| I see that the USDA has some software related to conservation up for download [1]. Anything from water budgeting on farms to Animal Waste Management. I did not download or test any of this software, just found it after a quick search. Then there's this organization that ran out of funding, but contacting one of the former team members may help you. [2] There is development of software that doesn't directly affect the environment but rather helps dictate what work should be done to improve/conserve conditions. This book seems to address this topic. [3] Here are some other random related things. [4] [5] Unfortunately, it seems like software engineers are mostly used to develop management software. Modeling software is closer to the type of action I suspect you are interested in. It is needed, though I doubt the software engineers are helping analyze data and building solutions based on that research. I could be very wrong. EDIT: I should clarify. A SE COULD analyze the data, but in the context of a paid full-time position I doubt your employer would want you to spend your time doing that. If you find any information regarding "environmental [activism/conservation] with software", or something like that, please let us know. DISCLAIMER: I don't know what I'm doing ;) [1] http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/ndc... [2] http://se4s.ics.uci.edu/ [3] http://www.journals.elsevier.com/environmental-modelling-and... [4] http://www.conservation.org/NewsRoom/pressreleases/Pages/sof... [5] http://www.capterra.com/environmental-software/ |
Modeling software is definitely something that's interesting, but also just helping these organizations not seem so unappealing. Their websites are old unusable, their career tracks are pretty bad, pay is low -- they sell these jobs terribly.
I wouldn't even mind working a degree away from environmental endeavors just to get smart people motivated to solve these problems and learn more. Think data journalism on environmental educational pieces. Or helping local governments preserve the nearby environments. Kinda just shooting around in the dark hoping to hit something, but thanks for the start :)