research projects in environmental science

Research Topics & Ideas: Environment

100+ Environmental Science Research Topics & Ideas

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. Here, we’ll explore a variety research ideas and topic thought-starters related to various environmental science disciplines, including ecology, oceanography, hydrology, geology, soil science, environmental chemistry, environmental economics, and environmental ethics.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the environmental sciences. This is the starting point though. To develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. Also be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to develop a high-quality research topic from scratch.

Overview: Environmental Topics

• Ecology /ecological science
• Atmospheric science
• Oceanography
• Soil science
• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental economics
• Environmental ethics
• Examples  of dissertations and theses

Topics & Ideas: Ecological Science

• The impact of land-use change on species diversity and ecosystem functioning in agricultural landscapes
• The role of disturbances such as fire and drought in shaping arid ecosystems
• The impact of climate change on the distribution of migratory marine species
• Investigating the role of mutualistic plant-insect relationships in maintaining ecosystem stability
• The effects of invasive plant species on ecosystem structure and function
• The impact of habitat fragmentation caused by road construction on species diversity and population dynamics in the tropics
• The role of ecosystem services in urban areas and their economic value to a developing nation
• The effectiveness of different grassland restoration techniques in degraded ecosystems
• The impact of land-use change through agriculture and urbanisation on soil microbial communities in a temperate environment
• The role of microbial diversity in ecosystem health and nutrient cycling in an African savannah

Topics & Ideas: Atmospheric Science

• The impact of climate change on atmospheric circulation patterns above tropical rainforests
• The role of atmospheric aerosols in cloud formation and precipitation above cities with high pollution levels
• The impact of agricultural land-use change on global atmospheric composition
• Investigating the role of atmospheric convection in severe weather events in the tropics
• The impact of urbanisation on regional and global atmospheric ozone levels
• The impact of sea surface temperature on atmospheric circulation and tropical cyclones
• The impact of solar flares on the Earth’s atmospheric composition
• The impact of climate change on atmospheric turbulence and air transportation safety
• The impact of stratospheric ozone depletion on atmospheric circulation and climate change
• The role of atmospheric rivers in global water supply and sea-ice formation

Topics & Ideas: Oceanography

• The impact of ocean acidification on kelp forests and biogeochemical cycles
• The role of ocean currents in distributing heat and regulating desert rain
• The impact of carbon monoxide pollution on ocean chemistry and biogeochemical cycles
• Investigating the role of ocean mixing in regulating coastal climates
• The impact of sea level rise on the resource availability of low-income coastal communities
• The impact of ocean warming on the distribution and migration patterns of marine mammals
• The impact of ocean deoxygenation on biogeochemical cycles in the arctic
• The role of ocean-atmosphere interactions in regulating rainfall in arid regions
• The impact of ocean eddies on global ocean circulation and plankton distribution
• The role of ocean-ice interactions in regulating the Earth’s climate and sea level

Tops & Ideas: Hydrology

• The impact of agricultural land-use change on water resources and hydrologic cycles in temperate regions
• The impact of agricultural groundwater availability on irrigation practices in the global south
• The impact of rising sea-surface temperatures on global precipitation patterns and water availability
• Investigating the role of wetlands in regulating water resources for riparian forests
• The impact of tropical ranches on river and stream ecosystems and water quality
• The impact of urbanisation on regional and local hydrologic cycles and water resources for agriculture
• The role of snow cover and mountain hydrology in regulating regional agricultural water resources
• The impact of drought on food security in arid and semi-arid regions
• The role of groundwater recharge in sustaining water resources in arid and semi-arid environments
• The impact of sea level rise on coastal hydrology and the quality of water resources

Topics & Ideas: Geology

• The impact of tectonic activity on the East African rift valley
• The role of mineral deposits in shaping ancient human societies
• The impact of sea-level rise on coastal geomorphology and shoreline evolution
• Investigating the role of erosion in shaping the landscape and impacting desertification
• The impact of mining on soil stability and landslide potential
• The impact of volcanic activity on incoming solar radiation and climate
• The role of geothermal energy in decarbonising the energy mix of megacities
• The impact of Earth’s magnetic field on geological processes and solar wind
• The impact of plate tectonics on the evolution of mammals
• The role of the distribution of mineral resources in shaping human societies and economies, with emphasis on sustainability

Topics & Ideas: Soil Science

• The impact of dam building on soil quality and fertility
• The role of soil organic matter in regulating nutrient cycles in agricultural land
• The impact of climate change on soil erosion and soil organic carbon storage in peatlands
• Investigating the role of above-below-ground interactions in nutrient cycling and soil health
• The impact of deforestation on soil degradation and soil fertility
• The role of soil texture and structure in regulating water and nutrient availability in boreal forests
• The impact of sustainable land management practices on soil health and soil organic matter
• The impact of wetland modification on soil structure and function
• The role of soil-atmosphere exchange and carbon sequestration in regulating regional and global climate
• The impact of salinization on soil health and crop productivity in coastal communities

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Chemistry

• The impact of cobalt mining on water quality and the fate of contaminants in the environment
• The role of atmospheric chemistry in shaping air quality and climate change
• The impact of soil chemistry on nutrient availability and plant growth in wheat monoculture
• Investigating the fate and transport of heavy metal contaminants in the environment
• The impact of climate change on biochemical cycling in tropical rainforests
• The impact of various types of land-use change on biochemical cycling
• The role of soil microbes in mediating contaminant degradation in the environment
• The impact of chemical and oil spills on freshwater and soil chemistry
• The role of atmospheric nitrogen deposition in shaping water and soil chemistry
• The impact of over-irrigation on the cycling and fate of persistent organic pollutants in the environment

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Economics

• The impact of climate change on the economies of developing nations
• The role of market-based mechanisms in promoting sustainable use of forest resources
• The impact of environmental regulations on economic growth and competitiveness
• Investigating the economic benefits and costs of ecosystem services for African countries
• The impact of renewable energy policies on regional and global energy markets
• The role of water markets in promoting sustainable water use in southern Africa
• The impact of land-use change in rural areas on regional and global economies
• The impact of environmental disasters on local and national economies
• The role of green technologies and innovation in shaping the zero-carbon transition and the knock-on effects for local economies
• The impact of environmental and natural resource policies on income distribution and poverty of rural communities

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Ethics

• The ethical foundations of environmentalism and the environmental movement regarding renewable energy
• The role of values and ethics in shaping environmental policy and decision-making in the mining industry
• The impact of cultural and religious beliefs on environmental attitudes and behaviours in first world countries
• Investigating the ethics of biodiversity conservation and the protection of endangered species in palm oil plantations
• The ethical implications of sea-level rise for future generations and vulnerable coastal populations
• The role of ethical considerations in shaping sustainable use of natural forest resources
• The impact of environmental justice on marginalized communities and environmental policies in Asia
• The ethical implications of environmental risks and decision-making under uncertainty
• The role of ethics in shaping the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable future for the construction industry
• The impact of environmental values on consumer behaviour and the marketplace: a case study of the ‘bring your own shopping bag’ policy

Examples: Real Dissertation & Thesis Topics

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various environmental science-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• The physiology of microorganisms in enhanced biological phosphorous removal (Saunders, 2014)
• The influence of the coastal front on heavy rainfall events along the east coast (Henson, 2019)
• Forage production and diversification for climate-smart tropical and temperate silvopastures (Dibala, 2019)
• Advancing spectral induced polarization for near surface geophysical characterization (Wang, 2021)
• Assessment of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter and Thamnocephalus platyurus as Tools to Monitor Cyanobacterial Bloom Development and Toxicity (Hipsher, 2019)
• Evaluating the Removal of Microcystin Variants with Powdered Activated Carbon (Juang, 2020)
• The effect of hydrological restoration on nutrient concentrations, macroinvertebrate communities, and amphibian populations in Lake Erie coastal wetlands (Berg, 2019)
• Utilizing hydrologic soil grouping to estimate corn nitrogen rate recommendations (Bean, 2019)
• Fungal Function in House Dust and Dust from the International Space Station (Bope, 2021)
• Assessing Vulnerability and the Potential for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Sudan’s Blue Nile Basin (Mohamed, 2022)
• A Microbial Water Quality Analysis of the Recreational Zones in the Los Angeles River of Elysian Valley, CA (Nguyen, 2019)
• Dry Season Water Quality Study on Three Recreational Sites in the San Gabriel Mountains (Vallejo, 2019)
• Wastewater Treatment Plan for Unix Packaging Adjustment of the Potential Hydrogen (PH) Evaluation of Enzymatic Activity After the Addition of Cycle Disgestase Enzyme (Miessi, 2020)
• Laying the Genetic Foundation for the Conservation of Longhorn Fairy Shrimp (Kyle, 2021).

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. To create a top-notch research topic, you will need to be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you’ll need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Need more help?

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your environmental science dissertation or research project, be sure to check out our private coaching services below, as well as our Research Topic Kickstarter .

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12 Comments

research topics on climate change and environment

Researched PhD topics on environmental chemistry involving dust and water

I wish to learn things in a more advanced but simple way and with the hopes that I am in the right place.

Thank so much for the research topics. It really helped

the guides were really helpful

Research topics on environmental geology

Thanks for the research topics….I need a research topic on Geography

hi I need research questions ideas

Implications of climate variability on wildlife conservation on the west coast of Cameroon

I want the research on environmental planning and management

I want a topic on environmental sustainability

It good coaching

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50 Best Environmental Science Research Topics

May 31, 2023

Environmental science is a varied discipline that encompasses a variety of subjects, including ecology, atmospheric science, and geology among others. Professionals within this field can pursue many occupations from lab technicians and agricultural engineers to park rangers and environmental lawyers. However, what unites these careers is their focus on how the natural world and the human world interact and impact the surrounding environment. There is also one other significant commonality among environmental science careers: virtually all of them either engage in or rely on research on environmental science topics to ensure their work is accurate and up to date.

In this post, we’ll outline some of the best environmental science research topics to help you explore disciplines within environmental science and kickstart your own research. If you are considering majoring in environmental science or perhaps just need help brainstorming for a research paper, this post will give you a broad sense of timely environmental science research topics.

What makes a research topic good?

Before we dive into specific environmental science research topics, let’s first cover the basics: what qualities make for a viable research topic. Research is the process of collecting information to make discoveries and reach new conclusions. We often think of research as something that occurs in academic or scientific settings. However, everyone engages in informal research in everyday life, from reading product reviews to investigating statistics for admitted students at prospective colleges . While we all conduct research in our day-to-day lives, formal academic research is necessary to advance discoveries and scholarly discourses. Therefore, in this setting, good research hinges on a topic in which there are unanswered questions or ongoing debates. In other words, meaningful research focuses on topics where you can say something new.

However, identifying an interesting research topic is only the first step in the research process. Research topics tend to be broad in scope. Strong research is dependent on developing a specific research question, meaning the query your project will seek to answer. While there are no comprehensive guidelines for research questions, most scholars agree that research questions should be:

1) Specific

Research questions need to clearly identify and define the focus of your research. Without sufficient detail, your research will likely be too broad or imprecise in focus to yield meaningful insights. For example, you might initially be interested in addressing this question: How should governments address the effects of climate change? While that is a worthwhile question to investigate, it’s not clear enough to facilitate meaningful research. What level of government is this question referring to? And what specific effects of global warming will this research focus on? You would need to revise this question to provide a clearer focus for your research. A revised version of this question might look like this: How can state government officials in Florida best mitigate the effects of sea-level rise?

 2) Narrow

Our interest in a given topic often starts quite broad. However, it is difficult to produce meaningful, thorough research on a broad topic. For that reason, it is important that research questions be narrow in scope, focusing on a specific issue or subtopic. For example, one of the more timely environmental science topics is renewable energy. A student who is just learning about this topic might wish to write a research paper on the following question: Which form of renewable energy is best? However, that would be a difficult question to answer in one paper given the various ways in which an energy source could be “best.” Instead, this student might narrow their focus, assessing renewable energy sources through a more specific lens: Which form of renewable energy is best for job creation?

 3) Complex

As we previously discussed, good research leads to new discoveries. These lines of inquiry typically require a complicated and open-ended research question. A question that can be answered with just a “yes” or “no” (or a quick Google search) is likely indicative of a topic in which additional research is unnecessary (i.e. there is no ongoing debate) or a topic that is not well defined. For example, the following question would likely be too simple for academic research: What is environmental justice? You can look up a definition of environmental justice online. You would need to ask a more complex question to sustain a meaningful research project. Instead, you might conduct research on the following query: Which environmental issue(s) disproportionately impact impoverished communities in the Pacific Northwest? This question is narrower and more specific, while also requiring more complex thought and analysis to answer.

4) Debatable

Again, strong research provides new answers and information, which means that they must be situated within topics or discourses where there is ongoing debate. If a research question can only lead to one natural conclusion, that may indicate that it has already been sufficiently addressed in prior research or that the question is leading. For example, Are invasive species bad? is not a very debatable question (the answer is in the term “invasive species”!). A paper that focused on this question would essentially define and provide examples of invasive species (i.e. information that is already well documented). Instead, a researcher might investigate the effects of a specific invasive species. For example: How have Burmese pythons impacted ecosystems in the Everglades, and what mitigation strategies are most effective to reduce Burmese python populations?

Therefore, research topics, including environmental science topics, are those about which there are ample questions yet to be definitively answered. Taking time to develop a thoughtful research question will provide the necessary focus and structure to facilitate meaningful research.

10 Great Environmental Science Research Topics (With Explanations!)

Now that we have a basic understanding of what qualities can make or break a research topic, we can return to our focus on environmental science topics. Although “great” research topics are somewhat subjective, we believe the following topics provide excellent foundations for research due to ongoing debates in these areas, as well as the urgency of the challenges they seek to address.

1) Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Although climate change is now a well-known concept , there is still much to be learned about how humans can best mitigate and adapt to its effects. Mitigation involves reducing the severity of climate change. However, there are a variety of ways mitigation can occur, from switching to electric vehicles to enforcing carbon taxes on corporations that produce the highest carbon emission levels. Many of these environmental science topics intersect with issues of public policy and economics, making them very nuanced and versatile.

In comparison, climate change adaptation considers how humans can adjust to life in an evolving climate where issues such as food insecurity, floods, droughts, and other severe weather events are more frequent. Research on climate change adaptation is particularly fascinating due to the various levels at which it occurs, from federal down to local governments, to help communities anticipate and adjust to the effects of climate change.

Both climate change mitigation and adaptation represent excellent environmental science research topics as there is still much to be learned to address this issue and its varied effects.

2) Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is another fairly mainstream topic in which there is much to learn and research. Although scientists have identified many forms of sustainable energy, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, questions remain about how to best implement these energy sources. How can politicians, world leaders, and communities advance renewable energy through public policy? What impact will renewable energy have on local and national economies? And how can we minimize the environmental impact of renewable energy technologies? While we have identified alternatives to fossil fuels, questions persist about the best way to utilize these technologies, making renewable energy one of the best environmental science topics to research.

3) Conservation

Conservation is a broad topic within environmental science, focusing on issues such as preserving environments and protecting endangered species. However, conservation efforts are more challenging than ever in the face of a growing world population and climate change. In fact, some scientists theorize that we are currently in the middle of a sixth mass extinction event. While these issues might seem dire, we need scientists to conduct research on conservation efforts for specific species, as well as entire ecosystems, to help combat these challenges and preserve the planet’s biodiversity.

4) Deforestation

The Save the Rainforest movement of the 1980s and 90s introduced many people to the issue of deforestation. Today, the problems associated with deforestation, such as reduced biodiversity and soil erosion, are fairly common knowledge. However, these challenges persist due, in part, to construction and agricultural development projects. While we know the effects of deforestation, it is more difficult to identify and implement feasible solutions. This is particularly true in developing countries where deforestation is often more prevalent due to political, environmental, and economic factors. Environmental science research can help reduce deforestation by identifying strategies to help countries sustainably manage their natural resources.

Environmental Science Topics (Continued)

5) urban ecology.

When we think of “the environment,” our brains often conjure up images of majestic mountain ranges and lush green forests. However, less “natural” environments also warrant study: this is where urban ecology comes in. Urban ecology is the study of how organisms interact with one another and their environment in urban settings. Through urban ecology, researchers can address topics such as how greenspaces in cities can reduce air pollution, or how local governments can adopt more effective waste management practices. As one of the newer environmental science topics, urban ecology represents an exciting research area that can help humans live more sustainably.

