To take up this rather unusual career choice, one needs to have passionate concern for the environment, and also a clear idea about what needs to be done towards improving it.
A logical mind, scientific acumen, and a working knowledge of subjects like geography, geology, botany, chemistry and zoology are very necessary. Decision-making skills are also a must-have.

Employment opportunities are with Government agencies, industries, manufacturing sectors, nuclear stations, waste disposal organisations, consultancies, research organizations and NGO's.

Environment related education can be pursued through different disciplines:

Graduate/Postgraduate courses in environmental studies are pursued after studying science at +2 level at school.

Entry Routes:

Environment Education:

Centre for Environment Education: Ahmedabad imparts training in environment education. This institution is affiliated to the Nehru Foundation for Development. The programme imparts training to develop educators who can identify environment issues and draw up strategies to manage these at all levels.
Course Duration: Nine months.
Eligibility: Post graduation in any discipline.
Professionals (teachers, administrators, NGO workers, activists and media persons) can take this course. The course includes training in wasteland development, water conservation, forest management, economic development, development of big and small dams and protected areas.

Environment Technology:

Courses are offered by the following institutions:

Government Engineering College
Ujjain 456010.
Course: M.E. in Civil Engineering with specialisation in Environmental Engineering and Pollution Control.

Maulana Azad College of Technology
Bhopal 462007.
Course: Environmental Engineering & Planning is a part of Public Health Engineering.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute
New Delhi 110012.
Course: M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences.

School of Planning and Architecture
4, Block-B, Indraprastha Estate, New Delhi.
Course: Ph.D. in Environmental Planning.

Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi 110067.
Course: Graduate, Postgraduate, M.Phil & Ph.D. courses in Environmental Sciences.

Centre for Pollution Control & Biowaste Energy, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry
Course: Ph.D. degree in Environmental Engineering
Eco-tourism.

The Adventurers Wilderness School
142, 69th Cross, 5th Block, Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore 560010. Offers course in Ecotourism.
Environmental Scientists:
Environmental Scientists are from many disciplines such as botany, zoology, oceanography, ecology, chemistry, economics, engineering, environment studies etc.

Environment Engineering:

Following Colleges/Institutes of Engineering conduct post graduate courses in environmental engineering:

College of Engineering
Guindy, Chennai 600025.

Shri G S Institute of Technology & Science
23, Park Road, Indore 452003.

P E S College of Engineering
Mandya 571401, Karnataka.

KLE Society's College of Engineering & Technology
Udyambag, Belgaum 590008.

HKE Society's Poojya Doddappa Appa College of Engineering Gulbarga 585102.

Jamia Milia Islamia, Faculty of Engineering and Technology Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025.

Diploma courses in environment engineering/science and communication studies:

University of Rajasthan
Gandhi Nagar, Jaipur 302004.
Course: Environment Studies after post graduation.

Purvanchal University
Jaunpur 222001.
Course: Environment Science after B.Sc.

University of Mysore
Mysore 570005.
Course: Environmental Planning after post graduation.

Manonmaniam Sundaranai University
Tirunelveli 627008.
Course: Environmental Ecology after B.Sc.

University of Madras
Chennai 600005.

Jamia Milia Islamia
Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025.
Course: Environmental Management after B.Sc./M.Sc.

Bharathidasan University
Tiruchirapalli 620024 T.N.
Course: Environmental Science after Post graduation.

Anna University
Guindy, Chennai 600025.

M S University
Vadodara 390002, Gujarat.

National Institute of Environment
1/169 Vikas Nagar, Kursi Road, Aliganj, Lucknow 226020.
Offers through correspondence the following courses :
Course I: Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Pollution Management (1 year) for Graduates in science & engineering.
Course II: Postgraduate Diploma in Environment Management (2 years) for Graduates.
Course III: Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Consultancy services (3 years) for Graduates in Science/BE/MBBS.

Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism
Bhopal in association with Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, New Delhi 110030, offers through correspondence the following course.
Course: Postgraduate programme in Ecology and Environment (2 years) for Graduates and Master of Environmental Communication.

Environmental Scientists
The tasks for an environmental scientists are:

• Treatment of waste: From industries, refineries, distilleries, mines, and other industries (fertilizer, food processing and textiles). Toxic wastes hazardous to the environment have to be detected and treated.
  
• Solid Waste Management: Chemists, engineers, and hydrologists, geologists, radioactive waste experts and industrial waste managers are concerned with cutting down the dangers from solid wastes.
  
  
• Air Pollution Management: Acid rain, ozone depletion, green house gases are threats to the environment. Analytical chemists, toxicologists and air quality specialists analyse the effects of various harmful gases which are emitted as a result of fuel or garbage combustion. They also study the effects of these on human as well as plant life.
  
  
• Water quality Management: Marine life is critical for survival of sea animals and for human consumption . Botanists, oceanographers, marine scientists, wildlife scientists, ecologist and people working in water-shed management are concerned with the preservation and purification of water in rivers, lakes, streams, and all surface and ground waters.
  
  
• Land conservation - This area of work overlaps that of forestry and wildlife managers and also incorporates planning for better use of land and water. Conservation of parks, outdoor recreation sites, regreening of urban areas needs professionals from a background in geology, landscape architecture, wildlife management, forestry etc.

Environmental Planners
The Tasks

• Planning preservation of natural habitats, planning of transport systems, general planning of urban expansions
  Implementation

Environmental Engineering
The Tasks

• Designing, constructing, and maintaining systems to control waste streams produced in urban and rural areas or by the industries.
  
• Develop strategies for protecting areas under environmental threat.
  Impose regulations for the protection of the environment.
  
• Management of water and land resources i.e. dealing with public health, terrain and water management.
  
• Management of air pollution by dealing with air quality management and other special bodies that deal with emissions.
  
• Management of hazardous waste.

Environmental Education and Communication
The Tasks

• Teaching in college/ school - awareness programmes
  
• Coordinating community awareness programmes
  Working as guides for wildlife parks and sanctuaries
  
• In public communication

Eco - Tourism
The Tasks

• Development and preservation of flora and fauna in different parts of the country.
  
• Education linking tourism and environment protection.
  
• Study of tribal cultures, folk artforms, artifacts, temples, forest wealth
  
• Archaeological restoration

Environment Journalism

• Growing public awareness has generated enthusiasm for environmental protection. People's voices are heard and repeated in the media. Reporting environmental issues such as nuclear tests, construction of dams etc., making of documentaries concerning the environment, production of films on environmental issues are areas environmental journalists have been exploring.