Category Archives: Public Health

What Is Epidemiology?

What Is Epidemiology?
Epidemiology is the scientific study of how diseases and health conditions spread, affect, and can be controlled within populations. Rather than treating individual patients, epidemiologists analyze patterns, causes, and risk factors across communities to inform public health policy, disease prevention strategies, and outbreak response. The field encompasses infectious diseases, environmental health conditions, and social health…
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How Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Transform Sustainability Work

How Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Transform Sustainability Work
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) transform sustainability work by integrating environmental, economic, and social data into visual, actionable formats. GIS enables conservation planning, resource management, climate monitoring, and cross-border collaboration on critical environmental challenges. From documented projects like Puerto Rico's Conservation Trust to national initiatives in rapidly developing nations, GIS has emerged as critical infrastructure for…
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Geographic Information Systems in Environmental Planning and Design

Geographic Information Systems in Environmental Planning and Design
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology is essential for environmental planners who manage land use, conservation, and urban development. GIS allows planners to visualize spatial data, analyze environmental impacts, and make evidence-based decisions about resource management. Environmental scientists overall earn a median salary of $80,060, with specialized roles and GIS expertise often commanding higher compensation. If…
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Why Climate Scientists Need GIS: Skills, Applications & Career Paths

Why Climate Scientists Need GIS: Skills, Applications & Career Paths
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software is essential for climate scientists who analyze spatial data across global, regional, and local scales. GIS transforms massive climate datasets (from ice core samples to satellite imagery) into visual maps that reveal temperature trends, weather patterns, and ecological changes. Many environmental science graduate programs include GIS coursework, especially in climate…
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The Future of Agriculture: Biotechnology and GM Crops

The Future of Agriculture: Biotechnology and GM Crops
Agricultural biotechnology uses living organisms and genetic techniques to improve crop yields, enhance disease resistance, and develop sustainable farming solutions. Techniques like selective breeding have influenced agriculture for millennia; modern biotechnology emerged much more recently. Today's biotechnology careers typically require degrees in plant biology, biomedical engineering, or environmental biotechnology, with master's or doctoral degrees preferred…
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Invasive Species: Causes, Impacts & Environmental Effects

Invasive Species: Causes, Impacts & Environmental Effects
Invasive species are plants or animals introduced to new environments where they cause environmental, economic, or health harm. Unlike exotic species that coexist peacefully, invasives thrive without natural predators, reproduce rapidly, and disrupt native ecosystems. They're the second-leading cause of species extinctions globally, costing an estimated $120 billion annually in the United States alone. One…
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What Is Environmental Engineering and Why Does It Matter?

What Is Environmental Engineering and Why Does It Matter?
Environmental engineering applies scientific and engineering principles to protect human health and the environment through clean water systems, air quality management, and sustainable waste solutions. Environmental engineers earn a median annual salary of $104,170, with the field projected to grow 4% through 2034, adding approximately 1,500 new positions. This interdisciplinary career combines civil engineering, chemistry,…
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Environmental Consequences of Fishing Practices

Environmental Consequences of Fishing Practices
Industrial fishing practices harm ocean ecosystems in four major ways: overfishing depletes species like Atlantic cod beyond recovery, destructive gear damages seafloor habitats and coral reefs, ghost fishing gear continues killing animals for years, and bycatch traps millions of sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds annually. These impacts create cascading effects throughout ocean food webs,…
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How Roads Affect Wildlife: Environmental Impacts & Solutions

How Roads Affect Wildlife: Environmental Impacts & Solutions
An estimated 1 million vertebrates may be killed daily on U.S. roads based on extrapolated studies, though this figure varies by methodology—making road mortality a leading cause of wildlife population declines. Beyond direct deaths, roads fragment habitats, disrupt genetic diversity, and introduce chemical, noise, and light pollution into ecosystems. Effective solutions include wildlife crossings, seasonal…
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The Concrete Jungle: Study of Urban Landscapes as Environmental Science

The Concrete Jungle: Study of Urban Landscapes as Environmental Science
Urban environmental science examines cities as complete ecosystems, studying how buildings, infrastructure, people, wildlife, and natural processes interact in concentrated spaces. This interdisciplinary field combines urban planning, ecology, geography, and sociology to address challenges like air quality, sustainable development, and climate resilience. Career opportunities include urban planning, environmental consulting, GIS analysis, and conservation, with most…
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