6) Environmental Justice

While environmental issues such as climate change impact people on a global scale, not all communities are affected equally. For example, wealthy nations tend to contribute more to greenhouse-gas emissions. However, less developed nations are disproportionately bearing the brunt of climate change . Studies within the field of environmental justice seek to understand how issues such as race, national origin, and income impact the degree to which people experience hardships from environmental issues. Researchers in this field not only document these inequities, but also identify ways in which environmental justice can be achieved. As a result, their work helps communities have access to clean, safe environments in which they can thrive.

7) Water Management

Water is, of course, necessary for life, which is why water management is so important within environmental science research topics. Water management research ensures that water resources are appropriately identified and maintained to meet demand. However, climate change has heightened the need for water management research, due to the occurrence of more severe droughts and wildfires. As a result, water management research is necessary to ensure water is clean and accessible.

8) Pollution and Bioremediation

Another impact of the increase in human population and development is heightened air, water, and soil pollution. Environmental scientists study pollutants to understand how they work and where they originate. Through their research, they can identify solutions to help address pollution, such as bioremediation, which is the use of microorganisms to consume and break down pollutants. Collectively, research on pollution and bioremediation helps us restore environments so they are sufficient for human, animal, and plant life.

9) Disease Ecology

While environmental science topics impact the health of humans, we don’t always think of this discipline as intersecting with medicine. But, believe it or not, they can sometimes overlap! Disease ecology examines how ecological processes and interactions impact disease evolution. For example, malaria is a disease that is highly dependent on ecological variables, such as temperature and precipitation. Both of these factors can help or hinder the breeding of mosquitoes and, therefore, the transmission of malaria. The risk of infectious diseases is likely to increase due to climate change , making disease ecology an important research topic.

10) Ecosystems Ecology

If nothing else, the aforementioned topics and their related debates showcase just how interconnected the world is. None of us live in a vacuum: our environment affects us just as we affect it. That makes ecosystems ecology, which examines how ecosystems operate and interact, an evergreen research topic within environmental science.

40 More Environmental Science Research Topics

Still haven’t stumbled upon the right environmental science research topic? The following ideas may help spark some inspiration:

• The effects of agricultural land use on biodiversity and ecosystems.
• The impact of invasive plant species on ecosystems.
• How wildfires and droughts shape ecosystems.
• The role of fire ecology in addressing wildfire threats.
• The impact of coral bleaching on biodiversity.
• Ways to minimize the environmental impact of clean energies.
• The effects of climate change on ocean currents and migration patterns of marine species.

Environmental Justice and Public Policy

• Opportunities to equalize the benefits of greenspaces for impoverished and marginalized communities.
• The impact of natural disasters on human migration patterns.
• The role of national parks and nature reserves in human health.
• How to address inequalities in the impact of air pollution.
• How to prevent and address the looming climate refugee crisis.
• Environmentally and economically sustainable alternatives to deforestation in less developed countries.
• Effects of environmental policies and regulations on impoverished communities.
• The role of pollutants in endocrine disruption.
• The effects of climate change on the emergence of infectious diseases.

AP Environmental Science Research Topics (Continued)

Soil science.

• Effects of climate change on soil erosion.
• The role of land management in maintaining soil health.
• Agricultural effects of salinization in coastal areas.
• The effects of climate change on agriculture.

Urban Ecology

• How road construction impacts biodiversity and ecosystems.
• The effects of urbanization and city planning on water cycles.
• Impacts of noise pollution on human health.
• The role of city planning in reducing light pollution.

Pollution and Bioremediation

• The role of bioremediation in removing “forever” chemicals from the environment.
• Impacts of air pollution on maternal health.
• How to improve plastic recycling processes.
• Individual measures to reduce consumption and creation of microplastics.
• Environmental impacts of and alternatives to fracking.

Environmental Law and Ethics

• Ethical implications of human intervention in the preservation of endangered species.
• The efficacy and impact of single-use plastic laws.
• Effects of religious and cultural values in environmental beliefs.
• The ethics of climate change policy for future generations.
• Ethical implications of international environmental regulations for less developed countries.
• The impact and efficacy of corporate carbon taxes.
• Ethical and environmental implications of fast fashion.
• The ethics and efficacy of green consumerism.
• Impacts of the hospitality and travel industries on pollution and emissions.
• The ethical implications of greenwashing in marketing.
• Effects of “Right to Repair” laws on pollution.

Final Thoughts: Environmental Science Research Topics

Environmental science is a diverse and very important area of study that impacts all aspects of life on Earth. If you’ve found a topic you’d like to pursue, it’s time to hit the books (or online databases)! Begin reading broadly on your chosen topic so you can define a specific research question. If you’re unsure where to begin, contact a research librarian who can connect you with pertinent resources. As you familiarize yourself with the discourse surrounding your topic, consider what questions spring to mind. Those questions may represent gaps around which you can craft a research question.

Interested in conducting academic research? Check out the following resources for information on research opportunities and programs:

• Research Opportunities for High School Students
• Colleges with the Best Undergraduate Research Programs
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Emily earned a BA in English and Communication Studies from UNC Chapel Hill and an MA in English from Wake Forest University. While at UNC and Wake Forest, she served as a tutor and graduate assistant in each school’s writing center, where she worked with undergraduate and graduate students from all academic backgrounds. She also worked as an editorial intern for the Wake Forest University Press as well as a visiting lecturer in the Department of English at WFU, and currently works as a writing center director in western North Carolina.

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351 Environmental Science Research Topics & Ideas

• Icon Calendar 18 May 2024
• Icon Page 2791 words
• Icon Clock 13 min read

Environmental science research topics depend on a vast range of issues pivotal to understanding and safeguarding the natural world. Some themes may dive deep into studies of climate change, assessing its impact on ecosystems and suggesting mitigation strategies. Various topics also explore biodiversity, looking at species conservation and threats to habitats globally. Pollution is another focal area, investigating the sources, effects, and solutions to air, water, and soil contamination. Moreover, sustainable practices focus on renewable energy, green urban planning, and sustainable agriculture. This interdisciplinary field even scrutinizes human behavior, illustrating the complex interplay between socioeconomic factors and environmental health. Thus, environmental science research topics cover exploration, data interpretation, and creative problem-solving, all with the ultimate goal of developing ecologically responsible and sustainable methods for the proper coexistence of people and the natural world.

Hot Environmental Research Topics

• Understanding Climate Change and Food Security Nexus
• Unveiling Mysteries of Deep Ocean Biodiversity
• Exploring Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture
• Harnessing Green Energy: Opportunities and Challenges
• Rethinking Urban Design for Climate Resilience
• Insights Into Ecological Consequences of Deforestation
• Green Building Practices: A Comparative Study
• Endangered Species and Conservation Efforts: A Comprehensive Review
• Examining the Potential of Vertical Farming in Urban Areas
• Strategies for Plastic Waste Management: A Global Perspective
• Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems: An Unseen Threat
• Decoding Links Between Soil Health and Agricultural Productivity
• Effective Water Management Strategies in Arid Regions
• Emerging Contaminants in Freshwater Bodies: Trends and Solutions
• E-Waste Recycling: Technological Advancements and Challenges
• Carbon Sequestration in Forest Ecosystems: A Multidisciplinary Approach
• Human Behavioral Change for Environmental Sustainability
• Analyzing the Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health
• Biodiversity Hotspots and Their Conservation Significance
• Assessing Geoengineering Techniques for Climate Change Mitigation

Easy Environmental Research Topics

• Exploration of Solar Energy Advantages
• Rainwater Harvesting: A Simple Guide
• Why Recycling Matters: A Closer Look
• Green Spaces in Urban Planning
• Wildlife Conservation in Local Communities
• Understanding the Threat of Endangered Species
• Eco-Friendly Farming: The Basics
• Pollution in Cities: An Overview
• Renewable Energy: Current Trends
• Conservation of Water: Simple Methods
• Sustainable Living: Small Changes, Big Effects
• Climate Change: Easy-to-Understand Facts
• Rising Sea Levels: Exploring Causes
• Greenhouse Gases: A Beginner’s Study
• Composting at Home: An Introduction
• Biodiversity in Backyards: A Survey
• Plastic Waste: The Global Picture
• Community Gardens: Environmental and Social Benefits
• Forest Fires and Climate Change: A Link

Interesting Environmental Topics

• Decoding Coral Reef Bleaching Phenomena
• Intricacies of Permaculture Design Principles
• Fascinating World of Biofuels: A Deeper Dive
• Cryptic Life of Microorganisms in Soil Health Maintenance
• Innovative Techniques in Water Purification and Conservation
• Ecology of Urban Bees: A Novel Approach
• Mysterious Decline of Honeybee Populations
• Analysis of Climate Change Predictive Models
• Rise of Veganism: Environmental Implications
• Bizarre Effects of Light Pollution on Wildlife
• Ecosystem Services Provided by Wetlands
• Unfolding the Hidden Costs of Fast Fashion
• Overpopulation and Strain on Environmental Resources
• Wonders of Agroforestry: An Interdisciplinary Investigation
• Unraveling the Puzzle of Eutrophication
• Curious Case of Invasive Species: Winners or Losers?
• Dissecting the Intricacies of Carbon Footprints
• A Magnet for Pollution: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
• Invisible Enemy: Silent Threat of Indoor Air Pollution
• Glacial Retreat: A Story of Changing Climates

Environmental Research Topics for High School

• Influence of Climate Change on Local Weather Patterns
• Renewable Energy Sources: An Overview
• Understanding the Process of Composting
• Examining the Threat of Endangered Species Locally
• Exploring the Concept of Carbon Footprint
• Deforestation and Its Consequences: A Closer Look
• Greenhouse Effect Simplified: Causes and Consequences
• Waste Management: Importance of Recycling and Reusing
• Biodiversity in Your Backyard: An Introduction
• Diving Into the World of Organic Farming
• Air Quality Index and Its Significance
• Examining Coral Reefs: Importance and Threats
• Water Conservation Techniques for Sustainable Use
• Unpacking the Plastic Problem: From Production to Pollution
• Agriculture and Its Environmental Effects: An Overview
• Urban Heat Islands: Causes and Mitigation Strategies
• Natural Disasters: Causes and Preparation Techniques
• Exploring the Connection Between Diet and Environment
• Invasive Species’ Impact on Native Ecosystems
• Sustainability in Action: Everyday Practices for a Greener Future

Environmental Research Topics for College Students

• Unraveling the Mystery of Coral Bleaching
• Environmental Justice: A Multidisciplinary Approach
• Sustainable Transport: A Comparative Study
• Diving Into Deep Sea Mining: Pros and Cons
• Solar Power Efficiency: Opportunities and Challenges
• Biodegradable Plastics: A Solution or a Mirage?
• Hydroelectric Power: Evaluating Environmental Trade-offs
• Permaculture Principles and Its Real-World Applications
• Ecotourism: An Assessment of Environmental and Social Effects
• Air Pollution and Public Health: An Interdisciplinary Study
• Ecological Footprint: Calculation and Interpretation
• Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Agriculture
• Industrial Agriculture vs. Organic Farming: A Comparative Analysis
• Urban Planning for Climate Resilience: A Detailed Review
• Conservation Strategies for Endangered Species
• Wetlands: Ecological Importance and Conservation Measures
• Ocean Acidification: Causes and Effects on Marine Life
• Green Architecture: Innovations and Challenges
• Sustainable Waste Management: Technological Innovations and Best Practices

Environmental Research Topics for University

• Interconnections Between Forest Fires and Climate Change
• Assessing Sustainability in Supply Chain Management
• Urban Sprawl and Environmental Degradation: A Case Study
• GMO Crops: An Environmental and Social Analysis
• Geospatial Techniques in Environmental Conservation
• Water Quality in Developing Countries: Comprehensive Study
• Marine Pollution: Sources, Consequences, and Mitigation Strategies
• Environmental Ethics: Perspectives and Applications
• Soil Erosion: Causes, Effects, and Control Measures
• Geoengineering Techniques for Climate Change Mitigation
• Sustainable Urban Development: New Avenues and Challenges
• Nanotechnology in Environmental Remediation: A Critical Review
• Climate Policy and International Relations: A Complex Nexus
• Sustainable Fashion: Practices, Challenges, and Future Directions
• Technological Innovations in Renewable Energy: A Trend Analysis
• Green Spaces and Mental Health: An Interdisciplinary Review
• Trends in Sustainable Aquaculture Practices
• Wildlife Trafficking and Environmental Security: A Global Perspective
• Analyzing the Health Effects of Air Pollution
• Disposal and Management of Hazardous Waste: Current Techniques and Challenges

Topics in Environmental Science Research

• Challenges of Sustainable Resource Management
• Environmental Epigenetics: A New Frontier
• Plant-Based Diets and Sustainability: A Deeper Insight
• Unfolding Mysteries of Climate Migration Patterns
• Urban Ecology: Interactions of Humans and Nature
• Biochar as a Soil Amendment: An Analysis
• Threats to Arctic Ecosystems: A Detailed Review
• Influence of Mining Activities on Local Environments
• Deciphering the Ozone Layer Depletion Puzzle
• Flood Risk Management in Changing Climates
• Regenerative Agriculture: Practices and Prospects
• Methane Emissions From Livestock Farming: A Critical Review
• Ecohydrology: Interactions Between Water and Ecosystems
• Ecological Restoration of Degraded Landscapes
• Exploring the World of Conservation Genetics
• Plastic Pollution in Terrestrial Environments: An Emerging Issue
• Bioinformatics in Biodiversity Conservation: A Novel Approach
• Sustainable Tourism Practices: A Global Overview
• Life Cycle Analysis of Consumer Products
• Urban Farming Innovations: A Potential Solution for Food Security

Research Topics for Environmental Issues

• Deciphering the Global Nitrogen Cycle: Anthropogenic Effects
• Climate-Smart Agriculture: Innovation and Adoption Challenges
• Environmental Governance: Comparative Analysis of Global Frameworks
• Quantifying Biodiversity: Advanced Metrics and Methodologies
• Radiative Forcing From Atmospheric Aerosols: A Detailed Study
• Advancing Sustainable Urban Development: A Systems Perspective
• Environmental Risks of Nanomaterials: A Comprehensive Review
• Plant-Microbe Interactions in Phytoremediation: Molecular Mechanisms
• Ecological Modelling for Ecosystem Service Valuation
• Assessing Future Trajectories of Sea Level Rise
• Climate Change Adaptation: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Policy Interventions
• Agricultural Practices and Soil Carbon Sequestration: An In-Depth Study
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Environmental Behavior: A Cross-Cultural Analysis
• Sustainable Water Management in Arid Regions: Novel Approaches
• Challenges in Implementing a Circular Economy: A Case Study
• Holocene Climate Variability: Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions
• Green Chemistry: Emerging Techniques and Environmental Implications
• Bioenergy Production: Environmental Trade-Offs and Opportunities
• Ecosystem Resilience in the Face of Anthropogenic Disturbances

Environmental Safety and Health Topics for Research

• Health Implications of Air Quality: A Comprehensive Study
• Assessing Occupational Hazards in the Mining Industry
• Water Quality and Public Health: An Interdisciplinary Study
• Developing Safety Protocols in the Chemical Industry
• Exploring the Nexus Between Climate Change and Vector-Borne Diseases
• Managing Safety and Health in the Construction Industry
• Radioactive Pollution: Risks and Mitigation Strategies
• Effects of Noise Pollution on Human Health
• Biosecurity Measures in Agriculture: Policies and Implementation
• Assessing Risks of Genetically Modified Organisms to Human Health
• Exposure to Heavy Metals: Health Risks and Regulatory Standards
• Quantifying Health Impacts of Industrial Pollutants
• Food Safety in a Changing Climate: Challenges and Solutions
• Indoor Air Pollution and Respiratory Diseases: A Detailed Study
• Developing Protocols for Hazardous Waste Management
• Assessing the Health Effects of Microplastics Exposure
• Understanding Health Risks of Pesticide Exposure in Agriculture
• Psychosocial Factors and Safety Culture in the Oil and Gas Industry
• Health Impact Assessment of Nuclear Energy Facilities

