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Ecologists study the relationship between plants, animals and the environment.
You could work: evenings / weekends;
Your day-to-day tasks will depend on the sector in which you work. For example, as an ecological scientist you could:
As a consultant ecologist you could:
As a landscape ecologist, you could:
You could work in the countryside, at a university, in an office or in a laboratory.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.
You can get into this job through:
You'll need a degree or postgraduate qualification in a subject like:
You'll usually need:
You may be able to do a postgraduate ecologist degree apprenticeship.
This typically takes around 3 years to complete.
You'll need a qualification and experience in an ecological science to apply.
You'll usually need:
Volunteering is a great way to get experience and may improve your chances of finding work. You can also build up contacts within conservation, which will be useful when looking for jobs.
You can find volunteering opportunities with:
You can search for jobs in ecology and related fields at environmentjob.
You can join the British Ecological Society, which offers mentoring from experienced ecologists, research news, and education and job search support.
You can find more details about careers in ecology through the:British Ecological Society; Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management; Botanical Society of Great Britain
You could work in a range of organisations like local authorities, conservation organisations, government or scientific bodies.
With experience, you could become a senior ecologist, leading a team of researchers, developing biodiversity plans or acting as a consultant on sustainable development projects.
You may also be able to apply for chartered environmentalist status. You can find out more about being a chartered environmentalist from the Society for the Environment.