bases and industrial facilities, some of which were very old, so one of the first questions we faced was "what happened here?" Sometimes answering that question required researching old records of activities at the site and interviewing current and former employees. Based on that information, we would consider what possible types of contamination might be present and what kind of sampling and analyses we would need to do to characterize the site.
Hope that's helpful.
Hi Alicia,
I apologize in advance that this answer is not going to be super straightforward. I have a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from a school where the Civil & Environmental engineering departments were one in the same. My school's program focused pretty heavily on water, including stormwater, drinking water treatment, pipe calculations etc. In my experience and in my geographic area (New York City area), the water engineering field is doing extremely well. Every company I can think of where I know somebody is looking to hire. There are green infrastructure initiatives being put out by major cities in the area as well as flood resiliency projects in response to Hurricane Sandy's devastation to the area in 2012. Most people in the water/wastewater field studied environmental engineering or civil engineering. I would say it's about 50/50. On the environmental side of things (insurance, remediation, etc.), I have personally seen this phasing out. Where we once had people from environmental firms or environmental divisions within our company do things like permitting, I'm definitely seeing a move toward doing those things on our own.
So the answer to your question is not that straightforward! It depends what area within the field you're trying to go into, and I'm sure you will also see some variations based on location. For example, water engineers are really busy figuring out how to deal with water from future floods in the NYC area, but water engineers in a landlocked state like Kansas maybe aren't as busy and are working on completely different types of projects (just a guess).
I do not think "environmental engineering jobs" are on their way out. We are facing challenges relating to our environment therefore there is always a need for environmental engineers. For example, environmental engineers are integral in the management of our drinking water, waste water, and solid waste (just to name a few).
Hi Meg! I am excited that you are interested in pursuing a career in environmental and/or civil engineering. A lot of colleges that offer civil engineering technology have some information on their website about the differences between engineering technology and engineering. I encourage you to check the schools website and see their explanation but I can give you a little bit of insight. I graduated college with a degree in civil engineering technology. The main difference between the two degrees is the straight engineering degree tends to be more theory based curriculum and calculus based mathematics, The engineering technology degree is more hands on application and algebra based mathematics. So in the engineering technology degree I took we had the theory based classes but we also had a lab associated with them that required us to do the physical testing in order to get our data, rather then just being given the data to complete the calculation. There is also a little bit of a difference when you get into the work force depending on what field you go into. I had no problem finding a job with an engineering technology degree and neither did friends of mine that I went to school with. But the difference being if you desire to get your PE (Professional Engineering) license. Every state is different but most have some a required about of time you have to work in the field that is longer for someone with an engineering technology degree then someone with an engineering degree.
The difference between environmental and civil and mechanical can be very drastic or very minimal depending on what you want to do as a career. Environmental tends to be more groundwater and soils analysis but overlaps with civil in that manner where civil is more using that analysis to design the things that impact the soils. and mechanical with an environmental option I would imagine has to do with the design of windmills or things like that the are environmentally geared.
I hope this helps answer your question and helps you decide which is the right path for you.
Hi Kaci,
Environmental engineers can work for government agencies, consulting firms, or industrial corporations, so there are a variety of job opportunities out there. You don't need to have an undergraduate major in environmental engineering. Many civil and chemical engineering programs can prepare you well for a career in the environmental field. It would be helpful to take some courses that are specifically focused on environmental issues in addition to core technical courses. Environmental work is largely driven by government regulations, so some background in law and policy is helpful. Communication skills are also very important, because environmental engineers often work with the general public as well as regulatory agencies. During my engineering career I worked on designing municipal water and wastewater treatment plants as well as waste management for oil refineries and chemical plants. I reviewed proposed regulations and prepared background studies to inform regulatory decisions, and I managed teams of scientists and engineers investigating old hazardous waste disposal sites. I'm sure you can find work that is interesting, challenging, and rewarding.
Best wishes,
Rachel – Going to a State school will not adversely affect you when applying for grad school. They look mainly at your grads and your area of interest. However, it will be extremely difficult to get into an Environmental Engineering program without an Engineering degree. You indicated that you will be a sophomore next year. Does your school offer engineering? If so, it would probably mean you end up going to school 5 years instead of 4. Believe me, if you are concerned about making a good living, the engineering degree will beat a general science degree every time. If your school does not offer engineering, you may want to see if they have an environmental sciences or geology degree and consider a double major. You are correct, graduate school is substantially more expensive than undergrad work. However, in the real world, what I see is there are SOME people with engineering degrees that go on the get Master's degrees, but this is much more frequent for people with science degrees. I think the biggest reason for this is in the work place, for a science degree to be considered the equivalency of an engineering degree generally requires a Master's degree. With this being said, you would be much better off to pursue the engineering degree now, even if it takes extra time and effort. If you do this, you may find out you don't need to get a Master's degree. The reason for this is because what most engineering firms are looking for is someone that has passed the Engineer-In-Training exam (generally taken your last semester of your senior year) and can go on to get their Professional Engineering License after they have received 4 years of experience under a Professional Engineer. Good luck in your decision!
