Hi, Sarah! So excited to hear that you're interested in EE, particularly given your 'strict' science interests! It's great that you'll have specialized knowledge/research experience - I always think those are huge benefits as an educator, because you know the field from all angles (science content, research, practice, translating research to practice, all that good stuff!). Nina has great advice and I would echo her sentiments that your degree doesn't need to be in the applied research arena for you to successfully pursue a career in EE. That said, you could consider ways to integrate education components into your research if that's of interest. Do you have field work? Are you collecting samples? Is there an opportunity to have local students help you with that as citizen scientists, or help you code or analyze data? You could do a brief questionnaire about their experiences/observations/opinions on contributing to conservation efforts and see if their participation changed their attitudes about biology, environmental careers, etc. There is a BIG push for more research/understanding of how coupling education with conservation efforts can increase impact. Again, I don't think that's a necessary step, I (and I think many others) would just be really excited to read that dissertation. :-) There are lots of ways to get a good grounding in EE without forming your graduate career around it. As Nina mentioned, state certification in EE is a great route. TN to my knowledge doesn't have a state certification program, but most programs accept non-resident applications. NAAEE has two online learning modules on EE with self assessment tests that could be helpful, and there's all sorts of online courses and certificates listed on eePRO that are helpful for learning best practices, communication/engagement strategies, etc. While it isn't specifically EE, the National Association for Interpretation offers online certificates and training that are really helpful for helping folks boil complex information into digestible/memorable learning experiences. I'll link a bunch of stuff to this post if you want to check any of this out. For what it's worth, I didn't set off on my career path intending to pursue EE. While I did eventually get an M.S. w/ a concentration in EE, I made the transition from my undergrad degree (in Modern English Literature!!) into EE by taking Extension courses through UF (I'm sure UT offers lots!), attending EE/interpretation focused conferences, working as a practitioner, and volunteering with education programs at local conservation/nature centers. Lots of good paths for getting EE skills/experience without losing the hard science degree! :)

Links: EE online courses

Links: EE workshops/trainings

Links: eeLEARN modules

Links: NAI training & certification

Links: EE state certification programs

Hi Sarah,

Awesome to hear that you are interested in getting involved with EE! I am a new professional to the field, 24 years old so I think we can relate a lot. I earned my Bachelor's in Environmental Science with a double minor in biology and GIS. I volunteered doing some environmental education, then took on a series of seasonal EE jobs after graduating. I worked for a marine biology themed camp in coastal North Carolina, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire focusing on forestry and team building, and on a semi-remote island doing coastal and inland education in Rhode Island. Now I am the Education and Outreach Manager for the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA).

I learned through various seasonal jobs and internships that I love marine science education specifically with shellfish, stormwater, and marine debris. If I hadn't taken the time to get on-the-job experience, I wouldn't have known what I would want to specialize in. I have taught about tons of different topics at this point, but there are definitely topics you will find that you have more passion for than others.

Additionally, educating others is dynamic. My teaching style is different from yours, and the beauty of environmental education is that you are allowed to make it what you want. If you continue your studies on dung beetles, you can incorporate your knowledge on that into tons of education programs. I incorporate a lot of my background knowledge and field work into programs.

I would recommend hammering down your educator skills. NAAEE resources are a great starting point, but you won't learn your best form of teaching until you get out there and are in front of a group. There are also certification programs available, I am a certified NC Environmental Educator. I learned tons of activities and skills that way.

Long story short, my best advice is to get out in the EE field, you'll figure out what your passion is. Don't let seasonal jobs stress you out, they can be really exciting and most of them pay for housing. Get your feet wet and your hands dirty. There are tons of seasonal jobs out there so you can get some work experience on your resume. Also, look into AmeriCorps. I did two AmeriCorps terms focusing on EE and it was the greatest thing I ever did. This was through the Conservation Trust for North Carolina.

I hope this helped - my personal opinion is that developing EE skills is gained much more on the job than in the classroom. Maybe consider seasonal jobs in between semesters, try some in different environments that interest you.

Best of luck to you!!!