Environmental Engineering Topics for Research

• Innovative Techniques in Wastewater Treatment
• Biofuel Production: Process Optimization and Scale-Up Challenges
• Advancements in Water Desalination Technologies
• Novel Materials for Photovoltaic Cells
• Harnessing Energy From Tidal and Wave Power: Engineering Challenges
• Biodegradable Materials for Sustainable Packaging Solutions
• Remediation Techniques for Contaminated Soil
• Carbon Capture and Storage: Technological Developments
• Improving Efficiency of Wind Turbines: A Technical Review
• Sustainable Construction Materials: A Life Cycle Analysis
• Geotechnical Considerations for Offshore Wind Farms
• Green Synthesis of Nanomaterials for Environmental Applications
• Advanced Oxidation Processes for Water Treatment
• Modeling and Optimization of Landfill Gas Recovery
• Acid Mine Drainage: Mitigation Strategies and Techniques
• Environmental Biotechnology: Harnessing Microbes for Pollution Control
• Heat Transfer in Energy Efficient Buildings: An Analysis
• Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites for Construction Applications
• Sustainable Approaches to Pavement Design and Materials
• Developing Energy Efficient Processes in Chemical Industries

Research Topics for Environmental Biology

• Unraveling Symbiotic Relationships in Coral Reefs
• Genetic Diversity and Conservation: An Interdisciplinary Approach
• Decoding the Functioning of Biofilms in Environmental Systems
• Plant-Soil Interactions in Changing Climate Scenarios
• Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Bioremediation
• Eco-Immunology: Exploring Disease Dynamics in Wildlife Populations
• Plant Adaptation Strategies to Abiotic Stress Factors
• Marine Microbial Ecology: Unseen Life in the Oceans
• Metagenomics Approaches in Soil Microbial Ecology
• Understanding Invasive Species: Genetic and Ecological Perspectives
• Examining Trophic Interactions Under Climate Change
• Phylogenetic Analysis of Endangered Species for Conservation Strategies
• Genomics of Extremophiles: Survival in Harsh Environments
• Investigating Effects of Plastic Pollutants on Aquatic Life
• Landscape Genetics: Applications in Conservation Biology
• Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Plant Responses to Heavy Metal Stress
• Disease Dynamics in Pollinator Populations
• Functional Traits in Community Ecology: A Novel Approach
• Metabolic Engineering for Biofuel Production

Environmental Law Topics for Research

• Environmental Justice in Land Use Planning: A Legal Perspective
• Assessing Regulatory Frameworks for Carbon Markets
• International Law and Marine Plastic Pollution: A Comprehensive Analysis
• Enforcement Challenges in Wildlife Trafficking Laws
• Analysis of Climate Change Litigation: Global Trends
• Understanding the Legal Aspects of Transboundary Water Conflicts
• Legal Frameworks for the Conservation of Migratory Species
• Analysis of Environmental Impact Assessment Laws Across Countries
• Regulating Genetically Modified Organisms: A Comparative Legal Study
• Corporate Environmental Responsibility: Legal and Ethical Dimensions
• Evaluating Legal Mechanisms for Marine Protected Areas
• Exploring Legal Implications of Geoengineering Techniques
• Regulatory Challenges in the Transition to Renewable Energy
• Forest Rights and Conservation: A Legal Analysis
• Legal Frameworks for the Protection of Indigenous Environmental Knowledge
• Laws Regulating Hazardous Waste Management: A Comparative Study
• Legal Implications of Ecological Restoration Projects
• Regulation of Pesticides: Balancing Health and Environmental Concerns
• Legal Instruments for Regulating Noise Pollution: An Overview
• Analysis of International Agreements on Biodiversity Conservation

Environmental Research Topics About Economics

• Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services: A Critical Review
• Economic Analysis of Climate Change Mitigation Strategies
• Socioeconomic Drivers of Deforestation: A Comprehensive Study
• Green Growth: Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Countries
• Assessing the Economic Viability of Renewable Energy Sources
• Economic Incentives for Biodiversity Conservation: An Overview
• Incorporating Environmental Costs in Product Pricing: A Case Study
• Investigating the Economics of Carbon Capture and Storage
• Market-Based Instruments for Pollution Control: A Detailed Analysis
• Economic Impacts of Natural Disasters: A Global Perspective
• Analysis of Cap-and-Trade Systems for Carbon Emissions
• Investigating the Effectiveness of Environmental Taxes
• Economic Analysis of Sustainable Agriculture Practices
• Assessing the Economic Feasibility of Biofuel Production
• Economic Implications of Water Scarcity: A Cross-Country Analysis
• Transition to a Circular Economy: Economic and Policy Considerations
• Economics of Sustainable Urban Development: A Detailed Study
• Cost-Benefit Analysis of Green Building Techniques
• Economic Impacts of Coastal Erosion and Sea Level Rise

Environmental History Research Topics

• Perception of Climate Change: A Historical Analysis
• Amazon Rainforest’s Environmental History Unraveled
• Consequences of the Agricultural Revolution on Environment: A Detailed Study
• United States Environmental Movements: An Historical Exploration
• Influence of the Industrial Revolution on Modern Environmental Challenges
• Green Spaces in Urban Planning: A History of Urban Parks
• Global Patterns and Causes of Deforestation: A Historical Overview
• Insights From Paleoclimatology: Climate Variability in Historical Context
• Arctic Exploration and Its Environmental History
• The Emergence of Environmental Law: A Historical Understanding
• From Fossil Fuels to Renewables: A History of Energy Transition
• River Management and Conservation: Historical Perspectives
• Lessons for Climate Change Adaptation From The Dust Bowl History
• Causes and Consequences of Marine Pollution: A Historical Analysis
• Natural Resource Exploitation in Colonial Periods: A Historical Overview
• Forest Management Practices: Historical Insights
• Endangered Species Conservation: Understanding the Historical Context
• Environmental Implications of Pesticide Use: A Historical Analysis
• Nuclear Age: Unraveling Its Environmental History

Controversial Environmental Research Topics

• Genetically Modified Crops: Environmental Savior or Biohazard?
• Nuclear Energy: A Sustainable Solution or Environmental Risk?
• Hydraulic Fracturing and Its Environmental Consequences
• Climate Change Denial: Analyzing the Motives and Consequences
• Geoengineering Solutions for Climate Change: Promise or Peril?
• Anthropocene: Valid Geological Epoch or Human Egotism?
• Intensive Animal Farming: Environmental Concerns and Ethical Dilemmas
• De-extinction and Its Potential Ecological Consequences
• Plastic Waste Management: Incineration vs. Recycling
• Neonicotinoids and Bee Decline: Assessing the Controversy
• Economic Growth vs. Environmental Protection: Reconciling the Dichotomy
• Landfilling vs. Zero Waste Approach: A Comparative Study
• Ocean Fertilization as a Carbon Sequestration Strategy
• E-Waste Management: Export or Domestic Recycling?
• Noise Pollution: Overlooked Environmental Hazard or Nuisance Issue?
• Fast Fashion Industry and Its Environmental Footprint
• Artificial Intelligence in Environmental Management: Boon or Bane?
• Palm Oil Production and Biodiversity Loss: A Complex Connection
• Desalination Plants: Solution for Water Scarcity or Ecological Threat?

Persuasive Environmental Research Topics

• Promoting Green Energy Transition: Evaluating Success Stories
• Waste Segregation at Source: An Essential Step Toward Effective Waste Management
• Adoption of Organic Farming for Sustainable Agriculture
• Nature-Based Solutions: An Underutilized Tool in Climate Change Mitigation
• Changing Consumer Behavior for Sustainable Fashion
• Shifting to Public Transportation: A Key to Urban Sustainability
• Coral Reef Protection: Strategies and Success Stories
• Green Building: A Must for Sustainable Urban Development
• Incorporation of Environmental Education Into School Curriculum
• The Shift From Fast to Slow Fashion: Need of the Hour
• Afforestation as a Natural Climate Solution: Examining Its Potential
• Promoting Circular Economy: A Way Forward for Waste Reduction
• Divestment From Fossil Fuels: An Imperative Climate Action
• Supporting Indigenous Knowledge for Biodiversity Conservation
• Plant-Based Diet: A Strategy for Reducing Carbon Footprint
• Urban Green Spaces: Essential for Human Wellbeing and Biodiversity
• Adoption of Electric Vehicles: A Key to Reduce Carbon Emissions
• Reducing Single-Use Plastics: A Critical Move Toward Sustainability
• Transitioning to Sustainable Fishing Practices: A Global Priority
• Decentralized Renewable Energy Systems: A Solution for Energy Access and Climate Mitigation

Argumentative Environmental Research Topics

• Dams and Hydroelectric Power: Net Gain or Loss for the Environment?
• Wind Energy: Assessing Arguments Around Bird Mortality
• Population Control: Necessary Environmental Strategy or Human Rights Violation?
• International Trade and Its Environmental Consequences
• Arguments Around Carbon Trading and Its Efficacy
• Trophy Hunting: Conservation Strategy or Ecological Disaster?
• Marine Protected Areas: Effective Conservation or Displacement of Fishing Pressure?
• Arguments For and Against Climate Change Geoengineering
• Food Waste: Ethical, Environmental, and Economic Implications
• GMOs and Biodiversity: Assessing Potential Risks
• Arguments Surrounding Water Fluoridation: An Environmental Perspective
• Ecotourism: Sustainable Practice or Threat to Wild Areas?
• Carbon Capture and Storage: Viable Solution or Costly Distraction?
• Deep Sea Mining: Economic Opportunity or Ecological Risk?
• Aquaculture: Solution to Overfishing or New Environmental Problem?
• Arguments For and Against Biofuels as a Green Energy Source
• Fusion Energy: Future of Clean Energy or Pipe Dream?
• Debate Around the Environmental Effects of Cryptocurrency Mining
• Environmental Implications of Space Travel and Exploration

Research Topics for Environmental Debates

• Pros and Cons of Solar Geoengineering as a Climate Solution
• Arguments Surrounding the Use of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
• Land Rights vs. Conservation: Examining the Debate
• Debate Around Large-Scale Reforestation and Natural Forest Regrowth
• Investigating the Controversy Over Invasive Species Control
• Environmental Justice in Waste Management: A Heated Debate
• Nuclear Power in the Age of Renewable Energy: An Ongoing Debate
• Controversy and Debate Surrounding Carbon Taxes
• Debating the Effects of Air Travel on Climate Change
• Green New Deal: Revolution or Unrealistic Ambition?
• The Controversy Around Synthetic Meat: Environmental Savior or Unproven Experiment?
• Analyzing the Debate Surrounding E-Waste Export Policies
• Understanding the Ongoing GMO Labeling Debate
• Debates Around Solar Energy and Land Use
• Animal Rights vs. Conservation: Unpacking the Conflict
• Exploring the Controversial Intersection of Environmentalism and Immigration
• Debate Over Ocean Acidification and Its Effects on Marine Life
• Investigating the Debate on the Environmental Impact of Veganism
• Analyzing the Controversy Over Urban Vertical Farming
• Debate Surrounding Environmental Cost of Electric vs. Gasoline Cars

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Are you looking for environmental research paper topics? With ongoing debates about global warming, air pollution, and other issues, there is no shortage of exciting topics to craft a research paper around. Whether you’re studying ecology, geology, or marine biology, developing the perfect environmental research topic to get your science research assignment off the ground can be challenging. Stop worrying – we got you covered. Continue reading to learn about 235 different ideas on environmental research topics. In this article, we will discuss environmental topics and show you how to choose an interesting research topic for your subject. We will also provide a list of various environmental topics from our research paper services . In addition, we will present you with environmental science research topics, discuss other ideas about the environment for research papers, and offer our final thoughts on these topics for research papers.

What Are Environmental Topics?

Environmental topics provide an analysis of environmental issues and their effect on people, culture, nature, or a particular place, often interdisciplinary, drawing from sciences, politics, economics, sociology, and public policy. Topics about environmental science may include environmental justice, engineering and communication, regulation, economics, and health. Environment research topics may focus on environmental sustainability, impact assessment, management systems, and resources. In addition, these areas for research papers offer a few opportunities to explore our relationship with the environment and consider how human activities influence it through climate change, pollution, or other factors such as natural resource usage as well as biodiversity loss.

What Makes a Good Environmental Research Topic? 

When choosing an environmental research topic, it is essential to consider what makes good environmental topics. Below is an expert list outlining what your topic should be like:

• It should be interesting and relevant to your study field.
• It's essential to consider the topic's potential implications on environment-related policies. Think about the possible positive or negative effects this topic could have when implemented in terms of protecting our environment.
• A good topic should be specific enough to provide a focus for your research paper and allow you to explore a particular issue in depth.
• The research topic should be feasible and manageable to ensure that you can find the necessary information and resources.
• Environmental sciences research topics should be current and relevant to ecological developments.

How to Choose Environmental Science Topics?

When choosing research topics for environmental science, it is essential to research the available information and determine its relevance. It all depends on whether the research topic is feasible and has the potential for exploration. Environmental issue topics should be well-defined and interesting to the researcher. The reason is that the researcher should be able to provide solutions or make suggestions on improvement strategies. You can follow the below steps when choosing environmental science topics for research:

Step 1: Identify topics that are relevant to your research context. Step 2: Develop a list of research areas by extracting critical concepts from the available literature.

Step 3: Select interesting and feasible topics by considering the methods available for analysis.

Step 4: Analyze these topics to identify the gaps in current research and formulate questions for further investigation. Step 5: Review the available literature to gain insights about the chosen topic and develop a research proposal.

Step 6: Consult experts in this field to get feedback and refine the proposed research.

Don’t have time for writing your environmental research paper? Count on StudyCrumb. Send us a ‘ write a research paper for me ’ message and get professional assistance in a timely manner. 

List of Environment Research Paper Topics

Environmental topics for a research paper can be overwhelming to navigate due to the vast number of issues you can discuss in your article. To help narrow down your research paper search, below is a list of environmental research topics that include climate change, renewable energy, ecology, pollution, sustainability, endangered species, ecosystems, nature, and water management. You can choose one of them as a guide to writing an excellent essay

Environmental Research Topics on Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues that humanity is currently facing due to increased temperature levels. Climate change is amongst the most debated environmental research topics among researchers, policymakers, and governments. Here are critical areas related to climate change that you can use for your environmental science research paper topics:

• Causes and effects of climate change.
• Climate change adaptation strategies.
• Climate change impact on rural communities.
• Role of renewable energy sources in mitigating climate change.
• Carbon dioxide emission policies.
• Global warming and its impact on ocean acidification.
• Social effects of climate change.
• Permafrost melting and its implications.
• Role of international organizations in climate change.
• Climate change and forest fire: examining the role of climate change on wildfire season, frequency, and burned area.

Environmental Science Research Topics on Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is essential due to its potential to reduce ecological damage from burning fossil fuels and provides valuable topics in environmental science. You can use renewable energy technologies as a cleaner alternative for generating electricity and heating. In addition, renewable energy is crucial for cooling homes and factories in the world. The following are environmental science topics for research paper on renewable energy:

• Renewable energy types, sources, and their impact on the environment.
• Economic benefits of renewable energy.
• Research on new technologies in renewable energy.
• Role of renewable energy in protecting businesses from legal actions.
• Hydropower and its role in renewable energy.
• Chemical batteries for renewable energy storage.
• Green microgrids in optimizing renewable energy usage.
• Ocean energy and its effects on the environment.
• Geothermal drilling and its consequences.
• Biomass resources and their use in renewable energy.

Environment Research Topics on Ecology

Ecology studies how living organisms interact with each other and their environment. Also, it is an important area of research for understanding how the environment affects the function of various species and ecosystems. It also gives a background for one of the best environment research paper topics. Below are topics for environmental research paper on ecology:

• Biodiversity conservation strategies.
• Impact of pollution on ecosystems.
• Ecological research on saving endangered species from extinction.
• Role of environment in migrations patterns of animals.
• Habitat fragmentation effects on the environment.
• Ecological implications of climate change.
• Ecology and pest control strategies.
• Ecological effects of deforestation.
• Ecology and conservation of marine life.
• Ecological consequences of urbanization.

