Did you know Northwest Missouri State University composted 58 TONS of food waste in a single year instead of sending it to a landfill? Imagine having a career where you help turn campus food waste into usable soil, reduce energy use with solar power, create pollinator gardens for bees and butterflies, and help an entire university become more sustainable. What if your future job allowed you to combine environmental science, communication, problem-solving, and hands-on projects to help protect resources for future generations?
In this presentation, Tim Hill, Environmental Sustainability Coordinator at Northwest Missouri State University, shares what it’s really like to work in sustainability and why this career field is growing so quickly. Tim explains how his work ranges from tracking campus energy and water use to helping install solar panels, creating tree walks and pollinator gardens, leading recycling education programs, and managing large-scale composting projects that keep tons of food waste out of landfills. Along the way, he shows how sustainability careers combine science, technology, teamwork, education, and real-world problem-solving to help protect resources for future generations.
Tim also highlights how sustainability careers can lead in many different directions, including renewable energy, environmental science, natural resources, engineering, education, business, and government work. One of the biggest themes of the presentation is that sustainability is everywhere — from the electricity powering buildings to the food people throw away every day. Whether you enjoy working with people, teaching others, analyzing environmental problems, leading projects, or creating solutions that make communities healthier and more efficient, this presentation offers an exciting look at how sustainability careers can create real impact while helping shape a better future.