Hydrology Resists Hiring Slump

Despite a deepening U.S. recession, the demand for hydrologists is expected to grow by 24 percent from 2006 to 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The reason is that water quality and quantity have become more pressing issues as climate changes increase, said Professor Dork Sahagian, director of Lehigh University's Environmental Initiative in Bethlehem, Penn.

The federal government employs about 28 percent of hydrologists; another 21 percent work for state agencies; and others find jobs in the fields of architecture, engineering, water management, and scientific and technical consulting.

In Nebraska, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is admirably positioned and equipped to provide undergraduate and graduate education programs leading to careers in hydrology and related fields.

For information on the full-range of courses and fields of study in water science and related fields at UNL, contact School of Natural Resources undergraduate coordinator Aris Holz at aholz2@unl.edu or go online to http://water.unl.edu

Careers in environmental consulting, water law and policy analyst, water chemist, groundwater and surface water hydrologist, water resources manager, aquatic ecologist, environmental lobbyist, research technician are some of the many exciting career paths waiting qualified applicants.

(Information partially sourced from the New York Times by Eilene Zimmerman)