To gain a competitive advantage in your future career—especially in fields influenced by climate and environmental challenges—consider the strategies highlighted by the Climate and Environment roundtable moderators at Alumni Networking Day.

The panel featured Chris Buccino ’02, Founder and Principal of Landschop landscape architects; Justin Reynolds ’99, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Gull Island Institute; and Chloe Starr ’04, Operations Manager for Aquaculture Research Corporation.

“Because of the changing climate and shifting ecosystems,” said Reynolds, “the natural world around us is fluctuating a lot. It takes the efforts of scientists and engineers, but also companies, nonprofits, townships, and cities to come up with solutions.”

As residents of Cape Cod, Starr noted, “we’re probably more aware of it than people in other places. We see the effects of big storms and how our drinking water can be compromised. You are in a unique spot to have environment and climate issues affect you every day.”

With sea level changes, many estuaries will retreat—but sometimes, there’s nowhere for them to go. Buccino, who originally wanted to design golf courses, pursued landscape architecture instead. “I never did anything with golf,” he said, “but I liked topography, designing, and the environment. Working at properties along the shoreline always means researching contingencies in the design.”

How should we live in a world that is undergoing physical and environmental changes? “Climate affects every dimension of life,” said Reynolds. “I’m interested in understanding history in ways that bring together the natural world and human nature and culture. What are the stories that we need right now as a society to understand where we are? How should we live?”

The consensus: develop skills that help you examine environmental narratives and understand the historical context of climate issues. Being able to communicate the significance of environmental change positions you as a thoughtful leader, no matter your career path.

“You gain an understanding of what you’re working with and the environment around you if you’re involved in it day to day,” said Starr. “Our farmers are seeing bigger weather events on their oyster farms. They’re changing how they adapt based on what kind of winter we expect.”

Because climate change and environmental issues can play a role in nearly any profession, the moderators encouraged students to think broadly when choosing a college major. One key piece of advice: try as many types of jobs within a field as possible. Internships, volunteer work, and part-time positions can expose you to different aspects of a profession.

“One year at FA, I worked in Dr. Waterbury’s lab doing water treatment research for a Science Fair project,” said Starr. “In college, one of my summer jobs was working for the Barnstable Land Trust because I thought I wanted to do ecology and land restoration. It turns out I didn’t necessarily want to do that, but it was a great experience, and I learned something.”

A mindset of proactive problem-solving and resilience in the face of climate challenges can be especially appealing to employers. It shows that you can navigate uncertainty and contribute innovative solutions—skills that matter across industries.