Career prospects with Bachelor Global Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Career prospects

• At Leuphana College, the interdisciplinary bachelors program in environmental sciences enables you to acquire not only specialist knowledge but also interdisciplinary skills.
• After completing your studies, you will be able to independently develop and convincingly present solution strategies in a national and international working environment.
• Already during your studies, you can get to know relevant environmental science fields of employment through qualified internships as well as your own research and practical projects and find out which field of activity you can be enthusiastic about.
• The following overview shows possible fields of work for graduates of environmental sciences. Additional qualifications may be required.

Environmental Protection / Research

Environmental Analyst: Investigating direct and indirect effects of chemicals on the environment

Waste Officers: Advise operators and staff on matters relevant to waste prevention and waste management

Environmental Administrator (civil servants): Carry out technical environmental protection measures, e.g. in water and waste management, immission control, noise and soil protection. In doing so, they deal with administrative procedures and examine facts under environmental law

Water Pollution Control Officer: Control and monitor wastewater facilities and wastewater treatment processes in legally defined companies and advise operators and employees

Environmental Management Officer: Ensuring that the legal requirements for internal environmental protection are met

Environmental Scientist: Monitor and analyze environmentally relevant processes, assess ecological risks and carry out environmental impact assessments

Immission Control Officers: Advise plant operators or their representatives on all issues of significance for immission control, taking into account the respective operational conditions, with the aim of minimizing environmentally harmful immissions through appropriate operating procedures and technical processes

(Eco)Toxicologist: Responsible for the monitoring of ecotoxicological studies up to the preparation of ecotoxicological risk assessments for chemical substances such as plant protection products

(Renewable) Energies

• Energy Consultant: Inform private households and commercial enterprises about economical and environmentally friendly energy use from an economic and technical perspective
• Climate Protection Manager: Coordinates municipal activities and projects to save energy and emissions and informs the public about climate protection measures

Consulting / Expertise

• Consumer Advisor: Inform, advise and support consumers in questions of consumption
• Waste Management Consultant: Inform companies, private households, authorities and local political committees, clubs, associations, schools and kindergartens about the implementation of measures for waste prevention, recycling and disposal
• Management Consultant: As an external service provider, analyze the processes and structures in companies, e.g. to secure and expand the economic success of the company
• Environmental Auditor: Plan and carry out internal audits in accordance with the European Eco-Management and Audit System (EMAS) In addition, they check compliance with the corresponding requirements with regard to environment-related corporate policy
• Environmental Verifiers: certify organizations according to the European Eco-Management and Audit System (EMAS) and provide expert opinions on the quality of the so-called environmental performance of a company

Public Relations / Foundations & Institutes

• Expert in environment and sustainability in PR departments: Planning, developing and implementing measures that serve to enhance the image of companies, authorities, associations and other institutions
• Project manager for environmental projects of foundations/NGOs: supervise projects from conception to technical and organizational implementation within the framework of defined specifications

Education / Adult Education

Expert in the field of education/adult education: There are various professional opportunities for environmental scientists in the field of education, for example in the area of school or vocational environmental education. A further focus is on education for sustainable development. In addition to teaching activities, their tasks include developing concepts and organizing and conducting courses and seminars. These posts can be located in both government and private facilities. These include above all:

public administrations at the various levels of government (including nature conservation and environmental protection agencies),

Associations, clubs, foundations and corporations,

research institutions and

political organizations

Speaker for Environmental Education for Multipliers: Environmental education by indirectly influencing the population with the help of multipliers who, through their professional or social position, can influence the masses and act as catalysts for environmental education

Leuphana/Phillip Bachmann

Milena Groß is a postdoctoral researcher at the Social-Ecological Systems Institute at Leuphana University of Lüneburg.

What major and minor did you study, and why did you choose that combination?

I began my studies in 2011 with Environmental Studies as my major and Business Psychology as my minor. While my primary passion has always been environmental science, I have long been fascinated by psychology. I did not initially select this combination with a specific career path in mind. However, during my studies, I quickly recognized how complementary they are. A foundational understanding of psychological principles has proven invaluable in any context involving, for example, collaboration and communication in private and professional settings.

Continue reading Milena Groß text

Where and in what position do you currently work, and what are your main responsibilities?

I currently work as a postdoctoral researcher in the international Kili-SES research project (https://kili-ses.de/subprojects/sp3-understanding-social-ecological-transformations-the-role-of-initiatives-values-rules-nd-knowledge/), focusing on understanding social-ecological transformations through the lens of initiatives on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. My responsibilities span the entire research lifecycle: from conceptualizing and designing studies, to fieldwork, data analysis, and interpreting findings. I also develop implications for research, policy, and practice, publish the works, and lead the dissemination of results to research participants, the broader public, and academic audiences. Additionally, I closely collaborate with two PhD students, maintain strong cross-subproject collaboration due to my involvement in both the first and second phases of the research unit, and serve as an active member of the Kili-SES Equity Working Group.

How did you transition from your studies to work?

Following the successful completion of my undergraduate degree in 2015 and the dual-degree program in Global Sustainability Science in 2017, I completed an internship with the International Climate Initiative (IKI). I then took a deliberate step away from academia to pursue 1.5 years of professional trainings in bodywork. While I no longer offer traditional bodywork sessions, I have integrated the principles and insights from these trainings into my academic practice through, for instance, body-mind workshops and movement breaks. I am also convinced that this training and subsequent one-on-one client work significantly enhanced my facilitation skills for interviews, surveys, and focus groups, while deepening my reflections on researcher responsibility and reinforcing my commitment to ethical research practices (For a detailed reflection on how this training shaped my academic trajectory, see Chapter 1 of my dissertation: pubdata.leuphana.de/entities/publication/8b159f62-18c0-4bcd-9051-20995cdb49a1) . Although I remain passionate about bodywork, I sought to integrate my broader professional strengths and interdisciplinary interests. This led me to join the nexus – Institute for Cooperative Management and Interdisciplinary Research in Berlin. After nearly two years at nexus, I transitioned into a PhD position within the Kili-SES research project, where I have since advanced to my current role as a postdoctoral researcher.

Which skills or experiences from your studies are particularly helpful to you in your career today?

The extensive group work and collaborative projects during my studies were crucial for building my confidence and sense of responsibility early in my career, particularly when I first joined the nexus institute and then started my PhD. More importantly, the rigorous inter- and transdisciplinary training I received has been indispensable. It has equipped me with the methodological flexibility and onto-epistemological awareness needed to navigate complex, interdisciplinary research environments. I can now more comfortably engage with diverse research paradigms, bridge disciplinary divides, and facilitate meaningful dialogue between so called natural and social scientists, as I have done throughout my five-plus years in the Kili-SES research project.

Were there any course content, projects, or moments during your studies that had a particularly significant impact on your personal or professional development? What memories do you associate most with your time at Leuphana?

I am most grateful for Leuphanas unique academic structure, particularly the integration of Studium Generale, major/minor combinations, and complementary studies. These elements fostered a truly holistic educational experience. One of my most formative memories dates back to my first semester, when the entire introductory environmental science lecture initially felt abstract and nebulous. However, by the final ses