In these recent times when there is cut-throat competition for students aspiring to become computer engineer, mechanical engineer or chemical engineer there is one field that is environmental engineering which is often not much heard about. On this Engineer’s day, 15-Sept let’s spare a minute to appreciate the engineers who are taking care of the environment. The EarthView spoke to one such Engineer Pinali Patel who chose to become an environmental engineer and decided to contribute something to the society.
Did you know that majority of the environment-related issues and problems are being solved by Environment engineers, the main objective of an environmental engineer is to protect the environment and inculcate a healthy surrounding. In a conversation with The EarthView Pinali tells her story about the perks of being an Environment engineer and bursts all the myths about it.
“Environmental engineering is a relatively new profession with a long and honorable history.It is not just like normal engineering but an in-depth and practical knowledge of the environment. It is a broader aspect which requires extensive knowledge of physics, chemistry and biology. It works to prevent, remove and eradicate any problems which are hazardous to the environment using knowledge expertise”, she said.
What does an Environment Engineer do?
They also make devices for waste and water management in rural and urban areas, improved sanitation system, to stop the water-borne diseases. They study the effects of technological growth on the environment such as the effects of global warming, pollution, the reason for the shortage of rainfall, acid rain etc. In short, the Environmental Engineers are constantly engaged in maintaining the health of the earth and the living creatures on it.
Talking about her college experience Pinali said that “It’s always fun and satisfying to study about environment and nature, we have different labs in which we study the impact of certain microorganisms on the environment and see the risk factors involved with it, we even do case studies of past hazards”
BASIC REQUIREMENT
To pursue environment engineering one needs 10+2 (with science stream) and appear for the entrance exam which is JEE at national level and state level entrance exam, and get into an esteemed university. The major reputed institutes are IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, VIT VelloreOne. They also take specialization courses like Fire and Safety, Fluid Mechanics, Hydrology and Water Resources etc.
Pinali said, “After your B.Tech degree, you have several options available you can pursue masters in a specific subject or take up job either in a private company to look after their legal norms and issues. One can also take up government job related to Air quality engineer, Assistance policy engineer, Hydro-geologist, wasteland ecologist. Individuals can pursue law and work as an attorney or fight legal related to rules and regulations, applicable laws.
FUTURE SCOPES
Environment engineers have a wide scope of the area to explore and there lies a lot of opportunities for them. If we look at the wider perspective we need to take care of the environment and government is also making strict laws related to the environment and every industry needs to follow it for the same in future everyone will need an environment engineer in their industry.
Wishing all engineers a happy Engineer’s Day!
Written by: Kenvi Zota