I graduated from a school that offered 5 different engineering concentrations: Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil & Environmental. The Environmental concentration people took a few chemistry classes but it was mostly a Civil Engineering degree with some Chemical analysis and environmental protection added in. The Chemical program had classes that worked on Mass & Energy balances and taught process modeling (making new chemicals from other ones, think refinery or chemical manufacturing). The environmental people did some water treatment classes.
My friends what took the Environmental concentration currently work for municipalities (Cities) and do water treatment, or they are working in labs that test environmental toxins. My Chemical engineering friends work for oil and gas companies, personal product companies (think shampoo, toothpaste), or explosives (for mining), or Space (rockets, and instrumentation). My Environmental friends salaries about 60% of what my Chemical friends make.
Hi Karly!
I just had a baby a year ago, so I understand your concern. I'm a software engineer, so luckily there's a lot of flexibility when it comes to working remotely. I also am fortunate in that I'm able to work part time.
I know that I'm super lucky and I think that it's the company I work for to thank, not the fact that I'm a software engineer. So I think a lot of it boils down to finding the right company that's willing to be flexible.
For instance, a government position might not be so flexible as finding a smaller company to work for. Since you don't want kids immediately, you'll also have a little more leverage once you put in a few full time years. I think most companies will be more willing to renegotiate your working conditions if they know they can count on you. You could also consider contracting work once you have some experience if you want to go that route.
I think there's always a balance to be found, and I wouldn't settle for a career that you're not enthusiastic about just because it's more convenient.
I can also say as a mom, that a lot of the things I thought I was going to want before motherhood changed once I had a baby. So there's no way to plan it all out to a tee now, you just have to roll with the punches and it will all work out!
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for writing. It's great that you've gotten some experience and have some good footing to make your next career move. I started as a Bio major as well, and then transferred into env engineering. I'd say school-wise, the difference was math and mechanics (more of that in engineering vs. the natural sciences), and career-wise, I'd say scientists and engineers work hand in hand together all the time and are both equally involved with problem solving. They each simply have some different "tools" in their toolboxes to get the job done.
Before going back to school, I would consider trying your hand at applying for some of the jobs you seek with your current degree and experience. If you can get the job through a lateral career move (no promotion or raise) without another degree, you just saved yourself a lot of time and money! You'd be surprised how flexible employers can be for eager people who are smart and willing to solve problems. That way, you get paid to build your own toolbox, and get even more leverage for your next move.
Good luck!
Environmental engineering is a combination of math and science. Courses required in environmental engineering are heavily involved in science. I would consider why you do not like science when evaluating your decision to pursue environmental engineering. Since you are just taking general education it might be difficult to see the connection between your science courses and your career. If you really do like environmental engineering you will most likely enjoy your courses despite being related to science.
Environmental engineering and environmental science/biology will have different degree requirements. I obtained my MS in Environmental Engineering after completing a degree in Chemistry. During my undergraduate studies I was an engineering major for most of my undergraduate career but switched majors towards the end of my junior year. Therefore I had calculus I-III and differential equations, physics with calculus, thermodynamics, statistics for engineers, and other engineering core courses. One challenge you might have obtaining your M.S. in environmental engineering might be with articulation courses. Despite having the courses I previously mentioned, I still had to take 18 hours of senior level environmental engineering courses before I could start my MS work. These courses were vital to my success with both MS and PhD coursework. The ability for you to obtain your MS in environmental engineering will depend on the program you plan to apply to and what they will require you to take. One other aspect to think about is if you want to become a professional engineer on day. There are required coursework to be able to take the FE which is the first step to becoming a professional engineer. If this is something you'd like to consider than your engineering coursework will be very important. What you are proposing can be done but might require some extra time.
