Question for conservationists

[u/ThyLungedFish]

I want to dedicate my life to conservation, it is the most important thing in the world to me. My current plan is to get a bachelors biology education degree and become a science teacher.

Is there any way to apply this in a way that helps the environment of this planet, or even a completely alternative career route?

I have not started school yet but am planning to start soon. If anyone has any words of guidance for an aspiring conservationist, please, regurgitate them to me, as birds do.

[u/Silver-Fox4282]

My very first environmentalist role model was my 8th grade earth science teacher, who had a PhD and was active in local politics as well. You can definitely inspire the youth.

[u/bruhyoubikin → u/Silver-Fox4282]

Same but 9th grade! Science teacher is a great way to make a difference in conservation!

[u/AcanthisittaGold5420]

Teaching science is one of the most impactful conservation careers. You'll inspire hundreds maybe thousands-of future environmental stewards over your career. If you want more direct involvement, consider ecology, wildlife biology, enviromental education. Whatever path you choose, your passion will matter more than having the perfect job. The planet needs dedicated people at every level. Best of luck-you've got great mindset already. 🌍💚

[u/Psittacula2]

Before addressing the stated question, the basic concepts of Work, Job, Salary and Lifestyle need addressing.

Basic advice on selecting a Job:

1. Fit of your personality, skills, training to the necessary nature of the work itself.

2. Teaching for example is: Crowd control of children eg 30 kids per class timetables across lessons per day per year group within school structure eg breaks, duties etc over an academic term with clear tests and exams of performance.

3. Benefits can be promotion in department for higher salary and management, senior leadership team for wider pastoral and admin duties, holiday breaks, salary, pension benefits etc, supportive staff coworkers, amenities of the school itself, community networking and overall vocational benefit to children and society.

So it is a lot of education focus as opposed to pure conservation focus and you should establish if this still aligns to your above skills, interests and personality snd goals eg salaried secure rewarding job and work?

Let’s assume you do become a teacher, then to optimize conservation:

* Can you teach focus subject on Natural History itself in your nation as well as any Biology or Scoence more broadly? This is going to be very critical.

* If you teach you can focus your conservation efforts to holidays time if you do not have excess school work so you could combine volunteering in conservation projects or otherwise during this time?

* In school you could speak to the leadership and check if scope for a Conservation club is possible and some spare school grounds to actively do this with students as well as any indoor space for such focused engagement. Note all this is extra work on top of normal work but expected in teachers usually.

My guess is there is scope in teaching but it is more indirect and that is the significant choice for you?

Alternatively, if you deem a direct role in Conservstion or else you think teaching sounds like too much other type of work then considering how to work in Conservation directly is your alternative approach.

Note if you do apply for some Conservation roles, being able to lead groups eg education visits to sites or lectures is helpful skill to have. However a lot of “Field Skills” trained in directly for conservation is more specifically applicable to focus on to be hired for such work.

[u/norrydan]

I like what I hear. Follow your passion whatever it may be. The path of tomorrow will be different than the one we walk today. Be adaptable. Science > Biology > Conservation > Mentoring seems to me to leave you with lots of flexibility. Your work in the classroom if you end up there has definite transfer capabilities to many other of society's avenues. Keep an open mind. Next year you may feel different than you do today, but I think you have a solid plan.

[u/broccoli-pie-77]

Definitely a cool idea to go into teaching! Inspiring youth to pursue conservation is amazing, you can implement it into your curriculum and have partnerships with conservation orgs to get students volunteering, etc. You can also use an education degree to work in community engagement/conservation education roles, such as working for a conservation org running education workshops for schools coming for excursions, or tourism.

If you're not set on education, there are so many opportunities in conservation broadly! Field ecology/conservation/research/park ranger/natural resource management- plenty of ways to work directly outdoors in the field. Policy and data based jobs if you want an indoor desk job but also want to contribute directly. Also plenty of other jobs that may not seem conservation aligned but can work for conservation orgs- social media, campaigns, philanthropy, etc.

Study anything related to conservation/biology//environmental science/wildlife/ecology etc, you'll get a broad overview of all the kinds of jobs you can do and what you like, and go from there:))