Occupation: Industrial Ecologists

Industrial Ecologists

Apply principles and processes of natural ecosystems to develop models for efficient industrial systems. Use knowledge from the physical and social sciences to maximize effective use of natural resources in the production and use of goods and services. Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.

19-2041.03 | 38 tasks | 5 job titles
Reported Job Titles (5)
  • Ecologist
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Environmental Protection Agency Counselor
  • Research Scientist
  • Researcher
Core Tasks (30)
  • Identify environmental impacts caused by products, systems, or projects.
  • Identify or develop strategies or methods to minimize the environmental impact of industrial production processes.
  • Analyze changes designed to improve the environmental performance of complex systems and avoid unintended negative consequences.
  • Conduct environmental sustainability assessments, using material flow analysis (MFA) or substance flow analysis (SFA) techniques.
  • Identify sustainable alternatives to industrial or waste-management practices.
  • Review research literature to maintain knowledge on topics related to industrial ecology, such as physical science, technology, economy, and public policy.
  • Redesign linear, or open-loop, systems into cyclical, or closed-loop, systems so that waste products become inputs for new processes, modeling natural ecosystems.
  • Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
  • Examine local, regional, or global use and flow of materials or energy in industrial production processes.
  • Monitor the environmental impact of development activities, pollution, or land degradation.
  • Build and maintain databases of information about energy alternatives, pollutants, natural environments, industrial processes, and other information related to ecological change.
  • Perform analyses to determine how human behavior can affect, and be affected by, changes in the environment.
  • Recommend methods to protect the environment or minimize environmental damage from industrial production practices.
  • Translate the theories of industrial ecology into eco-industrial practices.
  • Develop alternative energy investment scenarios to compare economic and environmental costs and benefits.
  • Carry out environmental assessments in accordance with applicable standards, regulations, or laws.
  • Examine societal issues and their relationship with both technical systems and the environment.
  • Plan or conduct field research on topics such as industrial production, industrial ecology, population ecology, and environmental production or sustainability.
  • Create complex and dynamic mathematical models of population, community, or ecological systems.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of industrial ecology programs, using statistical analysis and applications.
  • Forecast future status or condition of ecosystems, based on changing industrial practices or environmental conditions.
  • Review industrial practices, such as the methods and materials used in construction or production, to identify potential liabilities and environmental hazards.
  • Apply new or existing research about natural ecosystems to understand economic and industrial systems in the context of the environment.
  • Prepare plans to manage renewable resources.
  • Identify or compare the component parts or relationships between the parts of industrial, social, and natural systems.
  • Plan or conduct studies of the ecological implications of historic or projected changes in industrial processes or development.
  • Research sources of pollution to determine environmental impact or to develop methods of pollution abatement or control.
  • Perform environmentally extended input-output (EE I-O) analyses.
  • Promote use of environmental management systems (EMS) to reduce waste or to improve environmentally sound use of natural resources.
  • Investigate the impact of changed land management or land use practices on ecosystems.
Supplemental Tasks (8)
  • Develop or test protocols to monitor ecosystem components and ecological processes.
  • Research environmental effects of land and water use to determine methods of improving environmental conditions or increasing outputs, such as crop yields.
  • Provide industrial managers with technical materials on environmental issues, regulatory guidelines, or compliance actions.
  • Conduct applied research on the effects of industrial processes on the protection, restoration, inventory, monitoring, or reintroduction of species to the natural environment.
  • Conduct scientific protection, mitigation, or restoration projects to prevent resource damage, maintain the integrity of critical habitats, and minimize the impact of human activities.
  • Investigate accidents affecting the environment to assess ecological impact.
  • Conduct analyses to determine the maximum amount of work that can be accomplished for a given amount of energy in a system, such as industrial production systems and waste treatment systems.
  • Investigate the adaptability of various animal and plant species to changed environmental conditions.