Use your science smarts to power up communities, save the planet and change lives
If you’re just as into helping others as you are problem-solving and innovating, consider your CV sorted. The United Nations has come up with a global to-do list to make the world a fairer and healthier planet – and the world needs scientists to start ticking things off.
Er, what the SDG?
The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collective call to action – a global wishlist working towards ending poverty, reducing inequality and protecting the planet. And they aren’t just abstract ideas – they’re blueprints for real-world jobs. Pick a goal you care about, match it with your science skills, and chances are you’ll
find a compatible study pathway and career!
Keen to get started? Here, we’ve listed all 17 SDGs and related science for social good jobs.
No poverty
- Good job: Agricultural scientist
- Big help: Develops farming methods to boost food security.
- Study: Bachelor of Agricultural Science
Zero hunger
- Good job: Food technologist
- Big help: Creates nutritious, sustainable resources to feed growing populations.
- Study: Bachelor of Food Science and Technology
Good health and wellbeing
- Good job: Biomedical scientist
- Big help: Develops new treatments to help people live longer, healthier lives.
- Study: Bachelor of Biomedical Science
Quality education
- Good job: Science educator
- Big help: Inspires the next generation of changemakers.
- Study: Graduate Diploma of Education
Gender equality
- Good job: Social scientist
- Big help: Designs fairer systems to support women and girls in science and tech.
- Study: Bachelor of Psychology
Clean water and sanitation
- Good job: Environmental engineer
- Big help: Creates systems to safely manage water and waste in remote communities.
- Study: Bachelor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Affordable and clean energy
- Good job: Renewable energy scientist
- Big help: Creates solar panels, wind farms and batteries to power the planet sustainably.
- Study: Bachelor of Renewable Energy Engineering (Honours)
Decent work and economic growth
- Good job: Data scientist
- Big help: Uses data to boost industries, predict trends and create smarter, fairer economies.
- Study: Bachelor of Data Science
Industry, innovation and Infrastructure
- Good job: Robotics engineer
- Big help: Builds smarter machines to improve manufacturing, transport and communication.
- Study: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Mechatronic)
Reduced inequalities
- Good job: Public health researcher
- Big help: Analyses data to close health gaps between communities.
- Study: Bachelor of Health Science
Sustainable cities and communities
- Good job: Urban environmental scientist
- Big help: Designs greener, cleaner cities with better air, transport and energy systems.
- Study: Bachelor of Environment
Responsible consumption and production
- Good job: Materials scientist
- Big help: Creates eco-friendly materials and designs products that can be reused or recycled.
- Study: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Materials Engineering)
Climate action
- Good job: Climate scientist
- Big help: Analyses weather patterns to help fight climate change.
- Study: Bachelor of Climate Science
Life below water
- Good job: Marine biologist
- Big help: Protects marine ecosystems from pollution and warming seas.
- Study: Bachelor of Marine Science
Life on land
- Good job: Conservation ecologist
- Big help: Restores habitats, protects wildlife and manages biodiversity.
- Study: Bachelor of Biodiversity and Conservation
Peace, justice and strong institutions
- Good job: Forensic scientist
- Big help: Uses DNA, chemistry and evidence analysis to solve crimes.
- Study: Bachelor of Forensic Science
Partnerships for the goals
- Good job: Policy advisor
- Big help: Brings scientists, governments and communities together to turn research into action.
- Study: Master of Public Policy
This article first appeared in Careers with STEM: Science 2026.
