There have been hundreds of articles about so-called green jobs, or green collar jobs that are supposedly just over the horizon.
They usually involve solar panel installing, weatherization or urban farming (as in digging dirt). There is no future in dirt.
This is the most interesting projection of future new job ideas that I have seen. These are really cool jobs in my opinion. They aren't vaporware ideas like so many I've read. The list comes from a very progressive website in the U.K. called Science So What.
Note Dream Job No. 8. In my opinion it should be broadened to include sub-irrigated planter (SIP) systems and home hydroponic and aquaponic systems. This field of consumer food production systems has enormous potential. It probably justifies its own separate category.
8. Vertical farmers Vertical farms growing in skyscrapers in the middle or our cities could dramatically increase food supply by 2020. Vertical farmers will need skills in a range of scientific disciplines, engineering and commerce.
via sciencesowhat.direct.gov.uk
With the help of the team at Fast Future Research, Science: [So what? So everything] has looked at potential developments in science and technology over the next 20 years and identified 20 jobs we could be doing as a result of these advances.
What would you like to do?
1. Body part maker Advances in science will make it possible to create living body parts, so we could need living body part makers, body part stores and body part repair shops.
Want to know more? Take a look at a story and career information about
rebuilding body parts.
2. Nano-medic
Advances in nanotechnology for creating molecular-scale devices and
treatments could transform personal healthcare so we would need a new
breed of nano medicine specialists to administer these treatments.
Want
to know more? Take a look at a story about the tiny robots changing surgery, and the people who
build them, plus career information.
3. Pharmer of genetically engineered crops and livestock New-age farmers will grow crops and keep animals that have been genetically engineered to increase the amount of food they produce and to include proteins that are good for our health. Scientists are already working on a vaccine-carrying tomato and therapeutic milk from cows, sheep and goats.
Want to know more? Take a look at an article and career information about the future
of genetics.
4. Old age wellness manager/consultant We will need specialists to help manage the health and personal needs of an aging population. They will be able to use a range of new emerging medical, drug, prosthetic, mental health, natural and fitness treatments.
Want to know more? Take a look at
a story and career information about how robots could make
our old age easier.
5. Memory augmentation
surgeon Surgeons could add extra memory to people who want to
increase their memory and to help those who have been over-exposed to
information and need more memory to store it.
6.
‘New science’ ethicist As scientific advances speed up in
areas like cloning, we may need a new breed of ethicist who understands
the science and helps society make choices about what developments to
allow. It won’t be a question of can we, but should we?
7. Space pilots, tour guides and architects With companies already promising space tourism, we may need space pilots and tour guides, as well as architects to design where they will live and work. Current projects at SICSA (University of Houston) include a greenhouse on Mars, lunar outposts and space exploration vehicles.
Want to
know more? Take a look at a story and career paths into becoming a space pilot.
8. Vertical farmers Vertical farms growing in
skyscrapers in the middle or our cities could dramatically increase food
supply by 2020. Vertical farmers will need skills in a range of
scientific disciplines, engineering and commerce.
9.
Climate change reversal specialist As the impact of climate
change increases, we will need a new breed of engineer-scientists to
help reduce or reverse the effects. The range of science and
technologies they use could include filling the oceans with iron filings
and putting up giant umbrellas to deflect the sun's rays.
10.
Quarantine enforcer If a deadly virus starts spreading
rapidly, few countries, and few people, will be prepared. Nurses will be
in short supply. And as death rates rise, and neighborhoods are shut
down, someone will have to guard the gates.
11.
Weather modification police The act of stealing clouds to
create rain is already happening in some parts of the world and is
altering weather patterns thousands of miles away. Weather modification
police would need to control and monitor who is allowed to shoot rockets
containing silver iodine into the air - a way to provoke rainfall from
passing clouds.
12. Virtual lawyer As more
and more of our daily life goes online, we will need specialist lawyers
to resolve legal disputes which could involve people living in countries
and regions with different laws.
13. Avatar
manager/devotees/virtual teachers Intelligent avatars or
computer characters could be used to support or even replace teachers in
the classroom. The devotee is the human that makes sure the avatar and
the student are properly matched.
14. Alternative
vehicle developers We need the designers and builders of the
next generations of vehicle transport using alternative materials and
fuels. Could the dream of zero-emission cars or even underwater and
flying cars become a reality within the next two decades?
15.
Narrowcasters As content on the television, radio and the
internet becomes increasingly personalised, there will be jobs for
specialists working with producers and advertisers to create news,
entertainment and information tailored to our personal interests. While
some personalisation will be done by computers, customised narrowcasting
to individuals could be performed by humans.
16.
Waste data handler As data and information about us increases
on computers everywhere, we may need waste data handlers to securely get
rid of our data so we can’t be tracked or have our identity stolen.
17. Virtual clutter organiser Clutter managers
will help us organise our electronic lives. They would look after our
email, make sure our data is stored properly and manage our electronic
passwords and profiles.
Want to know more? Take a look at an article and careers in the future of managing internet clutter.
18. Time broker/Time bank
trader Time has always been precious and time banking already
exists. In the future there may be other alternative currencies that
will have their own markets where they can be traded.
19.
Social 'networking' worker We may need social workers for
people who may be traumatised or marginalised by social networking.
20. Personal branders This job would be an extension of the role played by celebrity stylists and publicists. Personal branders will work for anyone to create a personal "brand" using social networking sites and other media. The sort of issues they would be dealing with will be what personality are you projecting via your Blog, Twitter, etc? What personal values do you want to build into your image? And is your image consistent with your real life personality and your goals?
You can download a pdf document of these 20 jobs.
If you're a parent or carer, you can take a look at our ideas for parents and carers with young children and our top tips for parents and carers with teens and older children.
Future developments in science and technology
The Science:
[So what? So everything] jobs of the future are based on Fast Future’s
analysis of likely developments in science and technology in the next
10-20 years. For the full report including this 'science and technology
timeline' go to: Fast Future Research
For additional information on emerging developments in science and technology check out:
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