Research Topics in Environmental Science About Pollution

Pollution is an issue at the forefront of scientific research. As one of the environmental science paper topics, it offers insights into how pollution destroys the environment and its negative impact on human and animal health. Stated below are hot environmental science research topics on pollution which you can use for your article:

• Air pollution: causes & effects.
• Water pollution and its consequences for people and other living organisms.
• Issue of urban & industrial pollution.
• Noise pollution and environment-related health risks.
• Marine plastic pollution in oceans.
• Radiological waste disposal policies.
• Nuclear energy, radiation & health impacts.
• Sustainable waste management solutions.
• Impact of pollution on biodiversity.
• Soil pollution and its effects on agriculture.

Environmental Topics for Research Papers on Sustainability

One of the many topics for environmental research papers is sustainability. Sustainability is an important topic to explore, as it involves finding a way for humans to reduce their ecological footprint and ensure that the environment can recover from our activities. Stated below are environmental topics for research paper on sustainability which you can explore:

• Strategies for sustainable development.
• Renewable energy sources and their effects.
• Environmental sustainability and its economic benefits.
• Sustainable energy sources and their effects.
• Implications of sustainable agriculture on the environment.
• Ecological impacts of sustainable forestry.
• Social implications of renewable energy use.
• Strategies for mitigating ecological impact from unsustainable development.
• Psychological effects of ecological awareness on sustainable practices.
• Influence of ecological sustainability on economic growth.

Environmental Topics to Write About Endangered Species

Endangered species are one of the environmental topics of great importance to research and find solutions for their conservation. Poaching, habitat destruction, and climate change negatively impact endangered species. Also, human activities have put other species at risk of extinction by competing for resources as well as introducing invasive species. Below is a list of cool environment topics to write about endangered species:

• Endangered species conservation.
• Causes & effects of habitat fragmentation.
• Wildlife conservation strategies.
• Climate change impacts on endangered species.
• Illegal wildlife trade and trafficking.
• Marine protected areas for conserving marine life.
• Ecological restoration and reintroduction programs.
• Endangered species in developing nations.
• Human rights & animal welfare laws .
• Captive breeding for conservation purposes.

Environmental Research Paper Topics on Ecosystems

Ecosystems are fascinating to explore in environmental paper topics because they contain a variety of living organisms and are a complex web of interactions between species, the environment, and humans. The subject provides environmental issues topics for research paper essential in exploring the dynamics of ecosystems and their importance. Below is a list of topics for environmental science research paper:

• Ecosystem services & their value.
• Climate change impacts on ecosystems.
• Hydrological cycle & effects on ecosystems.
• Ecological restoration & biodiversity conservation.
• Invasive species & their impact on native species.
• Biodiversity hotspots: areas of high endemism.
• Soil degradation & its impact on ecosystems.
• Sustainable forestry practices.
• Ecological restoration of wetlands.

Environmental Topics About Nature

Nature is a broad topic that includes ecological conservation, protection, and sustainability issues. Environmental research topics about nature allow us to explore areas that focus on preserving and conserving the environment. Research papers about nature can provide insight into utilizing nature as a resource, both from a practical and ecological aspect. Below is a list of environment topics that you can explore in your essays:

• Nature conservation & preservation strategies.
• Climate change effects on natural environments.
• Natural resource management strategies.
• Policies for natural resources management.
• Impact of human development on wildlands.
• Sustainable use of natural resources.
• Role of ethics in nature conservation.
• De-extinction: pros & cons of bringing back extinct species.
• Protected areas & conservation of rare species.

Environmental Issues Topics on Water Management

Water management is an issue that has a significant impact on the environment. Exploring a topic related to water management can provide experts, among others, with insights into environmental science issues and their implications. When it's time to write your project related to water management, you can explore the following topics for environmental issues:

• Water pollution & its control.
• Groundwater management strategies.
• Climate change impact on water resources.
• Integrated water resources management.
• Wetland conservation & restoration projects.
• Industrial effluents role in water pollution.
• Desalination technologies for freshwater production.
• Urbanization impact on groundwater resources.
• Inland & coastal water management strategies.
• Wastewater treatment & reuse technologies.

Environmental Science Topics in Different Areas

Environmental science studies ecological processes and their interactions with living organisms. Exploring environmental science related topics can provide valuable insights into environmental science issues, their ecological implications, and conservation efforts. In addition, these topics can also be explored in different areas, providing a comprehensive understanding of how different factors impact the environment. This section delves into various environmental science topics for projects related to law, justice, policy, economics, biology, chemistry, and health science.

Environmental Law Research Topics

Environmental law governs environmental processes and their interactions with living organisms. Delving into environmental law can uncover invaluable information on environment paper topics, ranging from legal matters and their consequences to preservation initiatives. Students can use the following environmental issue topics for research papers for their essays:

• Climate change liability & lawsuits.
• Strategies for conservation and protection under environmental law.
• Consequences of non-compliance with regulations on the environment.
• Impact of trade agreements on environment protection.
• Regulatory strategies for hazardous waste disposal.
• Strategies for enforcement and compliance with environment-related laws.
• International environment treaties and their implications.
• Effects of climate change legislation on the environment.
• Corporate environmental policies and regulations and their effects.
• Role of law in mitigating environment-related issues.

Environmental Justice Research Topics

Environmental justice seeks to ensure equitable treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in ecological protection, regardless of their race, sex, or economic status. Environment topics related to justice can provide valuable insights into ecological issues and their impacts. Listed below are justice-related Environmental topics to research:

• Implications of unequal access to resources.
• Disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations.
• Consequences of marginalization of marginalized communities from environmental processes.
• Links between poverty and environment degradation.
• Effects of non-participation in environment-related decision-making.
• Policies to ensure access to clean air and water.
• Impact of social inequality on environment protection.
• Intersection between gender, race, and environment justice.
• Ecological consequences of corporate negligence of marginalized communities.
• Disproportionate implications of climate change on vulnerable populations.

Environmental Policy Research Paper Topics

Environmental policy is a set of laws, rules, and regulations created to protect the environment as well as its resources. Studying environment-related policies provides an area for students to explore a range of subjects related to the environment, ranging from local to global. Below are potential environmental sciences research topics for your reference.

• Environmental policy initiatives' implications on global climate change.
• Effectiveness of carbon taxes for air pollution control.
• Land use and development impact on the environment.
• Water quality in the united states, focusing on natural resource governance.
• Educational initiative's impact on public opinion and policy outcomes.
• Social aspects of policy making and implementation on the environment.
• Promoting sustainability from a global perspective.
• Potential for justice initiatives in promoting equitable and effective management.
• Rise of green economy its impact.
• Environment policies and their potential for success.

Environmental Economics Research Topics

Environmental economics seeks to understand environmental issues from an economic perspective. Examining environmental studies topics can offer insights into ecological conservation and sustainability while connecting protection efforts with economic interests and helping inform policies. The following are creative topics about environmental science related to economics:

• Economic impacts of regulating the environment.
• Strategies for environmentally sustainable economic growth.
• Consequences of non-compliance with environment-related regulations.
• Environment conservation and protection using economic incentives.
• Taxes and subsidies and their implications on the environment.
• Economic implications of climate change legislation.
• The private sector role in environment conservation and protection.
• Green finance role in mitigating ecological issues.
• Economics of pollution control and management.
• Conservation and protection of the environment in the face of economic interests.

>> Learn more: Economics Research Topics

Environmental Biology Research Topics

Environmental biology is a field of science that focuses on understanding the interactions between living organisms and their environment. It covers environmental biology topics such as biodiversity, conservation, pollution, management, health, and sustainability. The following are environment research paper topics related to biology:

• Biodiversity conservation in managing the environment.
• Role of biotechnology in reducing air pollution.
• Environment degradation and its consequences on wildlife.
• Role of microorganisms in maintaining soil fertility.
• Ecological consequences of over-exploitation of natural resources.
• Habitat fragmentation and its role in species conservation.
• Education's role in environment conservation.
• Environment degradation and its effects on food security.
• Invasive species and their impacts on ecosystem.

Keep in mind that we have a whole blog on biological topics if you need more ideas in this field.

Environmental Chemistry Research Topics

Environmental chemistry research is a complex interdisciplinary field aiming to understand the behavior of a chemical process within an environment. It involves researching the impact of pollutants in the air, soil, water, and other ecological media. Possible research topics about the environment related to this field include:

• Effect of agricultural chemicals on water systems.
• Air pollution control strategies and their effectiveness.
• Climate change impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
• Sources and implications of persistent organic pollutants.
• Air quality monitoring for urban areas.
• Water quality monitoring in coastal areas.
• Characterization and fate of toxic compounds in soil and groundwater.
• Impact of hazardous chemical waste on the environment.
• Monitoring and remediation of contaminated sites.
• The roles of environmental chemistry in climate change research.

Need more ideas? There is one more blog with  chemistry research topics  on our platform.

Environmental Health Science Research Topics

Environmental health is a diverse field focusing on the natural environment as well as its effects on human health. It is an interdisciplinary field that offers environment topics for research, such as environmental epidemiology, toxicology, and ecology, in addition to risk assessment. Provided below is a list of topics for an environmental science project that is suitable for your research paper:

• Air pollution effects on human health.
• Climate change effects on health.
• Water pollution and public health.
• Noise pollution effects on well-being.
• Mental health effects of environment-related toxins.
• Human health effects of natural disasters.
• Urbanization's effect on human health.
• Sustainable development and public health.
• Role of social media in promoting environmental health and awareness.
• Biodiversity preservation and its impact on human health.

Other Ideas & Topics About Environment for Research Papers

Ecological crisis is a key issue that has continuously affected planet earth. People are becoming more aware of environmental problems as well as their impact on health, well-being, and quality of life. As such, ecological fields for research are becoming ever more critical. This section will explore interesting environmental topics related to current ecological issues, controversial, interesting topics, easy research questions for projects, as well as unique research areas which students might study. These environmental issue project ideas below will help you develop interesting fields for research papers.

Current Issues in Environmental Science

Current ecological issues are a hot topic that has become increasingly important. They provide outstanding environmental issues to write about due to their impact on the environment and human health. The following are environmental issue topics for paper writing that are currently in discussion:

• Global warming and how to prevent its impact.
• Sustainable energy and its role in protecting the environment.
• Water conservation practices.
• Renewable energy role in global ecological protection.
• Carbon footprint and climate change.
• Ozone layer depletion and its effects on human health.
• Plastic pollution and its impact.
• Land degradation and soil erosion.
• Energy industry activities effects on ecological health.
• Air pollution and its impact on human health.
• Deforestation and its consequences.
• Effect of agricultural practices on ecological health.
• Overuse and exploitation of natural resources.
• Industrial waste impact on health.
• Green technology role in ecological protection.

Controversial Environmental Topics for Research Paper

Environmental controversies constitute a significant challenge facing society today. From climate change to air and water pollution, the effects of human activity on our natural environment are increasingly becoming a focus of public debate and research. Research papers on environmental controversial topics can help inform the public as well as policymakers about the potential impacts of human activities on the environment. The following are examples of environmental controversy topics for research paper:

• Climate change: is human activity a primary cause of global warming.
• Deforestation: are current logging practices sustainable in the long term.
• Air pollution: what are the health impacts of air pollution.
• Water pollution: how is water pollution impacting biodiversity and ecosystems.
• Geothermal energy: what potential impacts does geothermal energy extraction have on the environment.
• Renewable energy: are wind and solar energy carbon-neutral.
• Arctic drilling: is drilling for oil in the arctic ocean a viable option given current climate conditions.
• Nuclear power: what health risks are associated with nuclear power plants.
• Biodiversity loss: what steps can you take to protect biodiversity from human activities.
• Endangered species: how protecting endangered species can impact conservation efforts and how they live.
• GMO foods: are genetically modified organisms safe for human consumption? how does GMO food affect humans.
• Pesticides: how does pesticide use affect our health and the environment.
• Ocean acidification: how is ocean acidification impacting marine ecosystems.
• Waste management: what are the most effective ways to manage waste and reduce pollution.
• Resource exploitation: how does the exploitation of natural resources impact local communities.

Interesting Environmental Research Topics

In the context of environmental subjects, research topics explore the effects of human activities on the environment as well as the potential solutions to the identified problems. In addition to providing insight into ecological protection and conservation, research areas in this category cover social issues related to environmentalism and ecological justice. Below are interesting environmental science topics to consider when looking for a research topic in the future:

• Effects of environment-related toxins on human health.
• Climate change effects on coastal habitats.
• Agricultural activities impacts on the environment.
• Groundwater contamination and its effects on water quality.
• Pollution from factories and its impact on the environment.
• Waste management strategies and their impacts.
• Consequences of water contamination on local wildlife.
• Impacts of mining.
• Deforestation effects on ecosystems and species diversity.
• Industrial fishing practices effects.
• Sustainable forestry practices and their impact on ecosystems.
• Nuclear energy production and its consequences.
• Reducing emissions from vehicles and their effects on air quality.
• Landfills implications on the environment.
• Implications of plastic pollution.

Easy Environmental Research Questions for Projects

When it comes to environmental science topics for project work, there are plenty of easy options. Research projects in this category can explore ecological issues as well as their consequences or potential solutions to these problems. The following is a list of the top fifteen most accessible environment project topics for your research project.

• Air pollution levels impact on urban areas.
• Agricultural practices effects on the environment.
• Developing strategies for sustainable development.
• Causes of water contamination.
• Factors contributing to global warming.
• Natural disasters effects on the environment.
• Land use changes effects on the environment.
• Energy consumption impacts on the environment.
• Climate change effects on the environment.
• Industrialization and its consequences.
• Impact of plastic pollution.
• Health risks associated with air pollution.
• Deforestation impacts on the environment.
• Soil erosion and its effects on the environment.
• Causes and consequences of species extinction.

Unique Environmental Research Topics for Students

As environmental issues become increasingly complex, research fields for students become more varied. Unique environmental research topics for college students can range from local ecological concerns to global ones. The following are fifteen unique environmental science research topics for high school students and college students:

• Climate change impact on water quality.
• Acid rain and its effects.
• Urbanization's effect on biodiversity.
• Effects of offshore drilling.
• Ocean acidification and its impact.
• Impact of privatization on natural resources.
• Effectiveness of renewable energy sources.
• Relationship between energy consumption and the environment.
• Potential impacts regarding genetic engineering on biodiversity.
• Toxic waste disposal and its impacts.
• Environment-related policies impact on water quality.
• Deforestation and its effects on soil quality.
• Causes and consequences of ozone layer depletion.
• Relationship between pollution and public health issues.

Final Thoughts on Environmental Topics for Research Papers

This article has provided 235 environmental science research topics for research papers as well as project work that high school and college students can use. Topics range from local issues, such as assessing air pollution levels in an urban area, to global concerns, like examining the ecological effects of plastic pollution. Whether its health risks are associated with air pollution in an environment or the impacts of industrialization, research can help shape your understanding of how to protect as well as preserve our planet. It is up to the students to identify good environmental research topics that are interesting and relevant to them and to delve deeper to understand the earth better.

Get in touch with our academic writing service and receive expert help. Let us know your topic, pay for research paper and get an excellent result in no time.

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Top 100 Environmental Science Project Topics

Table of contents

• 1 Climate Change
• 2 Renewable Energy
• 3 Urban Ecology
• 4 Land and Water Use
• 5 Pollution
• 6 Environmental Science Topics for College Students
• 7 Energy Resources and Consumption
• 8 Population
• 9 Noise and Light Pollution
• 10.1 Conclusion

With the environment and global warming in its current predicament, it’s no surprise that environmental science job opportunities will be on the rise in the very near future.

With the environment and global warming in its current predicament, it’s no surprise that environmental science job opportunities will be on the rise in the very near future. Therefore, so are the numbers of students pursuing studies in this field. The last four decades have seen huge changes in the rate of global warming and so more than ever before, we need people to study topics in environmental science.

For anyone majoring in environmental science, anyone needing to write  environmental studies project topics for a science course, or essay writer who is working on topical essays this comprehensive article will talk you through the top ten project topics to pursue. For each project topic, we’ll give you ten ideas.

Climate Change

There’ll always be an environment, but it’s looking more and more likely that it won’t be like our current one in the future. With this in mind, here are the top ten environmental project topics for college students on climate change:

• Is global warming a natural phenomenon?
• The politicization of global warming.
• How do eddy covariance towers work?
• Planetary tilt – does it affect global warming?
• The differences between climate change and the greenhouse effect.
• Why is carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas?
• How do changes to weather patterns affect the Earth’s climate?
• The concept of polar amplification.
• The barriers to climate change responses.
• The “heat island” effect.