I'm lucky enough not to have had to have a job interview for a few years but I've been through interviews for certain roles and most recently my Chartership, and I can't actually think of a time where I've faced criticism or sexism in these situations. I'm very sorry if this is not the experiences you've faced and this should definitely not be accepted! I think it's quite common to feel that women have to prove themselves as being a good engineer more so than our male counterparts, and unfortunately the only real way to prove this is through experience. So get some good, hands-on, experiences. Depending on the field of engineering you're interested in, this could be volunteering with a local company or using any connections you may have, be that personal or through your school. It's always good in an interview to be able to reference back to this. Having worked with many larger companies I believe the general feeling, right from senior management, is that female engineers are a good asset to any team. There are of course some people with different views, but I think you can experience this in most walks of life, sexist comments shouldn't be tolerated and if you experience this in an interview this should be reported back to the company HR (if they have one). This may not however, be a company you want to work for.
Interview situations are tough for anyone, so try not to worry about any preconceived ideas the interview may have and be confident in your own abilities. Focus on what you're strengths are and what you can bring to the role.
Do you have an example of something that's happened to you? I'd be happy to give my opinion on how I'd have dealt with the situation?
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April 21, 2008 WIC Update
SUBJECT 1: New Crystal Report - "Participant Cycles with Counts and Percentages"
SUBJECT 2: Laminated Income Guidelines - Lunar Blue
SUBJECT 3: Discontinued Nu-Trish Milk
SUBJECT 4: Assessment and Treatment - Childhood Obesity Nutrition Ed. Opportunity
SUBJECT 5: Nutrition in Pregnancy Across the Lifespan - Nutrition Ed. Opportunity
SUBJECT 6: Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program Evaluation Report
SUBJECT 7: Handling Rebates from the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008
- New Crystal Report - "Participant Cycles with Counts and Percentages":
A new report has been created and posted to the local agency report folder under the Clinic Management folder and the TA/Desk Audit/Monitoring folder. This report lists the total number and percentage of participants on monthly (cycle 1), bi-monthly (cycle 2), and Tri-Monthly (cycle 3) for each agency. If the cycle number is not listed in the report, it means the agency has no participants currently assigned with that cycle number. This report shows agency totals only. Satellite site information is included in the agency totals.
If you have any questions about this report, please contact your district TA team
- Laminated Income Guidelines - Lunar Blue: The Income Guidelines for April 1, 2008 - March 31, 2009 were printed and laminated. The State WIC Office will be shipping them to all local WIC providers on Friday, April 25, 2008. If you have any questions, please contact Takako Tagami at email@example.com.
- Discontinued Nu-Trish Milk: Nu-Trish Milk is no longer available in Missouri. The food item and food packages for Nu-Trish Milk in the HANDS system will be inactivated on April 21, 2008. Please advise your staff and participants about these changes. If you have any questions, please contact Takako Tagami at email@example.com.
- Assessment and Treatment: Childhood Obesity Nutrition Education Opportunity: WIC Registered Dietitians, Nutritionists, and RNs will want to take advantage of this statewide satellite training: Assessment, Treatment and Environmental Factors that Impact Childhood Obesity, on June 4 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm in Jefferson City, Poplar Bluff, Fulton, Bethany, St. Louis, and Forsyth. This year's conference will focus on assessment and treatment of child and adolescent obesity. Additionally, sessions on medical and environmental factors that have an impact on children and weight will be discussed. This training is sponsored by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of WIC and Nutrition Services, Nutrition Training Institute. Please see the attached registration brochure for details or contact Michele Bailey at 573.751.6481 firstname.lastname@example.com.
- Nutrition in Pregnancy Across the Lifespan, Nutrition Education Opportunity: WIC Nutritionists, Registered Dietitians, and Nurses will want to take advantage of this interactive teleseminar, Nutrition in Pregnancy Across the Lifespan, on June 12 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in Jefferson City. This year's conference will focus on the metabolic and physiological changes in pregnancy that affect nutrient needs; risk factors placing adult women at risk for poor maternal and fetal outcomes; the nutrient needs in single vs. multiple pregnancies; the role of nutrient supplementation in the prevention of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; the biological and socioeconomic factors that influence poor pregnancy outcomes in pregnant teens; how inadequate and excessive weight gain during adolescent pregnancy may affect fetal and maternal growth; and the current recommendations for energy and selected nutrients during adolescent pregnancy. This training is sponsored by the American Dietetic Association and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of WIC and Nutrition Services, Nutrition Training Institute. Please see the attached registration brochure for details or contact Michele Bailey at 573.751.6481 or email@example.com.
6. Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Evaluation Report: The Missouri WIC program dedicates funds to the local WIC providers specifically for their peer counseling programs. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention a formal study was conducted. A brief report of this study is attached. The full report will be added to the DHSS web page when completed.7. Handling Rebates from the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008: USDA has provided guidance regarding the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Specifically, the Act states that any credit or refund allowed or made to any individual from this Act shall not be taken into account as income. The rebate checks made under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 are to be treated as other one-time, lump-sum payments, i.e., they are to be excluded from income when determining eligibility. Please share this with your agency WIC staff. If you have any questions, please contact the health program representative on your TA team.
BFPC Evaluation Study Review
Nutrition in Pregnancy Registration Brochure
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About the Author: Christian Wright serves as Information Officer at U.S. Embassy Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.
When violence broke out in Osh on June 11, I was in Washington, D.C., packing to move my family to Kyrgyzstan. With apprehension, I watched the images of plumes of smoke rising above the distinctive landmark of Sulayman's Mountain, the only World Heritage Site in Kyrgyzstan. The violence resulted in more than 300 dead and nearly 2,000 homes burned, leaving a tense situation in the south.
When I arrived at Embassy Bishkek in July, I found it bustling with an impressive group of people dedicated to helping rebuild the south, and to promote peace and reconciliation. Soon, I found myself on a plane to Osh to support the visit of Daniel Rosenblum, the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia. The previous day, Rosenblum had led the delegation to an international donors' conference in which the United States pledged an additional $48.6 million in assistance. The following day, we flew to Osh in order to view the situation firsthand, and to speak with victims of the violence and civil society leaders.
Throughout the day, we spoke with ethnic Uzbeks and ethnic Kyrgyz who expressed their confusion and fear concerning the situation. The civil society leaders were all committed to peace and reconciliation, but had also lost friends and loved ones, making it hard for them to be objective about the situation. During lunch, we met with representatives of international humanitarian organizations committed to rebuilding the damaged buildings. While there is some disagreement on the best way to rebuild, everyone believes it is important that the rebuilding is done in a fair and equitable manner, and there is no involuntary resettlement.
The United States has repeatedly stated that it calls for a credible investigation into the events that occurred around June 11. I believe that an investigation is an important step to helping the people of Osh move toward peace and reconciliation.
Related Content: Rebuilding Kyrgyzstan: U.S. Pledges $48.6 Million at International Donors' ConferenceFollow the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs on Facebook and Twitter.
Feruza in Massachusetts writes:
I absolutely agree that a credible investigation is a crucial step towards reconciliation between Uzbek and Kyrgyz people.
James A. in Kyrgyzstan writes:
hey guys, seen my photos from my trip south to the mountains near China?
I have been to Osh, Very bad there, Sure wish people would think before they do stuff.
Eric in New Mexico writes:
@James A.,
Do you think folks have learned from this?
And since you're on the ground there, what specificly are the locals doing to reach out to resolve divisions among their communities?
Too bad there isn't an "App" created yet for nationwide "group therapy" sessions.
Pamela G. in West Virginia writes:
Again and again this nation has bitter infighting with losses on both sides. We cannot be expected to pick up the pieces and rebuild every time; they need to learn to take responsibility for their actions and look to us for help in negotiations only.


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Monday, April 9, 2012
Summer Sketches No. 1
9 comments:
Thank you for showing your sketchbook of exercises, the hands are wonderful, so difficult to draw. Loving the start of your WIP. Happy PPF, Annette xReplyDelete
Awesome sketches ~ wonderful style ~thanks, namaste, ^_^ReplyDelete
Your hand sketches are really really good. It's such a hard thing to draw but you seem to have mastered it. I'll look forward to seeing the girl with the bird as she progresses.ReplyDelete
Interesting. I've also struggled with wanting to be better at strong lines - maybe I'll see what I can find.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 13, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Your practice is paying off, the sketches and the glimpses of the painting are fabulous.ReplyDelete
Love the portrait of the girl with the bird...so delicate.ReplyDelete
Happy PPF!!
Mixed-Media Map Art
great sketches. thanks for sharing them. I love the wip, too. Very delicate.ReplyDelete
Hands are a constant challenge and I have been battling them all week.... think you are winning the battle a lot more than I am...sorry for the late visit...xxReplyDelete
Beautiful sketches and hands for me are so difficult to draw, and there's sometimes as much feeling in the way you draw hands as an expression on a face. You did a wonderful job of capturing a mood with your girl and birdie. LOVE it!ReplyDelete


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This morning, Secretary Kerry released the Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013. Each year, these reports cover the human rights situation in 199 countries and territories. As the Secretary made clear, we stand with the courageous human rights defenders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and everyday individuals whose struggles are documented in these reports. As Secretary Kerry said this morning, the United States "will continue to speak out, without a hint of arrogance or apology, on behalf of people who stand up for their universal rights."
