An Atmosphere And Space Scientist Career May Be A Good Choice With New Funding

At one point, this year in fact, it looked like NASA was going to be shut down. That’s all changed. Last April President Obama announced that the world’s premiere space program wasn’t ending. In fact, he was putting through a plan that would increase the space agency’s budget by $6 billion by 2015. Yes, the Space Shuttle and some other projects will soon be done and over, but they will be replaced with other projects the current administration predicts will increase the work for there by 2,500 just around Florida.

One of the professions that will benefit from this new direction will be Atmospheric and Space Scientists. Don’t let the name fool you. This form of scientist’s research has as much, if not more, to do with our own planet than what’s on the surface of Mars. In fact, you just might be looking at one when you turn on the Weather Channel every morning.

Atmospheric and Space Scientists primary arena of research, as their name implies, is our planet’s own atmosphere. They interpret data, maps, photos and information to predict our weather. They also use what they learn to predict what’s happening on Mars, thus NASA’s need for them. At the same time, they are also concerned about such things as the hole in the ozone layer, air pollution and the creation of tornados and typhoons.

A high school student interested in this profession should first have strong grades in math, physics and be computer fluent. Being a STEM profession, students with good grades can find a number of scholarship opportunities from organizations as diverse as the National Science Foundation and other public agencies, not forgetting private corporations and professional organizations on top of standard federal and state aid.

Interestingly, not many colleges or universities offer 4-year programs in the discipline. On the other hand, there are plenty of on campus and online colleges that include a number of courses that are approved by the National Weather Foundation. If one wants to specialize, then it’s time to go on for post-grad school.

What is important is one can find employment with a BS degree, from being a TV weatherman to an assistant at an appropriate federal agency. While many might enjoy a career as a weatherman for a news agency, one can also use the assistant’s job to get work study, earn their Masters or PhD, and then wind up working for the likes of NASA.

The good news is NASA isn’t the only organization needed more of these scientists. This year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics increased its projection of job growth from 9-15% to 14-19% by 2020. As it stands, the lower 10% of scientists out there earn $39,000, with a midrange of $55,000, and the top 10% earning over $100,000.

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