Renewable Energy

Our advances through the industrial revolution and the use of fossil fuels are now coming back to bite us. Here are ten environmental topics for project on renewable energy:

• The pros and cons of hydropower.
• Solar energy and pollution.
• Solar energy to help the economy.
• Geothermal energy: an unlikely major energy source?
• The problems caused by renewable energies.
• Understanding geothermal energy.
• Are hydrogen fuel cells a viable alternative?
• The advantages and disadvantages of solar power.
• Transporting geothermal energy: a study.
• The challenges of large-scale biomass energy use.

Urban Ecology

Urban ecology is an important consideration for environmental science projects for college students who are eager to pay for essay to receive high grades for assignments. When we study the environment, we tend to think of green spaces and rural lands, but urban ecology is important too. As such, here are ten environmental science project ideas on this topic:

• How do unequal urban planning and greenspace distribution affect temperatures in a city?
• How does urbanization affect surrounding rural areas?
• How is the local climate affected by buildings and pavements?
• What is the urban heat island effect?
• How are water sources affected by urbanization?
• How has human development affected our green spaces?
• How is social identity linked to urbanization?
• What impact does transport have on rural locations?
• How can the natural environment be integrated into urban planning and design projects?
• What is water harvesting?

Land and Water Use

When humans use natural resources, they also disrupt natural ecosystems. This is an important area of study as we try to claw back and save some of the world’s resources from being entirely depleted. Here are ten interesting  environment related topics for project on this subject:

• How have overfishing and non-sustainable fishing methods affected our oceans?
• How does using water for irrigation affect natural ecosystems?
• The impacts of different societies’ ecological footprints in terms of waste production and resource demands.
• How can we mitigate deforestation?
• An analysis of The Green Revolution.
• The impact of salt application to streams.
• How does using an ANN (artificial neural network) for rainfall-runoff affect ecosystems?
• How do land-use changes impact urban runoff?
• Relationships between water quality, land use and land use change.
• Land use effects on lake water quality.

Pollution is one of the planet and humanity’s worst enemies. Agriculture, transportation, and industry can cause horrific environmental catastrophes. Check out the possible environment science project topics on pollution:

• The impact of pollution on health care.
• The effects of environmental pollution and water pollution on marine life.
• The effects of air pollution on the food chain.
• How environmental pollution affects Arctic.
• The health hazards associated with waste accumulation and water pollution.
• How do human activities change the world’s oceans?
• Conservation and how it helps to reduce air pollution.
• The difficulty of establishing direct links between health problems, air pollution, and air quality.
• Environmental policy regarding air pollution and acid rain.
• The effect of acid rain in urban and natural areas.

Environmental Science Topics for College Students

Environmental studies at college is all about studying in-depth biological, chemical, and physical processes on Earth. Environmental sciences also incorporates social, cultural, and political processes that have an impact. When studying Environmental Science at college level, a project need to seek out ways to present complex relationships in a simple way. Here are some ideal environmental science projects for college students:

• Genetically Modified (GM) foods and their impact on the environment.
• The global impact of radiation and nuclear accidents.
• The role of the UNEP in environmental conservation.
• The impact of freak weather incidents.
• Micro-plastics in drinking water – why and how have they got there?
• The Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombings – what have we learned about nuclear bombs and the effects on the ecosystem?
• The impact of Coronavirus and maintaining the ecosystem.
• The role of the media in conservation campaigns.
• Tourism and the impact of human activities on a local and global level.
• How has the US departure from the Paris Climate Agreement changed things?

Energy Resources and Consumption

Lots of  environmental studies project topics goes into looking at energy resources and consumption, which makes this a great project topic. There is already a lot of information out there, which makes this easy to research.

• What is the relationship between energy efficiency and energy conservation?
• What are the economic, social, and environmental costs of solar energy?
• Was coal pivotal in industrialization?
• The impact of fracking on the environment.
• Compare and contrast the processes of extracting oil and mining coal.
• How is ethanol produced as a biofuel?
• Nuclear energy is a viable clean energy. Discuss.
• The environmental effects of a nuclear conflict explored.
• What is plant biomass?
• The challenges of converting to large-scale biomass energy.

You can't write a list environment project topics  about environmental science, without mentioning population, environmental health, and the changes we've seen over the years. A lot of environment research focuses on population and its effects. Here are some ideas:

• Population growth and its effects on GDP.
• Factors that control population growth and the effect of density.
• An exploration of population momentum.
• The importance of studying population ecology.
• The effect of human migration on populations.
• The effects of overpopulation.
• The effects of global warming on the global population.
• Is sustainable development possible in a growing population?
• What would happen if the demand for natural resources became greater than the supply?
• How serious is the world population explosion?

Noise and Light Pollution

Though lots of people don’t consider light and noise as pollutants, the reality is that they are. Noise levels and light levels can affect organisms. Here are some interesting topics for science projects on noise and light pollution:

• How is local wildlife affected by airport noise?
• What happens if orcas aren’t able to use echolocation due to freight noise?
• Migrating birds and the confusion from bright lights.
• The effect of bright lights in resorts and sea turtles emerging from nests.
• How bright city lights affect nocturnal animals.
• The disruption of nocturnal activity in frogs and toads due to artificial light glare.
• Artificial lights and the effects on migratory birds.
• Light pollution and the effects on plants.
• Changes in animal behavior due to noise pollution.
• Noise pollution and the effects on mating frogs.

Conservation Biology

With as many as 2,000 species becoming extinct each year, we’re experiencing a serious problem. Conservation biology is a huge topic of interest when you need to " write my essay " and want to succeed with this task. Here are some ideas for exploration:

• How has human behavior ramped up endangered species extinction rates?
• How do humans threaten endangered species?
• What will the effects of a loss in biodiversity be for humans?
• If honeybees become extinct, what other changes would we see?
• Why is the decline in pollinating insects so dangerous?
• What happens if we lose endangered species?
• What is the Holocene extinction event?
• The collapse of the world’s coral reef ecosystems.
• The threat of acidification in our oceans.
• How can environmental policy help threats to biodiversity?

It's clear to say that there is a huge variety in topics in environmental science. For anyone looking for an environmental science project topic, we hope this extensive list has helped narrow down your ideas. Whether you're looking for environmental research topics for college students or high school, there is something for everyone here.

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Collection  06 March 2024

Earth, Environment and Ecology Top 100 of 2023

This collection highlights the most downloaded* Earth science, environmental science and ecology research papers published by Scientific Reports in 2023. Featuring authors from around the world, these papers highlight valuable research from an international community.

You can also view the journal's overall Top 100 or the Top 100 within various subject areas . *Data obtained from SN Insights, which is based on Digital Science’s Dimensions.

An extraordinary fossil captures the struggle for existence during the Mesozoic

• Jordan C. Mallon

A new spinosaurid dinosaur species from the Early Cretaceous of Cinctorres (Spain)

• Andrés Santos-Cubedo
• Carlos de Santisteban
• Sergi Meseguer

Generation of equatorial plasma bubble after the 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption

• Atsuki Shinbori
• Takuya Sori
• Iku Shinohara

An ethological analysis of close-contact inter-cat interactions determining if cats are playing, fighting, or something in between

• N. Gajdoš-Kmecová
• D. S. Mills

The largest amber-preserved flower revisited

• Eva-Maria Sadowski
• Christa-Charlotte Hofmann

Climate warming and increasing Vibrio vulnificus infections in North America

• Elizabeth J. Archer
• Craig Baker-Austin
• Iain R. Lake

First terror bird footprints reveal functionally didactyl posture

• Ricardo N. Melchor
• Silverio F. Feola
• Lorena Herazo

New theropod dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Japan provides critical implications for the early evolution of ornithomimosaurs

• Soki Hattori
• Masateru Shibata
• Yoichi Azuma

Carbon dioxide reduction by photosynthesis undetectable even during phytoplankton blooms in two lakes

• Karla Münzner
• Silke Langenheder
• Eva S. Lindström

The rise of macropredatory pliosaurids near the Early-Middle Jurassic transition

• Daniel Madzia
• Benjamin P. Kear

Large-scale effects of offshore wind farms on seabirds of high conservation concern

• Stefan Garthe
• Henriette Schwemmer
• Moritz Mercker

Symbolic innovation at the onset of the Upper Paleolithic in Eurasia shown by the personal ornaments from Tolbor-21 (Mongolia)

• Solange Rigaud
• Evgeny P. Rybin
• Nicolas Zwyns

Observed increases in North Atlantic tropical cyclone peak intensification rates

• Andra J. Garner

High probability of successive occurrence of Nankai megathrust earthquakes

• Yo Fukushima
• Tomoaki Nishikawa
• Yasuyuki Kano

A simple soil mass correction for a more accurate determination of soil carbon stock changes

• Ames F. Fowler
• Bruno Basso
• William F. Brinton

Bone aerophones from Eynan-Mallaha (Israel) indicate imitation of raptor calls by the last hunter-gatherers in the Levant

• Laurent Davin
• José-Miguel Tejero
• François Valla

Spontaneous action matching in dog puppies, kittens and wolf pups

• Claudia Fugazza
• Andrea Temesi
• Ákos Pogány

Characterization of the spontaneously recharging natural hydrogen reservoirs of Bourakebougou in Mali

• Eric Deville
• Aliou Boubacar Diallo

Reappraising the evolutionary history of the largest known gecko, the presumably extinct Hoplodactylus delcourti , via high-throughput sequencing of archival DNA

• Matthew P. Heinicke
• Stuart V. Nielsen
• Tony Gamble

Brazilian Amazon indigenous territories under deforestation pressure

• Celso H. L. Silva-Junior
• Fabrício B. Silva
• Maycon Melo

The risk of being bitten by a dog is higher on hot, sunny, and smoggy days

• Tanujit Dey
• Antonella Zanobetti
• Clas Linnman

Thousands of domestic and public supply wells face failure despite groundwater sustainability reform in California’s Central Valley

• Darcy Bostic
• Linda Mendez-Barrientos
• Victoria MacClements

Physics-informed deep learning to forecast \({\widehat{{\varvec{M}}}}_{{\varvec{m}}{\varvec{a}}{\varvec{x}}}\) during hydraulic fracturing

• David W. Eaton
• Jörn Davidsen

A new, rare, small-ranged, and endangered mountain snake of the genus Elaphe from the Southern Levant

• Daniel Jablonski
• Marco Antônio Ribeiro-Júnior

A widely-used eddy covariance gap-filling method creates systematic bias in carbon balance estimates

• Henriikka Vekuri
• Juha-Pekka Tuovinen
• Annalea Lohila

Spatial integration framework of solar, wind, and hydropower energy potential in Southeast Asia

• Anjar Dimara Sakti
• Pitri Rohayani
• Ketut Wikantika

Rapid population growth and high management costs have created a narrow window for control of introduced hippos in Colombia

• Amanda L. Subalusky
• Suresh A. Sethi

The provenance of the stones in the Menga dolmen reveals one of the greatest engineering feats of the Neolithic

• José Antonio Lozano Rodríguez
• Leonardo García Sanjuán
• Francisco Martínez-Sevilla

Beaver exploitation, 400,000 years ago, testifies to prey choice diversity of Middle Pleistocene hominins

• Sabine Gaudzinski-Windheuser
• Lutz Kindler
• Wil Roebroeks

Household energy-saving behavior, its consumption, and life satisfaction in 37 countries

• Xiangdan Piao
• Shunsuke Managi

Comparison of Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illumina MiSeq sequencing with mock communities and agricultural soil

• Bo Maxwell Stevens
• Tim B. Creed
• Daniel K. Manter

The impact of floating photovoltaic power plants on lake water temperature and stratification

• Konstantin Ilgen
• Dirk Schindler

Partial COVID-19 closure of a national park reveals negative influence of low-impact recreation on wildlife spatiotemporal ecology

• Alissa K. Anderson
• John S. Waller
• Daniel H. Thornton

Sampling environmental DNA from trees and soil to detect cryptic arboreal mammals

• Michael C. Allen
• Robert Kwait
• Julie L. Lockwood

A new silesaurid from Carnian beds of Brazil fills a gap in the radiation of avian line archosaurs

• Rodrigo T. Müller
• Maurício S. Garcia

Assessing the climate change mitigation potential from food waste composting

• Tibisay Pérez
• Sintana E. Vergara
• Whendee L. Silver

Volcanic glass from the 1.8 ka Taupō eruption (New Zealand) detected in Antarctic ice at ~ 230 CE

• Stephen B. Piva
• Simon J. Barker
• Rewi M. Newnham

Land-use change is associated with multi-century loss of elephant ecosystems in Asia

• Shermin de Silva
• Peter Leimgruber

Impact of the Tambora volcanic eruption of 1815 on islands and relevance to future sunlight-blocking catastrophes

• Nick Wilson
• Veronika Valler
• Stefan Brönnimann

Statistical evaluation of character support reveals the instability of higher-level dinosaur phylogeny

• David Černý
• Ashley L. Simonoff

Climate change multi-model projections in CMIP6 scenarios in Central Hokkaido, Japan

• Shilei Peng
• Chunying Wang
• Ryusuke Hatano

An extinct deep-snouted Alligator species from the Quaternary of Thailand and comments on the evolution of crushing dentition in alligatorids

• Gustavo Darlim
• Kantapon Suraprasit
• Márton Rabi

A new Carboniferous edaphosaurid and the origin of herbivory in mammal forerunners

• Amy C. Henrici
• Stephanie E. Pierce

The difference between two brachycephalic and one mesocephalic dog breeds’ problem-solving performance suggests evidence for paedomorphism in behaviour

• Dorottya Júlia Ujfalussy
• Zsófia Bognár
• Enikő Kubinyi

35,000 years of recurrent visits inside Nerja cave (Andalusia, Spain) based on charcoals and soot micro-layers analyses

• Mª Ángeles Medina-Alcaide
• Ségolène Vandevelde
• Diego Garate

Anthropogenic influence on extremes and risk hotspots

• Francisco Estrada
• Pierre Perron
• Yohei Yamamoto

Neuroanatomy of the late Cretaceous Thescelosaurus neglectus (Neornithischia: Thescelosauridae) reveals novel ecological specialisations within Dinosauria

• David J. Button
• Lindsay E. Zanno

A new hazard scenario at Vesuvius: deadly thermal impact of detached ash cloud surges in 79CE at Herculaneum

• Alessandra Pensa
• Guido Giordano
• Pier Paolo Petrone

GlobalUsefulNativeTrees, a database documenting 14,014 tree species, supports synergies between biodiversity recovery and local livelihoods in landscape restoration

• Roeland Kindt
• Lars Graudal
• Ramni Jamnadass

Marine records reveal multiple phases of Toba’s last volcanic activity

• G. Del Manzo

The degree of urbanisation reduces wild bee and butterfly diversity and alters the patterns of flower-visitation in urban dry grasslands

• Johann Herrmann
• Sascha Buchholz
• Panagiotis Theodorou

Episodic transient deformation revealed by the analysis of multiple GNSS networks in the Noto Peninsula, central Japan

• Takuya Nishimura
• Yoshihiro Hiramatsu
• Yusaku Ohta

Unraveling Amazon tree community assembly using Maximum Information Entropy : a quantitative analysis of tropical forest ecology

• Luiz de Souza Coelho
• Hans ter Steege

An assessment of whether long-term global changes in waves and storm surges have impacted global coastlines

• Mandana Ghanavati
• Arjen P. Luijendijk

Organic geochemical evidence of human-controlled fires at Acheulean site of Valdocarros II (Spain, 245 kya)

• Lavinia M. Stancampiano
• Susana Rubio-Jara
• Clayton R. Magill

Playing “hide and seek” with the Mediterranean monk seal: a citizen science dataset reveals its distribution from molecular traces (eDNA)

• Elena Valsecchi
• Giacomo Tavecchia
• Paolo Galli

Air-conditioning adoption and electricity demand highlight climate change mitigation–adaptation tradeoffs

• Francesco Pietro Colelli
• Ian Sue Wing
• Enrica De Cian

Assessing the United Nations sustainable development goals from the inclusive wealth perspective