The number of democratic governments in the world has expanded greatly since we drafted the first Congressionally-mandated Human Rights Reports in 1977, but there are still too many countries around the world where governments fail to uphold and protect universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedoms of expression, religion, peaceful assembly, and association. In 2013, governments around the world clamped down on civil society and journalists using more violent and deadly tactics. Governments severely restricted freedom of expression, applying vague legislation to silence dissent and public opinion, and turning digital technologies into tools of repression. Governments also introduced new bills that oppress vulnerable groups, including members of religious and ethnic minorities, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons, and persons with disabilities, and security forces committed gross violations of human rights with little or no accountability.
On behalf of the Secretary and with others across the U.S. government, the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor uses a range of diplomatic tools to advance human rights around the world and to push back on governments' attempts to stifle their societies. We discuss problems and progress in bilateral dialogues, raise specific cases in our daily government-to-government engagement, and partner multilaterally to bring international pressure to bear on repressive regimes. We sit down with NGOs and human rights defenders, civil society, businesses, and others to identify potential drivers of positive change. Through our Congressionally appropriated Human Rights and Democracy Fund (HRDF), we support civil societies' documentation of human rights violations and abuses. We provide emergency assistance to embattled defenders, NGOs, and others through our rapid response funds. We also empower local NGOs and citizens to press for reforms and build foundations for accountable governance.
As we release these reports, I can't help but think of the activists and ordinary people I met in Damascus, Syria, where I served as Human Rights Officer over 15 years ago, and particularly of the Syrian colleagues at U.S. Embassy Damascus with whom I worked. The 2013 Syria report documents one of the human tragedies of our time. Well over 100,000 people have died during the conflict in Syria, more than 6.5 million citizens have been internally displaced, and 2.5 million are refugees. Yet in the face of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, courageous Syrians continue their pursuit of justice and fundamental freedoms.
I am inspired by the strength and tenacity of civil society and the resilience of so many around the world who refuse to be silenced despite the oppressive practices highlighted in these reports. As human rights icon Nelson Mandela once said: "It always seems impossible, until it is done."
Learn more about U.S. government engagement on international human rights at www.HumanRights.gov, or follow the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at Facebook.com/stateDRL or @State_DRL on Twitter.
About the Author: Uzra Zeya is the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.


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text: KQ's new E-Jet to boost African presence Nairobi, January 21, 2013 - Kenya Airways has boosted its fleet with the latest arrival of a new Embraer E-190 jet as it expands with an eye on the lucrative African market. It is the sixth out of ten fully owned E-190 jets that Kenya Airways expects to take delivery by mid this year. The new aircraft is suited for short regional routes within the African continent, where the airline is keen on boosting its presence. Registered 5Y – FFF, the E190 has 96 seats, 12 in business and 84 in economy class. With this addition Kenya Airways has 11 Embraer E190s currently flying in its livery. "Acquisition of the E-190 aircraft is a step towards growing the airline network by route and frequency growth, and the E190 is ideal especially for new routes development, while increasing frequencies on existing routes", said Dr Titus Naikuni, the Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer. Africa is an important market for the airline, generating about half of its airline's total revenue. In addition to this, it has maintained resilience even as the airline goes through difficult times. According to the operating statistics for the second quarter of 2012, African routes are amongst those that recorded growth despite a general slump in the global economy that was triggered by the crisis in the Eurozone. Under its 10-year strategic plan, Kenya Airways targets increasing its fleet to 119 by 2021; while growing the number of destinations to over 115 from the over 50 that it currently flies to. In addition to the E-jets, Kenya Airways has also ordered nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners that are slated for delivery by 2014. Ends /…. About Kenya Airways Kenya Airways, a member of the Sky Team Alliance, is a leading African airline flying to over 50 destinations worldwide, 40 of which are in Africa and carries over three million passengers annually. It continues to modernize its fleet with its 39 aircraft fleet being one of the most modern in Africa. The on-board service is renowned and the lie-flat business class seat on the wide-body aircraft is consistently voted among the world's top 10. Most recently it has scooped top awards at the Africa Investor (Ai) Tourism Investor Awards and was declared the Business Airline of the Year in Africa. Kenya Airways takes pride for being in the fore front of connecting Africa to the world and the World to Africa through its hub Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.