ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYST
Function in a professional context:
ROLE
Professional environmental analysts are experts in environmental analysis and monitoring, and acquire chemical, physical, geological or biological environmental data, also integrated and in various matrices (air, water, soil, sediment, coastal environments, etc.) in the field or in the laboratory, also designing the activities. Furthermore, they can provide specific consultancy on the basis of the environmental data analysed. They may work in the public or private sector, also on a freelance basis, at national and international level.
FUNCTIONS
The functions are multiple, carried out indifferent environmental sectors and with different objectives. E.g.:
- design and implementation of spatial analysis or environmental data;
- detection of site pollution and the organisation of interventions (e.g. safety measures, reclamations);
- environmental assessments and the drafting of technical reports;
- monitoring and control of pest control activities;
- analysis and monitoring of coastal environments;
- control of protected marine areas;
- deep sea surveys;
- coordination of projects and planning of technical specifications to use (e.g. territorial information systems);
- project coordination and identification of operational support tools suitable for the study of coastal environments (GIS, Remote Sensing, database management, analytical and/or numerical models, etc.);
- consulting for the public administration;
- environmental auditing;
- technical consultancy for acoustic, atmospheric pollution, etc.;
- safety consultancy within the laws in force;
- environmental assessment of plans and programmes;
- consulting and implementation of environmental impact assessments;
- consulting and implementation of strategice nvironmental assessments.
To acquire greater autonomy and responsibility in the performance of some of the listed activities and/or functions, further competencies in the legal field and in the available technologies must be acquired through further study.
Competencies associated to the function:
To develop the described functions, graduate experts in analysis and monitoring must have the following competencies and skills:
- use of appropriate and advanced methodologies;
- drafting of sampling patterns;
- use of geographical information systems;
- statistical analysis of the acquired results;
- assessment of the best sampling options in space and time;
- assessment of the best analytical methodologies available.
In addition to the above-described competences, experts have:
- autonomy, initiative, integration skills and intuition;
- knowledge of socio-economic and legal aspects;
- propensity for the continuous updating of knowledge;
- high organisational skills;
- ability to coordinate people and activities;
- ability to work in international contexts.
They are also able to work in interdisciplinary groups and relate and interact with other graduates, i.e. in law, statistics, economics and trade, engineers, biologists, geologists, chemists.
Career opportunities:
- Prevention, protection and control agencies (e.g.:ARPA, Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), ENEA, etc.);
- companies working in various sectors, also on an international level: energy; basic industrial chemistry; etc.;
- consulting companies;
- freelance professionals.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSOR
Function in a professional context:
ROLE
The role of environmental assessors experts in environmental management and support to decision-making is to work innovatively in the management of the environmental aspects (impacts, improvements, quality/safety/environmental management systems, etc.) in private companies or as a consultant.
FUNCTIONS
Professional Experts in environmental management and support to decision-making can perform the following functions:
- implement and be responsible for the company's quality, safety and environment management system;
- monitor the environmental integration of structural funds, also relating to coastal environments;
- identify improvements or solve environmental problems;
- examine the acquisition of goods and services, with a view to environmental impacts and life cycle analysis;
- manage environmental data collection systems;
- use systems and models to support decisions;
- design and manage interventions for the conservation, enhancement and restoration of environmental resources, aiming to safeguard the coastal territory and optimise and protect water resources;
- perform Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs);
- perform Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs).
To acquire greater autonomy and responsibility in the performance of some of the listed activities and/or functions, constant updating in the legislative field is necessary.
Competencies associated to the function:
To develop the described functions, environmental assessors must have the following competencies and skills:
- use the best methodologies available;
- produce business function diagrams;
- assess the environmental aspects of the business;
- assess the regulatory aspects of the company's environmental impact;
- assess the impacts of activities and services.
Furthermore, they are able to work in interdisciplinary groups and relate and interact with other graduates: in private businesses, with the management staff, Environment and Safety Manager, Engineers, Chemists and high-school graduates; in consulting firms, with graduates in Environmental Sciences, Chemists, Biologists, Engineers, in technical teams often supported by legal functions.