• Yogi Sugiawan
• Robi Kurniawan

Palaeoenvironments and hominin evolutionary dynamics in southeast Asia

• Anne-Marie Bacon
• Nicolas Bourgon
• Jean-Jacques Hublin

Robust acceleration of Earth system heating observed over the past six decades

• Audrey Minière
• Karina von Schuckmann

A bolder conservation future for Indonesia by prioritising biodiversity, carbon and unique ecosystems in Sulawesi

• Wulan Pusparini
• Andi Cahyana
• David W. Macdonald

Assessing the relative impacts and economic costs of Japanese knotweed management methods

• Sophie Hocking
• Trisha Toop
• Daniel Eastwood

Machine learning and statistical classification of birdsong link vocal acoustic features with phylogeny

• Moises Rivera
• Jacob A. Edwards
• Sarah M. N. Woolley

Genetic diversity patterns of lionfish in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean reveal a rapidly expanding stepping-stone bioinvasion process

• Rodrigo Maggioni
• Rafael S. Rocha
• Marcelo O. Soares

AMOC decline and recovery in a warmer climate

• Paulo Nobre
• Sandro F. Veiga
• Carlos A. Nobre

A collaborative and near-comprehensive North Pacific humpback whale photo-ID dataset

• Ted Cheeseman
• Ken Southerland
• Phil Clapham

Explaining population booms and busts in Mid-Holocene Europe

• Dániel Kondor
• James S. Bennett
• Peter Turchin

Centenarian lifespans of three freshwater fish species in Arizona reveal the exceptional longevity of the buffalofishes ( Ictiobus )

• Alec R. Lackmann
• Stuart A. Black
• Jeffrey A. Lackmann

Necrophagy by insects in Oculudentavis and other lizard body fossils preserved in Cretaceous amber

• Mónica M. Solórzano‑Kraemer
• Enrique Peñalver
• Adolf M. Peretti

The first description of dermal armour in snakes

• Petra Frýdlová
• Veronika Janovská
• Daniel Frynta

Seafood label quality and mislabelling rates hamper consumer choices for sustainability in Australia

• Megan E. Cundy
• Julia Santana-Garcon
• Chris Wilcox

The first petrographic characterisation of a prehistoric rock crystal mine in the Swiss Alps

• Thomas Hess
• Josef Mullis
• Leander Franz

Data driven pathway analysis and forecast of global warming and sea level rise

• Jiecheng Song
• Guanchao Tong

Scenarios of land use and land cover change in the Colombian Amazon to evaluate alternative post-conflict pathways

• William-J. Agudelo-Hz
• Natalia-C. Castillo-Barrera
• Murcia-García Uriel

The median eyes of trilobites

• Brigitte Schoenemann
• Euan N. K. Clarkson

Subsistence of early anatomically modern humans in Europe as evidenced in the Protoaurignacian occupations of Fumane Cave, Italy

• Ana B. Marín-Arroyo
• Gabriele Terlato
• Marco Peresani

Possible origins and implications of atypical morphologies and domestication-like traits in wild golden jackals ( Canis aureus )

• Ayelet Barash
• Shlomo Preiss-Bloom
• Yaron Dekel

Environmental ranking of European industrial facilities by toxicity and global warming potentials

• Szilárd Erhart
• Kornél Erhart

Three-dimensional dental microwear in type-Maastrichtian mosasaur teeth (Reptilia, Squamata)

• Femke M. Holwerda
• Jordan Bestwick
• Anne S. Schulp

Understanding physical climate risks and their implication for community adaptation in the borana zone of southern Ethiopia using mixed-methods research

• Mulugeta Shibru
• Alfred Opere
• Maina Gichaba

Multiple mitogenomes indicate Things Fall Apart with Out of Africa or Asia hypotheses for the phylogeographic evolution of Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera )

• Steven M. Carr

Skeletal convergence in thunniform sharks, ichthyosaurs, whales, and tunas, and its possible ecological links through the marine ecosystem evolution

• Ryosuke Motani
• Kenshu Shimada

A new toothless pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota with comments on the Chaoyangopteridae

• Xiaolin Wang
• Alexander W. A. Kellner
• Zhonghe Zhou

Hunting behavior of a solitary sailfish Istiophorus platypterus and estimated energy gain after prey capture

• Ryan K. Logan
• Sarah M. Luongo
• Mahmood S. Shivji

Critically endangered Rice’s whales ( Balaenoptera ricei ) selectively feed on high-quality prey in the Gulf of Mexico

• Jeremy J. Kiszka
• Michelle Caputo
• Lance P. Garrison

Machine learning-based country-level annual air pollutants exploration using Sentinel-5P and Google Earth Engine

• Bijay Halder
• Iman Ahmadianfar
• Zaher Mundher Yaseen

Climate-driven habitat shifts of high-ranked prey species structure Late Upper Paleolithic hunting

• Peter M. Yaworsky
• Shumon T. Hussain
• Felix Riede

Regional and temporal variability of Indian summer monsoon rainfall in relation to El Niño southern oscillation

• K. S. Athira
• Raju Attada

Applying an ecosystem services framework on nature and mental health to recreational blue space visits across 18 countries

• Joanne K. Garrett
• Mathew P. White
• Lora E. Fleming

Exponential increases in high-temperature extremes in North America

• Ali Davariashtiyani
• Mohsen Taherkhani
• Sean Vitousek

Human-mediated dispersal drives the spread of the spotted lanternfly ( Lycorma delicatula )

• Zachary S. Ladin
• Donald A. Eggen
• Vincent D’Amico

The environmental controls on efficiency of enhanced rock weathering in soils

• Eric Sonnenthal

Resolving the 21st century temperature trends of the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere with satellite observations

• Florian Ladstädter
• Andrea K. Steiner
• Hans Gleisner

Regionally high risk increase for precipitation extreme events under global warming

• Cristian Martinez-Villalobos
• J. David Neelin

Effects of Climate change on temperature and precipitation in the Lake Toba region, Indonesia, based on ERA5-land data with quantile mapping bias correction

• Hendri Irwandi
• Mohammad Syamsu Rosid

A probable koala from the Oligocene of central Australia provides insights into early diprotodontian evolution

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Overwintering and breeding patterns of monarch butterflies ( Danaus plexippus ) in coastal plain habitats of the southeastern USA

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Ancient DNA re-opens the question of the phylogenetic position of the Sardinian pika Prolagus sardus (Wagner, 1829), an extinct lagomorph

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Increase in the wave power caused by decreasing sea ice over the Sea of Okhotsk in winter

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Identification of illegally dumped plastic waste in a highly polluted river in Indonesia using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery

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• Danang Surya Candra

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The Ultimate Environmental Science Project List: 50 Ideas for a Sustainable Future

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that explores the complex interactions between humans and the natural world. As our planet faces unprecedented challenges such as climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution, environmental science projects play a critical role in understanding and addressing these issues.

In this list, we’ve compiled 50 potential environmental science projects that cover a broad range of topics, from renewable energy and sustainable agriculture to wildlife conservation and waste management. These projects can serve as inspiration for students, curious kids, and anyone interested in making a positive impact on the environment. Whether you’re looking to tackle a local issue or contribute to global efforts, there’s no shortage of exciting and impactful projects to explore.

• Investigating the impact of plastic waste on marine life: This project would involve studying the effects of plastic waste on marine ecosystems, including the ingestion of plastics by marine organisms and the accumulation of plastic debris in ocean gyres.
• Examining the effects of air pollution on human health: This project would involve analyzing the health effects of exposure to air pollution, including respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular disease.
• Developing a more efficient and sustainable water treatment system: This project would involve designing and testing a water treatment system that is energy-efficient and sustainable, with minimal environmental impact.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of organic farming practices: This project would involve comparing the yields and environmental impacts of organic farming methods to conventional farming methods.
• Creating a composting program for a community or school: This project would involve developing a composting program to reduce waste and produce nutrient-rich soil for gardening.
• Investigating the environmental impact of mining operations: This project would involve studying the effects of mining on local ecosystems, including soil erosion, water pollution, and habitat destruction.
• Studying the biodiversity of a local ecosystem: This project would involve identifying and documenting the plant and animal species in a local ecosystem, and analyzing the interrelationships between them.
• Analyzing the effects of deforestation on climate change: This project would involve studying the impact of deforestation on carbon storage and the release of greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change.
• Creating a solar-powered water desalination system: This project would involve designing and testing a system that uses solar energy to desalinate seawater, providing a sustainable source of fresh water.
• Evaluating the impact of climate change on wildlife habitats: This project would involve studying the effects of climate change on the habitats and migration patterns of wildlife, and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts.
• Developing a sustainable transportation system for a city or town: This project would involve designing and implementing a transportation system that is energy-efficient and sustainable, with minimal environmental impact.
• Investigating the potential of algae biofuels: This project would involve studying the potential of algae as a source of biofuel, and developing methods for cultivating and harvesting algae for energy production.
• Analyzing the effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems: This project would involve studying the impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms, including coral reefs and shellfish, and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts.
• Creating an energy-efficient home design: This project would involve designing and building a home that is energy-efficient and sustainable, with minimal environmental impact.
• Designing a sustainable urban agriculture system: This project would involve designing and implementing an urban agriculture system that is energy-efficient and sustainable, with minimal environmental impact.
• Studying the effects of pesticides on local wildlife: This project would involve studying the impact of pesticides on local wildlife, including birds, bees, and other pollinators, and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts.
• Developing a sustainable waste management program: This project would involve designing and implementing a waste management program that is energy-efficient and sustainable, with minimal environmental impact.
• Analyzing the impact of land use changes on local ecosystems: This project would involve studying the impact of changes in land use, such as urbanization and agriculture, on local ecosystems, and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts.
• Investigating the effectiveness of renewable energy sources: This project would involve analyzing the effectiveness of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, in meeting energy demands and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Creating a green roof or wall system for buildings: This project would involve designing and implementing a green roof or wall system that provides insulation, reduces heat absorption, and
• Studying the effects of noise pollution on wildlife behavior: This project would involve studying the impact of noise pollution on wildlife behavior, including changes in communication and reproductive success, and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts.
• Developing a sustainable tourism program for a local area: This project would involve designing and implementing a tourism program that is sustainable and minimizes the impact on local ecosystems and communities.
• Investigating the impact of microplastics on the environment: This project would involve studying the impact of microplastics, including their sources and effects on wildlife and human health, and developing strategies to reduce their release into the environment.
• Analyzing the effects of water scarcity on human communities: This project would involve studying the impact of water scarcity on human communities, including access to clean water and the effects on health and livelihoods, and developing strategies to address the issue.
• Creating a sustainable food distribution system: This project would involve designing and implementing a food distribution system that is sustainable and minimizes the impact on the environment while ensuring food security for all.
• Evaluating the impact of climate change on crop yields: This project would involve studying the impact of climate change on crop yields, including changes in temperature, rainfall, and soil quality, and developing strategies to adapt to the changes.
• Studying the effects of light pollution on nocturnal wildlife: This project would involve studying the impact of light pollution on nocturnal wildlife, including changes in behavior and ecological interactions, and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts.
• Developing a sustainable fishing program: This project would involve designing and implementing a fishing program that is sustainable and minimizes the impact on fish populations and marine ecosystems.
• Investigating the potential of geothermal energy sources: This project would involve studying the potential of geothermal energy as a source of renewable energy, and developing methods for harnessing and using it.
• Analyzing the impact of invasive species on local ecosystems: This project would involve studying the impact of invasive species on local ecosystems, including changes in biodiversity and ecological interactions, and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts.
• Creating a sustainable packaging system for products: This project would involve designing and implementing a packaging system that is sustainable and minimizes the environmental impact of products.
• Studying the effects of climate change on ocean currents: This project would involve studying the impact of climate change on ocean currents, including changes in temperature and circulation, and the effects on marine ecosystems and global climate.
• Developing a sustainable water supply system for a community: This project would involve designing and implementing a water supply system that is sustainable and provides access to clean water for all.
• Investigating the impact of deforestation on soil quality: This project would involve studying the impact of deforestation on soil quality, including changes in nutrient content and erosion, and developing strategies to restore degraded soils.
• Analyzing the effects of global warming on Arctic ecosystems: This project would involve studying the impact of global warming on Arctic ecosystems, including changes in ice cover and wildlife habitats, and developing strategies to adapt to the changes.
• Creating a sustainable urban planning system: This project would involve designing and implementing an urban planning system that is sustainable and minimizes the environmental impact of cities.
• Studying the effects of climate change on water availability: This project would involve studying the impact of climate change on water availability, including changes in precipitation and water storage, and developing strategies to adapt to the changes.
• Developing a sustainable energy storage system: This project would involve designing and implementing an energy storage system that is sustainable and minimizes the impact on the environment.
• Investigating the impact of ocean currents on marine life migration patterns: This project would involve studying the impact of ocean currents on the migration patterns of marine organisms, including changes in distribution and population dynamics, and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts.
• Analyzing the effects of urbanization on local ecosystems: This project would involve studying the impact of urbanization on local ecosystems, including changes in biodiversity and habitat fragmentation, and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts.
• Creating a sustainable transportation infrastructure for freight: This project would involve designing and implementing a transportation infrastructure that is sustainable and minimizes the impact of freight transportation on the environment.
• Studying the effects of climate change on bird migration patterns: This project would involve studying the impact of climate change on bird migration patterns, including changes in timing and range, and developing strategies to adapt to the changes.
• Developing a sustainable food production system for cities: This project would involve designing and implementing a food production system that is sustainable and provides fresh, healthy food for urban populations.
• Investigating the impact of sea level rise on coastal ecosystems: This project would involve studying the impact of sea level rise on coastal ecosystems, including changes in erosion and flooding, and developing strategies to adapt to the changes.
• Analyzing the effects of drought on soil health: This project would involve studying the impact of drought on soil health, including changes in nutrient content and erosion, and developing strategies to restore degraded soils.
• Creating a sustainable pest management system for agriculture: This project would involve designing and implementing a pest management system that is sustainable and minimizes the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides.
• Studying the effects of air pollution on plant growth: This project would involve studying the impact of air pollution on plant growth and productivity and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts.
• Developing a sustainable wildfire management program: This project would involve designing and implementing a wildfire management program that is sustainable and minimizes the impact on local ecosystems and communities.
• Investigating the impact of climate change on insect populations: This project would involve studying the impact of climate change on insect populations, including changes in distribution and abundance, and developing strategies to adapt to the changes.
• Analyzing the effects of e-waste on the environment: This project would involve studying the impact of electronic waste on the environment, including the disposal and recycling of electronic devices, and developing strategies to reduce the release of harmful materials into the environment.

In conclusion, environmental science projects are essential for understanding and addressing the challenges that our planet faces. From mitigating the effects of climate change to protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainability, these projects play a critical role in shaping our future.

The 50 projects we’ve listed provide a diverse range of options for individuals and groups looking to make a positive impact on the environment. Whether it’s through scientific research, engineering design, or community-based initiatives, there are countless ways to get involved and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world. By taking action and pursuing these projects, we can work towards a better future for ourselves and the planet we call home.

10 Environmental Research and Passion Project Ideas for High School Students

By Alex Yang

Graduate student at Southern Methodist University

5 minute read

As our planet faces ever-increasing environmental challenges, there is a growing need for individuals who have the knowledge and the desire to make a positive impact on the environment.

Why should high school students study environmental topics?

High school students and their generation are in a unique position to learn about environmental science. Growing up in a world that is increasingly threatened by climate change, younger generations have a passion for learning more about the environment - they sense the urgency of the issue and want to take action.

A 2021 study by Deloitte found that climate change and environmental issues were the top concerns for GenZ, ranking ahead of unemployment and healthcare.

Sustainability projects for students hold immense significance in your educational journey and are important for these reasons:

Fostering a lifelong love for the environment : By engaging in passion projects, students develop a deep and lasting connection with the environment. They become more aware of the world's ecological challenges and are inspired to become lifelong stewards of planet Earth.

Building critical problem-solving skills: Environmental science projects require students to analyze complex issues, gather and interpret data, and propose solutions. These critical thinking and problem-solving skills are not only valuable in academia but also in future careers.

Making a tangible impact: Passion projects empower students to make a real-world impact. Whether it's researching phytoplankton blooms or studying the ecology of viruses, their efforts contribute to our collective understanding of environmental issues and potential solutions.

