How to become A Climate Scientist

We cannot get through a single day without impacting the world around us; what each one of us does makes a difference. Climate Scientists dig deep into available data to produce reports on climate trends and impacts, to help us decide what kind of difference we want to make.

• Climate Change Scientist

What do Climate Scientists do?

A Climate Scientist would typically need to:

• Gather and analyze data from the atmosphere, oceans, and land while monitoring ice packs, sea levels, and temperatures
• Study climates from the past to understand what might happen in the future; look at how global climate affects regional weather patterns
• Work in interdisciplinary teams; have a working knowledge of the different scientific disciplines relevant to their profession
• Create computer models of ecosystems to simulate the effects of changes to climate and analyze data from earlier model simulations
• Write code to adapt the model to perform some new experiment and correct the codes if necessary
• Advise policy makers, fill out documents for administrative purposes, and write new grant proposals
• Attend conferences, publish research findings, and figure out new research ideas; investigate ways to tackle climate change, and design and build scientific instruments and sensors
• Educate the general public about the impact of climate change and ways to address the same

Most Climate Scientists work indoors in weather stations, offices, and laboratories. Occasionally, they carry out fieldwork, which means working outdoors to examine the weather in unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and sometimes dangerous surroundings. They often need to travel to attend conferences or conduct fieldwork. The dress code would depend on the location and kind of work that needs to be done on a particular day.

Most Climate Scientists work full time, although researchers may work nights and weekends on particular projects.

Job vacancies may be posted on the websites of your local meteorological society or environmental research organization. Specialist online job platforms may also help with potential employment opportunities for Climate Scientists.

Climate Scientists are generally employed by:

• Government Organizations
• Research & Development in Physical, Engineering & Life Sciences
• Colleges, Universities, & Professional Schools
• Radio & Television Broadcasting
• Management, Scientific, & Technical Consulting Services

Professional associations and organizations are crucial for Climate Scientists interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks excellent on your resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications.

• Low job security in the early years, short tenure postdoctoral position and keen competition for permanent posts
• Challenging fieldwork due to inclement weather conditions, rugged living conditions, and harmful predators

Look for an internship or volunteer experience to fill a potential void on your resume. The national weather services offer students an internship, fellowship, volunteer, and scholarship programs. Although prior experience is often not required by aspiring Climate Scientists for entry-level positions, it does provide an edge.

A focus on statistics and probability courses during high school and college would be useful. A bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science or a related scientific field, that specifically studies atmospheric qualities and phenomena is recommended. Courses in oceanography and meteorology would be helpful. Working knowledge of diverse related fields is important as Climate Science is multidisciplinary.

Classes in computer programming are important because many Climate Scientists have to write and edit computer software programs that produce forecasts. Coursework in remote sensing of the environment, by radar or satellite, may be required. Climate Scientists who work in research must have at least a master’s degree, but will usually need a PhD in Climate Science or a related field.

Certification from a reputed organization can help a Climate Scientist gain professional credibility, validate their knowledge, and increase their confidence at work. It can carry a significant salary premium of up to eighteen percent and help you build your knowledge in a specific area and stay up-to-date on technology.

Voluntary certification is often seen as evidence of an individual’s drive and motivation, giving them a leg up for raises and promotions.

You could specialize in an area of Climate Science, for example, polar research, rainfall patterns, or ocean changes. You might do this through research and teaching at a university, or by working for a government department. Postdoctoral positions are usually only for two to four years at a time, and there is huge competition for permanent posts. You could also work in paleoclimatology, studying previous variations in climate and how the earth adapted to these.

Other career options include working as a Consultant for Science Publishers or Broadcasters.

The best job prospects for Climate Scientists will be in private industry.

Attending various programs across the country targeted at undergraduate and graduate students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers would be helpful. Some organizations are committed to supporting young and early-career scientists and managers in learning about and conducting research on climate change impacts to fish and wildlife, developing skills in science communications, user interactions, and stakeholder engagement, and developing a network of peers to support their career development.

How do the Reports and Studies Made by Climate Scientists Help?

Climate Scientists differ from Weather Forecasters in terms of the duration of the effects they determine. They dig deep into available data to produce useful and valuable reports on climate trends and impacts, from state-level temperature trends to wildfires, heat waves, drought, precipitation, and more. Their reports make climate change exciting and meaningful to people where they live and provide policy-makers with objective, relevant facts. The studies of Climate Scientists can be used to design buildings, plan heating and cooling systems, and aid in optimum land use and agricultural production.

Global climate is projected to continue changing over this century and beyond, with the global sea level expected to rise another one to four feet by 2100.

Climate is an angry beast that we are bent on poking sticks at. Climate Scientists are among the best hopes we have to guide us in safeguarding Nature before she turns around and destroys us.

What we do makes a difference. We must decide what kind of difference we want to make. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.