Science is a universal language. No matter where in the world you are, science is a constant that unites us all. The same is true when it comes to protecting the environment. We are no longer confined by borders when it comes to protecting the natural resources of the planet.
The first 25 years of my career, I very seldom had the opportunity to practice in my native language. My time working both in the public and private sector allowed me to learn many facets within the environmental field and to travel throughout the state and get to see the rich and valuable resources Mississippi has to offer.
Last year, I was offered the opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills as an environmental professional on a global scale. For the first time in my career, I would have the opportunity to use Spanish in my everyday work. While I was thrilled to be able to
use both my native tongue and my expertise, I was a bit worried. I have spoken Spanish all my life, but just like in English, there’s the everyday vernacular one uses in conversation, and then, there’s the more technical one. How was I going to translate so many technical terms or interpret regulatory mandates into Spanish? 
My position with the AES Corporation allows me the opportunity to interact with all our businesses in the US and abroad. Although most of the environmental professionals at our different locations are proficient in English, there are many in the operation of these facilities who may not have the level of mastery of the English language to understand the importance their roles have in ensuring compliance with both local environmental laws as well as with our company’s environmental standards.
Countries around the world are enacting environmental laws to help protect the environment within their borders, and many of those countries look at US laws and regulations for guidance when drafting and enacting those laws. Both my experience and my mastery of the Spanish language allow me to provide support to our global businesses as they work to comply.
A typical day for me includes many meetings, some in English with people from the US and abroad, others in Spanish, and we have a few that start in one language and end with another. Hopefully in the not-so-distant future, I will also be able to conduct meetings in Portuguese with my Brazilian colleagues, who now join in our conversations in either Spanish or English.
Although my job may look a little different than before, the central theme is the same: protect the environment while we move forward into the future, bringing more innovation.
About the author: Kayra is a bilingual senior environmental Specialist in the Global Environmental Affairs unit of the AES Corporation.
Articles by contributors are not necessarily the viewpoint or opinion of the Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Surveyors