our story

Established in 2021, at the peak of the Covid 19 pandemic, the Center for Field Sciences (CFS) aims to embrace the changing landscape of environmental science practice across the world. Academia is no longer the sole driving force for the preservation of our shared natural and cultural heritage – governments, NGO’s and the environmental consulting sector are increasingly playing a vital role in that effort. The vast majority of environmental science jobs are, and will increasingly be, outside academia. We can best protect our shared heritage by providing excellent training for practitioners entering the field, regardless of career choices. And, best results could be achieved by recruiting practitioners from the broadest field possible and from all economic, ethnic, ideological and gender backgrounds.

How can we achieve these goals? First, by providing best-in-class training programs to students and others who wish to pursue a career in the environmental sciences. CFS runs field programs directed by leading scientists from both academic and environmental sector sector background, and continuously peer-review each program. Second, we must emphasize skill building in each of our programs so graduates could best demonstrate and communicate the specific career elements they learn at each CFS program. We partnered with Twin Cairns and use their Skills Log Matrix™ (see video) for each program. The skills are listed on each syllabi and students graduating each program get a free professional profile on the Twin Cairns website with their skills listed and verified. Third, we are working hard at reducing cost of field programs. Our ultimate goal is to bring cost to near zero, so we may break the most significant barrier for entry to the field.