Preparing for future opportunities: Many universities and scholarship programs value passion projects as indicators of a student's dedication and initiative. These projects can open doors to higher education opportunities and scholarships.

Personal growth: Beyond academic benefits, passion projects promote personal growth . Students learn to manage their time, set goals, and work independently; all are essential skills for success in any field.

What are a fe environmental science project ideas?

If you’re interested in learning more about topics related to ecology, sustainability, conservation, climate change, green energy, or environmental impact and implications, consider using one of the eco-inspired ideas on this list as the focus for your research or passion project.

1. What triggers phytoplankton blooms off the Southern California coast?

Investigate the environmental factors that trigger the growth of microscopic algae, or phytoplankton, along the Southern California coastline. You will analyze publicly available datasets of physical, chemical, and biological data, including nutrient concentrations, temperature, and algae abundance, collected by scientists. Through statistical analysis, you will identify the key factors that influence phytoplankton blooms. 

2. The ecology of viruses

Dive into peer-reviewed scientific articles and discuss how changes to our planet might affect the dynamics of a virus of your choice. Can global warming really make pandemics more likely? If you're interested in applying to public or private agencies for fellowships or scholarships, this project is the perfect opportunity to showcase your talents and stand out from the crowd.

 3. Wildfire impacts on forest regeneration and carbon storage

The devastating wildfires currently plaguing the United States are causing both ecological and economic damage. In this exciting project, learn how to use publicly available online resources, such as GIS databases of fire history and forest plot inventory, to analyze the effects of wildfires on seedling and sapling density. You can also learn/use R programming to perform basic statistical analyses and create stunning maps showcasing important information, such as fire frequency, vegetation, and carbon storage.

4. How to create a sustainable business

Interested in the intersection of sustainability and business? Review criteria for Environmental, Social, and Governance. Look at successful businesses with high scores and see how that could apply to a new company. Think through the product and overall business and create a presentation to pitch the company to investors.

5. What makes a weed a weed?

Have you ever noticed how weeds manage to thrive in the most unexpected places without any care, while it can be quite challenging to keep a houseplant alive? Explores the secrets of these resilient hitchhikers and uncover valuable insights that we can apply to our own plant care practices.

6. African rainfall and climate: responses to a warming world?

More than a billion people rely on the African monsoons as their primary water source, making it essential to comprehend how human-caused global warming may impact rainfall patterns. Explore how environmental factors, such as ocean temperatures and wind direction/speed, impact African precipitation over time.

7. Fashion with a purpose: reduce, reuse, and recycle

Interested in fashion design? The aim of this project is to promote awareness about climate change through fashion design. Use various materials such as trash, recyclables, repurposed items, and second-hand materials to create your own items that look great and are good for the environment! 

8. Research paper on species invasion

A major cause of global biodiversity loss is the introduction of invasive species (such as lionfish and zebra mussels) outside of their natural habitats. Investigate a specific invasive species, and analyze: 1. the cause(s) of species introduction in a novel geographic region, 2. the environmental factors contributing to its success, and 3. how the invasive species impacts its new ecosystem.

9. Climate change and coral reefs: what threats are our coral reefs facing?

Coral reefs are under multiple "stressors" including ocean acidification, global warming, pollution, and overfishing. How are these threats affecting coral reef ecosystems and what are the consequences of one or all of these "stressors"? What are some practical solutions that can help save our coral reefs? What groups, governments, or companies can get involved to help out?

10. Trash talk: ways to reduce laboratory waste

Every year, laboratories produce 12 billion pounds of plastic waste. A great project would be to explore ways that laboratories can reduce plastic waste by using glass pipettes, recyclable gloves, or other equipment, while still ensuring the equipment is sterile.

How can Polygence help start a environmental project?

Projects can be very fulfilling and allow you to develop your passion for a particular topic, and help you make decisions like choosing your college major . Further, these projects offer a lot of flexibility in terms of what the final product can actually look like, and provide you a great edge in the college admissions process .

Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey of discovery and environmental impact? Polygence offers a unique opportunity for high school students like you to dive deep into your passion for environmental science.

Work with an expert mentor to explore your passion

At Polygence, we precisely match you with a mentor in your area of interest. Together, you can explore and deepen your passions.

Examples of Environmental Projects Completed by Polygence Students

Austin’s project: How Switching to Sustainable Practices in Large Companies or Small Companies Can Positively Affect Their Business and Corporate Social Responsibility

Cecilia’s project: The Impact of Climate Change on Animal Behavior: The Arctic Marine and Monterey Bay Ecosystems

Clara’s project: How Will a Lower Population of California Sea Otters Disrupt the Ecological Balance in Monterey Bay?

Connor’s project: Research Paper on Rising Global Temperatures and Increased Forest Fires

Eda’s project: How Does Exposure to Environmental Toxins During Key Developmental Stages Affect One’s Risk of Getting Breast Cancer Later in Life?

Suraga’s project: Measuring the Efficiency of Greenhouse Gases

Tridib’s project: California in Flames: A Literature Review on the Causes and Effects of Wildfires

What does the Polygence program provide?

Our program connects you with expert mentors in environmental studies who will guide and support you throughout your project. Whether you're intrigued by phytoplankton blooms, virus ecology, wildfires, sustainable businesses, or any other environmental topic, Polygence provides the platform to explore your interests fully by:

Creating your own research or passion project: Tailor your project to match your specific interests and schedule. Your project is uniquely yours.

Receiving expert guidance: Work closely with knowledgeable environmental science research mentors who will provide valuable insights and expertise to ensure the success of your project.

Showcasing your final product: Polygence offers options to explore multiple topics or present your final project. Share your findings and discoveries with the world.

Don't wait to turn your passion for the environment into a meaningful and impactful environmental passion project. Join Polygence and take the first step towards exploring your passions, making a difference, and gaining an edge in your educational journey.

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Your Project Your Schedule - Your Admissions Edge!

Register to get paired with one of our expert mentors and to get started on exploring your passions today! And give yourself the edge you need to move forward!

Top 101+ Amazing Environmental Science Project Ideas for High School

Environmental science is an interesting subject that lets high school students learn about important stuff like pollution, climate change, green technology, and taking care of the planet. Doing projects is a fun way for teens to understand the world and how people impact it. 

In this blog, we made a list of over 100 ideas for hands-on projects about the environment that high schoolers can do alone or with friends. The projects we picked out range from easy experiments using basic materials at home to more complicated research topics. 

Each idea explains the experiment, how to do it, what you need, and what you might discover in simple language. Whether you want to test air or water, learn about renewable energy, look at recycling programs, or explore another environmental issue. 

You’ll find an awesome project that matches your skills and what you’re interested in. We aim to give high schoolers a list of meaningful environmental science projects that teach them about ecological challenges and solutions.

Note: Also read our blog “ What is MEP Engineering: The Best And Well-Explained Guide! “

Top 101+ Amazing Environmental Science Project Ideas For High School

Table of Contents

Here is a list of amazing environmental science project ideas related to different categories, First, we will discuss some of the best environmental science project ideas based on different topics, and then we will discuss the best environment science project ideas based on different science streams. Let’s take a look.

Environmental Science Project Ideas Based On Different Science Topics

Here are some ideas for an environmental science project based on the different and important science topics in high school. 

Climate Change

• Study how cutting down trees affects the weather nearby.
• Look at old weather records to see if the weather has changed where you live.
• Make a model to show how greenhouse gases warm up the Earth.
• Check how acid in the oceans affects sea animals.
• Come up with a plan to use less energy at your school or in your neighborhood.
• Test the water in nearby rivers or lakes and see if it’s clean.
• Check if dirty air affects how plants grow.
• See how loud noises in different places affect people.
• Look at how plastic garbage hurts animals in the ocean.
• Find ways to make less trash at home or school.

Renewable Energy

• Build and test a small windmill or solar panel.
• Compare different things like wood or trash to see what makes the most energy.
• See if your area can use heat from the ground to make energy.
• Test different types of solar cookers to see which one works best.
• Design a small house that can use energy from the sun or wind.

Biodiversity

• Count all the different plants and animals in a nearby park or forest.
• Look at how animals that don’t belong where you live affect other plants and animals.
• Study how animals disappear when their homes are destroyed.
• Make a garden that animals like to visit and see what comes to visit.
• Look at how garbage affects the animals near where you live.

Conservation

• Come up with a way to reuse things at your school.
• Find ways to use less water at home or school.
• See how animals are affected when their homes are taken away.
• Make a plan to use less outdoor lights where you live.
• Look at how making special places for animals helps them stay alive.

Environmental Health

• Look at how dirty air inside can make people sick.
• Study how bugs that help plants can’t live if there are too many chemicals around.
• Check if old electronics can make people sick if they touch them.
• Look at how too much noise can make people feel bad.
• Make a plan to use things that don’t have bad chemicals.

Environmental Policy

• Learn about the rules near where you live to keep the environment safe.
• See if rules about pollution from factories help keep the air clean.
• Look at how countries work together to help stop climate change.
• See how groups of people who want things changed affect the rules.
• Make a new rule for the environment where you live.

Sustainable Agriculture

• Look at how different ways to farm affect the dirt.
• See if food grown without chemicals is better than regular food.
• Make a plan to help farmers use less water and chemicals.
• See how farming up and down instead of side to side helps make more food.

Waste Management

• Look at how different kinds of wrapping paper affect the environment.
• See if turning old food into dirt helps the environment.
• Study how getting money back for recycling helps people do it more.
• Make a plan to have less food thrown away at your school.
• Look at how old electronics hurt the environment and how to fix it.

Environmental Education

• Make a program to teach little kids about the environment.
• Make posters or books to teach people about the environment.
• Have an event to teach people about a problem with the environment.
• Make a plan for teachers to teach kids about keeping the environment safe.
• Look at how learning about the environment makes kids act differently.

Renewable Resources

• Look at how ocean waves can make energy.
• See if different things like trash or corn can make power for cars.
• Study how a special kind of water plant can make energy.
• Make a model to show how to make hot water from underground heat.
• See if a special kind of gas made from trash can make electricity.

Wildlife Conservation

• Look at how animals are affected when their homes are broken into pieces.
• Study how animals that move around a lot are affected by warmer weather.
• Look at how a special road helps animals stay alive.
• Make a plan to keep one kind of animal safe where you live.
• Look at how things people do hurt frogs and toads near where you live.

Environmental Science Project Ideas According To Different Streams

Here is a list of some environmental science project ideas given according to the different science streams in the high school. 

• Check how well different solar panels turn sunlight into electricity.
• Look at how small windmills make energy in different places.
• Study how hot or cold water moves in the ocean.
• Test different things to see what keeps buildings warm.
• Make and try a model to get energy from ocean waves.
• Look at how dirty stuff changes water.
• Study how acid rain hurts soil and water.
• Try using different things to clean up dirty water.
• Look at what chemicals are in dirty air in cities.
• Study how old food turns into dirt.
• Count all the different plants and animals in a place.
• Look at how dirty stuff hurts plants.
• Study how different ways of farming change the dirt.
• Look at how animals in cities survive.
• Study how plants change with the weather.

Environmental Engineering

• Make a thing to clean water with stuff from nature.
• Study how to clean up dirty dirt.
• Look at different ways to make less trash.
• Design a building that doesn’t hurt the Earth.
• Look at how cars and buses make dirty air.
• Look at how dirt moves and changes the land.
• Study how big events like earthquakes hurt nature and people.
• Look at how water under the ground changes the dirt.
• Study how rocks and minerals are made and used.
• Look at how old the land is and how it’s used.
• Count all the different plants and animals in a place and see how they change.
• Look at how cities hurt animals’ homes.
• Study how lots of different plants and animals help each other stay healthy.
• Look at how the weather changes plants and animals.
• Study how one animal helps a lot of others stay healthy.

Meteorology

•  Look at how the weather changes and hurts things.
• Study how cities get hotter than other places.
• Look at how the air in different places gets dirty.
• Study how clouds make rain.
• Look at how the weather changes how much food we grow.

Biotechnology

• Look at how living things can clean up oil spills in water.
• Study how changing plants’ genes helps them grow better.
• Study how stuff made from living things can help the Earth.
• Look at how tiny living things make electricity.
• Study how to keep animals from going away forever.

Oceanography

• Look at how water gets dirty and hurts animals in the ocean.
• Study how small pieces of plastic hurt animals in the ocean.
• Look at how water moves in the ocean and changes the weather.
• Study how big ocean parts don’t have enough air for animals.
• Look at how water moving in the ocean helps plants and animals.

Agricultural Science

• Look at how farmers use water to grow food.
• Study how bugs that help stuff farmers hurt plants use to kill bugs.
• Look at how planting different crops helps the dirt.
• Look at how the weather change hurts farmers and what they can do.
• Look at how farm animals are cared for and how to do it better.

Doing an environmental science project enables high schoolers to understand better the complex environmental issues facing our planet. 

Whether you are interested in conducting experiments to test air and water quality in your local area, analyzing solar panels’ efficiency, studying pollution’s effects on plants, or pursuing any of the 100+ project ideas outlined in this blog. 

An environmental science project is a great way to satisfy your intellectual curiosity while making a positive impact. We hope the diverse selection of environmental science fair project ideas provided sparks your inspiration to come up with creative solutions to ecological problems. 

Remember that small individual actions can add up to bring about tremendous change. The knowledge and experience you gain from these projects don’t end when high school does. 

Let environmental science be a launching pad to make sustainability and conservation central tenets of your lifestyle, career, and community. Our future depends on environmentally-conscious leaders taking informed action today.

What are some more advanced environmental science fair project ideas?

More advanced projects could include modeling climate change effects using computers, testing the biodegradability of different packaging materials, analyzing contaminants in local land or water environments, designing sustainable devices like a solar oven, creating bioplastics from renewable materials, or testing remediation techniques on contaminated soil or water samples.

Where can students find inspiration for an interesting environmental science project?

They can find ideas from environmental websites, scientific journals for high school students, books with environmental project guides, previous environmental science fair displays at their school, talking to their teacher or environmental professionals, browsing lists like this one, or brainstorm real-world environmental problems in their community that interest them.

How can a high school student find the expertise to complete an advanced environmental science fair project?

They can recruit help from science teachers, contact local scientists or companies through email to serve as mentors, use university laboratories and equipment if available in their area, look to government environmental agencies like EPA/DEP for resources, connect with environmental nonprofits, or search online for consultants with science expertise willing to advise students.

What kind of environmental topics make good science fair projects?

Any testable environmental question where data can be collected makes a good project. Popular topics include alternative energy, recycling/reuse studies, air/water quality testing, sustainability practices, habitat restoration, biodegradability of wastes, environmental engineering solutions, remediation of toxins, and using technology to monitor ecological issues.

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High-Risk, High-Reward Research with EPA’s Pathfinder Innovation Projects

Published August 20, 2024

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could learn how chemicals affect the developing brain in a quick and cost-effective way? Or if we could gather water quality data from a boat without having to stop and collect samples at multiple locations? What about if we could predict the spread of a fungal pathogen by sampling smoke from wildfires?

EPA scientists have answered questions like these and more with Pathfinder Innovation Projects (PIPs) . Through an internal competition, PIP winners receive seed funding and additional research time to pursue their high-risk, high-reward research ideas.

The PIPs program helps EPA incubate innovative research through projects that explore new approaches to high priority topics, respond to emerging environmental issues, and build the expertise of researchers in their chosen fields of study.

The PIPs program was launched in 2011 and has funded a total of 153 research projects since its inception. EPA has incorporated several successful PIPs into its national research programs , and methods first developed through PIPs have even been used to support regulatory decisions. PIPs provide EPA scientists an important testbed to try out innovative and exciting ideas that could become transformative environmental solutions. Read about some successful PIPs below.

Brain on a Chip

EPA scientists have long been interested in the potential effects of chemicals on developing brains in embryos, infants, and children. However, traditional methods for testing these effects are expensive, time-consuming, and rely on animal models. Because of that, many chemicals have not been studied using these methods, resulting in gaps in what we know about chemicals found in the environment.

In 2013, Dr. Timothy Shafer’s team at EPA received PIP funding to develop a new, lower cost approach to quickly detect when chemicals may cause developmental neurological changes. The team grew a network of brain cells in a laboratory and measured the network’s electrical activity using an array of tiny electrodes. This lab-grown network simulates the electrical activity of a human brain; chemicals that cause changes in this “brain on a chip” are flagged as potential candidates that could impact developing brains in humans.

