What this life looks like
You monitor, understand, and protect the natural systems that sustain life. Environmental Scientists study the condition of air, water, soil, and ecosystems, investigate the impacts of human activities on the natural environment, and develop solutions to environmental problems. In Africa, where rapid industrialisation, urbanisation, and agricultural expansion are affecting environments at extraordinary speed, environmental scientists are essential watchdogs and problem-solvers.
What she actually does
You conduct environmental monitoring — measuring pollution levels in air, water, and soil, assessing habitat quality, tracking biodiversity — analyse data to identify trends and causes of environmental change, prepare environmental impact assessments for development projects, advise governments and companies on environmental management, investigate and respond to environmental incidents, and develop environmental management plans.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Government Agencies | NESREA (Nigeria), NEMA (Kenya), DEA (South Africa), Environmental Management Agencies across Africa |
| Environmental Consulting | AECOM Africa, Royal HaskoningDHV Africa, SLR Consulting Africa — EIA and environmental management consulting |
| Research Institutes | CSIR (SA), Kenya National Environment Management Authority, national research institutes |
| Development & Mining | Mining companies' environmental departments, World Bank environmental safeguards, UNEP field programmes |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa faces some of the world's most severe environmental challenges: oil pollution in the Niger Delta, urban air pollution in Cairo and Lagos, plastic pollution of coastal waters, chemical contamination of agricultural soils, and widespread deforestation. At the same time, Africa contains 30% of the world's biodiversity and some of its most critical ecosystems. Environmental scientists who can both expose problems and develop solutions are doing work of global importance.
Your pathway in
- Study Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Earth Sciences at university
- Develop field sampling and laboratory analysis skills — environmental science is both outdoor and laboratory-based
- Build GIS skills: environmental data is increasingly spatial and GIS is central to environmental monitoring and assessment
- Gain experience with environmental regulatory bodies and consulting firms
- Connect with the African Environmental Science and Innovation Network and national environmental agencies
Skills you will need
- Environmental monitoring and sampling
- GIS and remote sensing
- Environmental impact assessment
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Report writing
- Regulatory knowledge
A woman in this field
Wanjira Mathai
Kenya
Wanjira is the daughter of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai and has built an extraordinary environmental leadership career in her own right. As Director of Global Restoration Initiative at World Resources Institute and Chair of the Wangari Maathai Foundation, she leads efforts to restore 350 million hectares of degraded land across Africa and globally. She has been a powerful voice for African environmental science and action at global climate and biodiversity negotiations, including COP summits.
Take your first step
- Research the Green Belt Movement at greenbeltmovement.org — founded by Wangari Maathai, it is one of Africa's most celebrated environmental organisations and Wanjira Mathai continues its work
- Study what an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) involves — find a publicly available EIA from a mining or infrastructure project in Africa and read the environmental baseline and impact sections
- Research your country's national environmental management authority — its mandate, the regulations it enforces, and the careers it employs are all publicly available
- Complete a volunteer environmental monitoring activity: water quality testing kits, biodiversity surveys, or litter monitoring are all accessible entry points into practical environmental science