The research I have done so far has been geared towards building an intellectual foundation that will prepare me to further delve into the world of environmental consulting. One of the primary topics that I looked at was this seemingly hostile relationship that is portrayed between private industry and regulators. There is often this assumption that private industry is willing to succeed at the expense of the public welfare and that regulators have unrealistic expectations that make it impossible for industry to operate. I learned that this truly does not have to be the case, especially in the world of sustainable policy. Environmental consultants are this necessary tool that can bridge the gap between industry and regulators. Their vision is to create policy guidelines that allow communities and companies to thrive in tandem; one does not have to sacrifice entirely for the other, but there must be compromise. A plethora of curiosity emerged from just looking at this relationship between stakeholders in the regulatory industry. For me, I have begun considering the implications of jurisdiction and how regulatory models between different states are not exactly a “one size fits all” for different regions. Environmental consultants needed to be methodical, sensitive, and a source of local information to be able to contribute towards policy that works for situational needs.
I consider this week to be majorly successful for reaffirming my interest and passion for environmental sciences and especially the intersection with private industry. This growth in research literacy has made me quite excited to continue learning more, particularly to narrow down a niche within the industry that I can dig deeper into. Whether its air quality, toxic waste, or regarding climate change there are plenty of avenues to explore where I feel my academic efforts can be engaging and beneficial.
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