Career opportunities:
- Companies working in all sectors;
- Universities, Research bodies, Prevention, protection and control agencies (e.g.: ARPA, Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), ENEA, etc.).
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICIAN
function in a professional context:
ROLE
The role of the Environmental Technician is to deal in public institutions in policies for sustainable development, advice on environmental management systems and processes, environmental accounting, environmental integration of structural funds; implementation of investigations, controls and supervision of municipal waste management services and environmental monitoring. They manage controls and authorisations of environmental procedures; organise, coordinate and monitor environmental safety projects supporting public and private offices dealing with safety and protection of the terrestrial and coastal environment.
FUNCTIONS
Environmental Technicians can develop the following activities:
- perform investigations and express opinions on atmospheric, water and soil emissions and on the state of the marine and coastal environment;
- perform inspections, provide information to the public and draft environmental and territorial reports;
- provide advice for the creation of a territorial information system (S.I.T.);
- perform Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs);
- express opinions on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs);
- design and develop control systems to protect the coastal environment;
- provide technical assistance for the integration of the environmental and/or marine-coastal component into decision making plans and processes of Local Authorities.
Competencies associated to the function:
To develop the described functions, environmental officers must have the following competencies and skills:
- use the best methodologies available;
- understand and draft territorial plans and programmes;
- assess the environmental aspects of the territory;
- assess the regulatory compliance of the public body's environmental aspects;
- assess the impacts of activities and services.
They are also able to work in interdisciplinary groups and relate to and interact with others. In public bodies, they work in direct contact with the management and technicians from various fields: economists, lawyers, engineers, environmental communicators, graduates in forestry science, biologists, chemists, graduates in political science, architects and surveyors.
Career opportunities:
- Local authorities, Prevention, protection and control agencies (e.g.: ARPA, Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), ENEA, etc.)
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCHER
function in a professional context:
ROLE
The role of the Environmental researcher is to deal innovatively on aspects concerning research issues in various fields, from chemistry to geology, biology to physics, in an environmental perspective, with the added value of an interdisciplinary vision acquired during the studies. They also study new analytical processes, the synthesis and transformation of raw materials, e.g. to obtain useful products in a context of environmental protection. Research activities can be carried out at the university or in public or private research centres and laboratories. The skills useful for this purpose are acquired usually through an experimental dissertation or PhD programme degree, fundamental for working in this field at the international level.
FUNCTIONS
Environmental researchers can perform the following activities:
- design innovative processes for the acquisition of goods and services, also according to their environmental impact and life cycle analysis;
- use advanced methods to analyse and use innovative environmental criteria;
- identify improvements or solve environmental problems starting from laboratory-scale projects, with assumptions that can be extended to real scales;
- design and experiment environmental monitoring actions, integrating knowledge of various biotic and abiotic disciplines.
In both public and private fields, graduates can perform process and research activities. In the university field they may continue studies at all permitted levels.
Competencies associated to the function:
To perform the described functions, environmental researchers involved in research and development activities must have the following competencies and skills:
- analyse scientific literature in a critical manner, identifying the aspects worthy of further investigation;
- choose the most suitable and effective methods for achieving the expected results;
- use and integrate all the knowledge acquired in an environmental perspective;
- design and implement innovative and sustainable experimental activities;
- optimise the activities undertaken applying statistical methods to both research and development;
- assess the best analytical technique or best process and optimise their application.
In addition to the above-described competences, environmental researchers have:
- autonomy, initiative, integration skills and intuition;
- scientific rigour and knowledge of socio-economic and legal aspects;
- propensity for group work and strong communication skills;
- propensity and curiosity for lifelong learning of knowledge and techniques;
- high organisational skills and efficient time management;
- ability to relate to and interact with experts from different disciplinary areas, and relate to people with different cultural backgrounds;
- ability to work in international contexts.
Careeropportunities:
- Businesses working in different sectors, also with a strong international lean: energy; industrial chemistry; etc.;
- Universities, Research bodies, Prevention, protection and control agencies (e.g.: ARPA, Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), ENEA, etc.);
- Industrial and applied research centres.