Engineers have immense power to create change. They could use their skills to design an atomic bomb, or to invent sustainable energy sources. Professor John Wood from Imperial College London, explains that it is the problems an engineer is trying to solve, rather than the type of engineering they are involved with which determines whether a career is ethical. Click here to download an interview with Professor Wood, from ethicalcareers.org.

Environmental Engineering

• Good Energy - owners of Britain's first wind farm.
• IT Power – “International energy consultancy which specialises in sustainable energy technologies and policy, and related economic, financial, commercial and environmental work.”
• The Society of Environmental Engineers - Promotes awareness of the discipline of environmental engineering, and provides members of the Society with information, training and representation.
• Whitbybird Ltd - an engineering company which focuses on sustainable development, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
• Solar Century - Business which employs engineers to install solar panels for homes and businesses.
• Solar Twin Ltd - Business which employs engineers to install solar heating kits for homes.
• Wind Prospect - developer of wind farms in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. 

CAREERS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY - download your free guide here. It contains advice and information about working in renewables, profiles of people who already work in the sector, as well as links to training courses and institutions who employ engineers.

Engineering for Development

• Engineers Without Borders - aims to facilitate development through engineering. Organises placements for recent graduates in developing countries. There are also opportunities to get involved in the UK, for example in research
• Médecins Sans Frontières - provides independent emergency medical relief to victims of war, disasters and epidemics in over 80 countries around the world. It has a reputation of not only being the first to arrive in a crisis-hit area, but often, the only organisation to be there at all. MSF volunteers unpaid but are provided with a stipend to cover costs. Volunteers are usually either trained medical professionals, logisticians, finance administrators or engineers (i.e. water, technical etc). Missions are normally between 9 and 12 months in duration.
• RedR - "International federation of charities that work to relieve suffering caused by disasters by selecting, training and providing competent and committed personnel to humanitarian programmes worldwide." Have particular expertise in engineering, security, and health, and run a recruitment service for humanitarian professionals in this field.