ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYST (environmental assessment and monitoring)
function in a professional context:
ROLE
Professional environmental analysts - experts in environmental assessment and monitoring, are able to acquire chemical, physical and biological environmental data in different matrices (air, water, soil, sediment, etc.) in the field or in the laboratory, and have the capacity of designing and planning the monitoring activities. They may also provide consultancy based on environmental data analysis. The activities may be performed in both the public and private sectors, nationally and internationally, also in a freelance capacity.
FUNCTIONS
A wide range of functions in diversified environmental compartments and with different objectives. E.g.:
- Design and implementation of spatial analyses of environmental data;
- Monitoring and analysis of environmental pollution, organisation of safety measures and reclamation activities, etc.;
- Environmental assessments and drafting of technical reports;
- Monitoring and control of disinfestation activities;
- Analysis and monitoring of coastal environments;
- Control of protected marine areas;
- deep sea surveys;
- Project coordination, planning and drafting of technical specifications (e.g. for territorial information systems);
- Advisory services for public administrations;
- Environmental auditing;
- Technical consulting on noise, atmospheric pollution, etc.;
- Consulting on safety matters in line with applicable laws;
- Environmental assessment of plans and programmes;
- Consulting and production of environmental impact assessments;
- Consulting and production of strategic environmental assessments.
To acquire greater autonomy and responsibility in the performance of some of the listed activities and functions, lifelong learning in legislative and technological fields is required.
competencies associated to the function:
Environmental assessment and monitoring experts must possess the following competencies and skills:
- Appropriate use of advanced methodologies;
- organization of field surveys;
- Use of geographical information systems;
- Statistical processing 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 competences, experts will have:
- Autonomy, initiative, intuition and integration skills;
- Knowledge of socio-economic and legal aspects;
- An inclination for lifelong learning;
- Strong organisational skills;
- Ability to coordinate activities and people;
- Ability to work in an international context.
They are also able to work in interdisciplinary teams and liaise and interact with other graduates in law, statistics, economics, business, engineering, biology, geology, chemistry, etc.
career opportunities:
- Environmental prevention, protection and control agencies (e.g.: ARPA, Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), ENEA, etc.)
- Companies in different and possibly highly internationalised sectors: energy; industrial chemistry, etc.
- Consulting firms; freelance activities
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSOR, performing environmental management activities supporting decision-making function in a professional context:
ROLE
Environmental assessors, experts in environmental management to support decision-making, innovatively address the management of environmental issues (impact, improvements, quality/safety/environmental management systems, etc.) in private companies or as consultants
FUNCTIONS
Environmental management experts supporting decision-making may perform the following functions:
- Implementation and responsibility for the company's quality, safety and environmental management systems;
- Identification of improvements and resolution of environmental problems;
- Review of the acquisition of goods and services according to their impact on the environment and life cycle analysis;
- Management of environmental data collection systems;
- Use of decision support systems and models;
- Evaluation of environmental impacts;
- Implementation of Strategic Environmental Analyses.
To acquire greater autonomy and responsibility in the performance of some of the listed activities and functions, lifelong learning in legislative fields is required.
competencies associated to the function:
Environmental assessors require the following competences and skills:
- Use of the best methodologies available;
- Drafting of the company functions chart;
- Assessment of the company's environmental aspects;
- Assessment of the company's statutory environmental compliance;
- Assessment of the impacts of activities and services.
They are also able to work in interdisciplinary teams and liaise and interact with other graduates in private businesses, with company management staff, Environment and Safety Directors, Engineers, Chemists and diplomats; in consulting firms, with graduates in Environmental, Chemical, Biological and Engineering Sciences, in technical teams often supported by legal experts.
career opportunities:
PHYSICAL WORK PLACES
- 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.)
ENVIRONMENT OFFICER
function in a professional context:
ROLE
Environmental Officers work in policies for sustainable development, consulting on environmental management systems and local Agenda 21 processes, environmental accounting, environmental integration of structural funds; investigation, control and supervision of municipal waste management services, environmental monitoring.
FUNCTIONS
Environmental Officers may perform the following activities:
- Implementation of investigations and provision of opinions on emissions into the air, water and soil;
- Implementation of inspections, provision of information to the public and drafting of local environmental reports;
- Consulting for the establishment of a Territorial Information System (TIS);
- Implementation of Strategic Environmental Analyses;
- Provision of opinions on environmental impact assessments;
- Technical assistance to integrate environmental components into local authority plans and programmes.
competencies associated to the function:
Environmental officers require the following competences and skills:
- Use of the best methodologies available;
- Understanding and drafting of territorial plans and programmes;
- Assessment of the local environmental aspects;
- Assessment of the local authority's statutory environmental compliance;
- Assessment of the impacts of activities and services.
They are also able to work in interdisciplinary groups and liaise and interact with other figures. In public authorities, they work in direct contact with management staff and other technical staff, including economists, lawyers, engineers, environmental informers, forestry science graduates, biologists, chemists, graduates in political science, architects and surveyors.
career opportunities:
PHYSICAL WORK PLACES
- Local Authorities, Environmental 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
Environmental researchers innovatively manage research works in different fields, from chemistry to geology, from biology to physics, from an environmental perspective, offering the added value of the interdisciplinary vision acquired during training. They study new analytical, synthesis and transformation processes applied to raw materials, for example to obtain new products useful with a view to environmental protection. Research may be performed in universities, public research centres or private laboratories. The skills required for these purposes are usually acquired through the experience gained during the production of an experimental dissertation or in PhD programmes, which are fundamental for working internationally in this field.
FUNCTIONS
Environmental researchers perform the following functions:
- Design of innovative processes for the acquisition of goods and services also according to their impact on the environment and life cycle assessment;
- Analysis of environmental matrices using advanced methods and innovative criteria;
- Identification of improvements and resolution of environmental problems starting from scaled-down projects in the laboratory, which may then be extended to full scale;
- Design and experimentation of environmental monitoring actions, incorporating knowledge of various biotic and abiotic disciplines.
In both the public and private sector, graduates may work in research and process activities. They may work in all permitted levels of university.
competencies associated to the function:
Environmental researchers must possess the following competencies and skills:
- Ability to analyse scientific literature critically, extrapolating the aspects requiring further investigation;
- Choice of the most appropriate and performing methods to achieve the expected outcomes;
- Use and integration of all knowledge acquired in an environmental perspective;
- Design and implementation of innovative and sustainable experimental activities;
- Ability to optimise activities applying statistical methods in both research and development;
- Ability to assess the best analytical technique or process, optimising their application.
In addition to the above competences, environmental researchers will have:
- Autonomy, initiative, intuition and integration skills;
- Scientific rigour and knowledge of socio-economic and legal aspects;
- Group working skills and strong communication skills;
- Inclination and curiosity for lifelong learning of knowledge and techniques;
- Strong organisational and time management skills;
- Ability to liaise and interact with experts from different disciplines and cultural backgrounds;
- Ability to work in an international context.
career opportunities:
- Companies in different and possibly highly internationalised sectors: 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.
