Hydrologist

As a hydrologist, you study water - where it comes from, where it goes, and how much there is. You collect samples from rivers and streams, measure how fast water flows, test its quality, and work out how much water is in the ground. You split your time between being outside doing fieldwork and sitting at a computer studying the data you collected.

At the computer you use software to spot patterns, create maps that show water movements, and predict what will happen in the future if weather or land use changes. Businesses, councils, and government bodies use your findings to decide how to manage water supplies, protect people from floods, and keep rivers healthy. You need to be good at science and maths, careful with detail, and happy to work in all weathers.