With the help of a jump start from PIPs, the “brain on a chip” has become an integral part of EPA’s Chemical Safety for Sustainability research program .

“PIPs allowed us to really get this technology up and running,” Dr. Shafer said. “It allowed us to generate enough data to support further development and use of this approach.”

Today, EPA is using the method to test new and existing chemicals (including high priority contaminants such as PFAS), and the data are informing EPA’s regulatory decisions. For example, according to Dr. Shafer, “brain on a chip” informed a decision about a new pesticide and saved about a year and a half of EPA staff time and over $1 million compared to traditional methods.

Underway Water Quality Lab on Research Vessel

EPA’s research vessels are critical tools for studying environmental concerns like water quality, contaminants, and harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes. However, predicting the exact location of these concerns can be challenging, making it essential for the ships to be positioned in the right place to study them. To tackle this issue, EPA scientists wanted to continuously collect data on emerging environmental concerns, rather than relying on the research vessel’s scheduled sampling stops.

In 2023, EPA scientist Ryan Lepak received PIP funding to develop a new system on EPA’s Lake Explorer II, enabling it to monitor water quality while in motion. The system continuously pipes water from the lake into an array of sensors that monitor key metrics such as temperature, pH, blue green algae, chlorophyll, and, with the help of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration collaborators, dissolved carbon dioxide. It also collects larger particles using filters so that researchers can determine exactly what contaminants, like mercury and PFAS, are present in a particular area. These devices enable scientists to collect a wide range of information about the lake without stopping the ship or interrupting its planned research activities.

Additionally, the system incorporates custom software that allows EPA scientists to follow up on noteworthy findings. When the sensors detect conditions that merit further attention — such as sudden changes in water temperature or signs of a harmful algal bloom — the system automatically collects a sample of water and stores it for future analysis.

This exciting new technology is being deployed on the Lake Explorer II this summer and is already generating interest from other researchers in the Great Lakes area. According to Dr. Lepak, other research vessels, both within and outside the EPA, have expressed interest in deploying similar technologies on their ships.

Valley Fever and Wildfires

Valley fever is an infection caused by inhaling the Coccidioides fungus, which lives in soils in the western United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Valley fever is becoming increasingly common but is often misdiagnosed. The disease can be mistaken for other types of pneumonia, and, while most patients get better on their own, patients who do need treatment may remain sick for weeks before receiving the right diagnosis and care. Because of the high rate of misdiagnosis, researchers are looking for better ways to determine where and when Valley fever risk is high, so they can warn doctors to be on the lookout for symptoms.

Building on research that suggests a connection between Valley fever and wildfire, EPA scientist Jim Markwiese hypothesized that people might be inhaling Coccidioides spores from wildfire smoke. However, he needed a way to test this hypothesis, as detecting these airborne spores poses significant challenges.

In 2023, Dr. Markwiese and his collaborators received PIP funding to deploy drones to collect air samples of Coccidioides spores. As a proof-of-concept test, the team flew drones equipped with biological sampling devices over known, non-wildfire Valley fever hotspots in the San Joaquin Valley, California. This novel method was able to successfully capture airborne Coccidioides spores for the first time, demonstrating that drone sampling was an effective approach to collecting this elusive, inhalable pathogen.

Now that they know their sampling method works, Dr. Markwiese and his collaborators hope to test the method directly on wildfire smoke in the future. If this project can provide information about when and where Coccidioides spores are present in a particular area, public health officials will be able to alert doctors of Valley fever as a possible diagnosis. This early intervention could lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes for patients.

“These are literally lifesaving measures that we could put into place,” Dr. Markwiese said. “We may not cure Valley fever with this technology, but we can help people get to a cure faster.”

From the developing brain to Valley fever, these are just a few examples of how EPA researchers are pursuing their innovative ideas for solving our most pressing environmental problems. In addition to these projects, 15 new 2024 PIPs were selected in June to begin research on topics such as environmental justice, emerging contaminants, and more.

If you want to learn more about this next generation of innovative EPA research, visit the PIPs website .

This article was written by Seamus Caslin, Oak Ridge Associated Universities Research participant with EPA.

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Visitors: The SERC campus is open Monday-Saturday, 8:00am-5:30pm. We're closed Sundays and federal holidays. Please do a health self-check before arriving, and stay home if feeling sick. Read Plan Your Visit for information on where to park, updated maps and hours, safety, and more.

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Summer 2024 Internships: Apply November 1 - February 15

SERC is seeking interns to join us for summer 2024! Interns at SERC conduct independent projects over 10 -16 weeks on a wide range of topics including some of the most profound issues challenging our world today, including habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species. Choose from a variety of opportunities including research labs, environmental education, Participatory Science, and science communications. Our intern alumni have used our professional-training programs as a stepping-stone to pursue a wide range of STEM careers.

Although students will become familiar with much of the research of SERC in general, individuals will devote most of their time to an independent research project. Students will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge in a selected field of study and to learn a variety of research techniques through firsthand experience. At the conclusion of the internship, student participants will be expected to present the findings of their independent projects in a formal seminar to the SERC community.

Please submit your application by February 15, 2024, using the SOLAA web portal .

Read what Summer 2023 interns said about their experience at SERC!

The serc internship experience.

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's (SERC) Internship Program offers undergraduate and beginning graduate students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the fields of environmental research and public engagement. This program enables students to work on independent research projects under the direction of a SERC mentor. 

Since 2001 the SERC internship program has been a National Science Foundation REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) site. With this funding, along with generous donations from sources like the Smithsonian Women's Committee and university partnerships, we are able to provide internship opportunities to qualified students looking to further their knowledge in the natural sciences.

Internship projects span the range of research conducted at SERC, including environmental chemistry, marine and estuarine ecology, molecular ecology, and terrestrial ecology. Projects are also offered in public engagement, with opportunities in environmental education, Participatory Science, and science writing. Although students will become familiar with much of the research of SERC in general, individuals will devote most of their time to an independent research project. Students will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge in a selected field of study and to learn a variety of research techniques through firsthand experience. At the conclusion of the internship, student participants will be expected to present the findings of their independent projects in a formal seminar to the SERC community. As an additional educational benefit, SERC maintains an ongoing seminar program that is designed to bring in noted outside speakers on a variety of topics in the environmental sciences. When conditions permit, we also offer experiential field trips to the Smithsonian museums and galleries on the National Mall.

The SERC community recognizes the value of diversity in promoting innovative science and creative solutions, and we strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Internships are designed as training and skill-building opportunities for students and recent grads still in the early stages of their careers. We recognize that each applicant will bring unique skills, knowledge, experiences and background to these positions, including experience that may not be directly related to science or research.

Pro tip for applicants: Don't just talk about your past experience. Show us how a SERC internship would give you something new! Smithsonian internships are meant to be learning experiences, especially for students who have had fewer opportunities outside schoolwork. Let your application reviewers know how this experience would benefit you beyond another line on a resume. See more tips for applying on our Internships FAQ page .

Ideas for research projects

Here at the University of Leeds all students can integrate sustainability into their degree . One of the easiest and most effective ways of doing this is through your dissertation or other research projects.

The Sustainability Service has a library of case studies and potential research projects for students. We can also support you in developing your research through the Leeds Living Lab .

Why do a sustainability research project?

There are lots of reasons for incorporating sustainability into your studies.

Here are just a few:

• Increase your employability by developing new skills and demonstrating knowledge and awareness of key global challenges faced by employers and society.
• Sustainability is interdisciplinary, so most students can integrate it into their research in a way that aligns with their interests – from exploring low carbon energy in rural areas, to investigating the social impact of the arts on ethical purchasing.
•  Tailor your research project to address a sustainability challenge that can drive action, deliver change and have a positive impact on society.
•  You could showcase your work and share your learning at the annual University of Leeds Student Sustainability Research Conference or even enter the University of Leeds Annual Sustainability Awards .

How do I develop a sustainability research project?

First up, you need to decide what you want to research. You might already have a topic in mind. You might even be ready to crack on without any support from the Sustainability Service. That’s great and if so please do let us know what you are doing and email us at  [email protected] .

If you need a bit more inspiration, we have a list of research project ideas below. We can help you think about how you could research these through your degree.

You could also carry out your research as a Leeds Living Lab , using the University as your test bed and driving real sustainable change to your own place of study. We can provide support for these projects and set up collaborations with teams both within the University, such as Estates Services, or externally with partners in the city.

If you are still unsure and need some support, discuss with your supervisor or module leader before contacting us at [email protected] .

Research project ideas

Air quality.

• An analysis of air quality of specific locations on campus (i.e. car park) and recommendations for improvement.
• Air quality studies of the University campus.

Biodiversity

• Identifying the long-term social value of greenspaces in the workplace at the University of Leeds.
• Creating cultural change around campus green spaces. How to ensure staff use green spaces during work hours in a hybrid working environment.
• Estimating the amenity value of student, staff and community engagement with the Roger Stevens pond.
• Review of the City’s biodiversity strategy and what it means for the University of Leeds.
• Evaluation of the success of the Roger Stevens Pond in increasing campus biodiversity (Urban Water Living Lab)
• Natural Flood Management trials at the Brownlee Centre site.
• The unavoidable hypocrisy of the climate change researcher?
• Exploring student engagement with the University of Leeds Climate Plan.
• Building community cohesion in the LS6 postcode region of Leeds amongst rising conflict and tensions between students and permanent residents.
• Twenty years on from "studentification". Are students still impacting communities for the better and worse?
• The COVID effect. What have been and what are the main impacts on student, university and Leeds communities relationships?
• Community engagement opportunities of the Sustainable Garden and Roger Stevens Pond.
• Student's attitudes and behaviours to Changeover.

Environmental management policy

• Identification and analysis potential gaps in environmental governance after the Brexit transition period at the University of Leeds.
• Identifying applicable environmental compliance obligations for the University in a particular area.
• Assessing the knowledge and engagement of the University Environmental Management System amongst staff and developing recommendations for improvement.

Ethical consumption

• Investigating ways of galvanising University students for fair trade and trade justice.
• Understanding differences in student perceptions towards Fairtrade as a standard, and fair trade as a movement.
• Exploring the influences that determine student participation in purchasing Fairtrade products.
• Encouraging consumer behaviour change around reducing food waste in the University of Leeds restaurants and cafes.

Single use plastic

• Identification and removal of single-use plastics in packaging waste, using the University of Leeds as a study.
• Identifying alternatives to black plastic plant pots and conducting a feasibility assessment for use by University Ground and Gardens.
• Lifecycle analysis of particular single-use plastic items and/or comparisons of the lifecycle impacts of single-use plastic alternatives.
• How to achieve systematic change in an organisation to achieve a reduction in plastic production, consumption or waste management with specific recommendations for the University of Leeds.
• Achieving behaviour change around the use of single-use plastics including recommendations for the University of Leeds.
• Achieving behaviour change around the use of reusable products including recommendations for the University of Leeds.
• Identification of single-use plastics in a School or specific area (i.e. teaching/labs/events) and feasibility assessment of alternatives.
• The impacts of creating centralised stores at the University on packaging.

Sustainable curriculum

• Leeds Sustainable Curriculum: Review of staff training and resources offered by other institutions including recommendations for the University of Leeds.
• Enhancing educational engagement in the Sustainable Garden and Roger Stevens Pond.
• Sustainable graduations at the University of Leeds.
• Sustainability of teaching practice at the University of Leeds.

Sustainable design and engineering

• Sustainable solutions to subsidence of embankment supporting a large 3G pitch

Sustainable transport

• An assessment of urban cycling infrastructure good practice and and solutions for the University of Leeds campus.
• An assessment of how politics affects the development of transport infrastructure and the impacts of this on University of Leeds Sustainable Travel targets.
• Assessing the impacts of the University's new and improved Cycle to Work Scheme on equality and inclusion.
• From climate principles to climate action: developing a net-zero university travel policy

Volunteering

• A review of sustainability volunteering and resources offered by other institutions including recommendations for the University of Leeds.
• Review of the City’s waste strategy and what it means for the University of Leeds.

Each year the Sustainability Service supports dissertations and research projects by students across a whole range of disciplines. Here are a couple of examples:

• A water consumption study on the University of Leeds Western Campus, Madeleine Eaves – School of Civil Engineering, 2019
• Single-use plastic reduction at UK higher learning institutions: Motivations and best practice, David Burt – MSc Climate Change and Environmental Policy, 2019

If you have completed a sustainability-themed dissertation or research project and would like to share your findings with us please send them to [email protected]

Useful resources:

• UN Sustainable Development Goals Knowledge Platform sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics
• NUS ‘From Art to Zoo Management: embedding sustainability in UK higher and further education’
• University of Leeds Library Final Chapter
• Skills@Library also host workshops and events

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Find out more about our impact on the SDGs .

Undergraduate Program in Environmental Science & Studies

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Johns Hopkins University is a premier research institution, and gaining research experience is especially important for undergraduates who are considering attending graduate school. Completing an independent research project helps students to understand the research process through firsthand experience, narrow down their particular area of interest, and even identify suitable graduate programs.

Research experiences can take many forms. Some students do research with faculty during the summer for pay, and others do it in the fall or spring terms, usually for credit. Some sign up for 1-3 independent research credits with a faculty advisor for a single semester, and others choose to pursue a two-semester senior honors thesis. ENVS students who meet the GPA requirement, develop a senior thesis proposal, and complete six credits of senior thesis research earn honors in the major.

ENVS students can obtain university credit for independent research during one or more semesters. Usually this is done in the junior and/or senior years after a suitable amount of preparatory coursework has been completed, but sometimes the work is completed during the summer. Most students who undertake research projects independently seek out a suitable professor to work with based on their research interests, but sometimes a faculty member will advertise the need for an undergraduate assistant. Often those opportunities lead to an independent project.

In addition to doing research with JHU faculty, interested students can pursue research opportunities outside of the university. The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates program attracts participation from a wide array of universities across the country. Students work with researchers from the host institution during the summer and are awarded a stipend and support for travel and housing. Other federal agencies also offer summer research/internship experiences and financial support, such as NOAA’s undergraduate scholarship programs . A helpful guide to advanced study and careers in STEM fields can be found at Pathways to Science .

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New climate and sustainability research efforts will focus on eight ‘Solution Areas’

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability will establish new research initiatives under topics including climate, water, energy, food, nature, and cities.

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability has selected eight interconnected Solution Areas to focus its research efforts over the next decade. This new research plan amplifies the school’s ability to translate Stanford research into large-scale solutions and inform key decision makers in policy and business.

Selected based on extensive faculty input and assessment of where Stanford can make the most meaningful impact, the eight areas are: climate; water; energy; food; risk, resilience, and adaptation; nature; cities; and platforms and tools for monitoring and decision making. 

“Solution Areas identify and leverage the critical junctions between the most pressing global sustainability challenges and the areas where Stanford has the talent and expertise to find solutions,” said Dean Arun Majumdar. “This collaborative all-campus approach expands and strengthens our commitment to using all the power we have – the knowledge, the education, the talent, the innovation, the resources, the influence – to build a thriving planet for future generations.” 

‘Integrative Projects’ and ‘Flagship Destinations’

In each Solution Area, the school plans to build two types of research initiatives. One type, called Integrative Projects, will be managed by the school’s institutes, including the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment , the Precourt Institute for Energy , and a planned Sustainable Societies Institute. 

Integrative Projects will be organized around decade-long research themes and dedicated to creating solutions through interdisciplinary collaboration, engagement with partners beyond Stanford, identifying significant knowledge gaps, and understanding systems.

According to Chris Field , the Perry L. McCarty Director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and a professor in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and the School of Humanities and Sciences , the new commitment to these areas “will provide both resources and coordination that expand Stanford faculty’s capacity to deliver sustainability solutions at scale.” 

A second type of research initiative, called Flagship Destinations, is managed by Stanford’s Sustainability Accelerator . Flagship Destinations are targets for the pace and scale of work to address challenges facing Earth, climate, and society. For example, the school’s first Flagship Destination, announced in 2023 , calls for enabling the removal of billions of tons of planet-warming gases annually from Earth’s atmosphere by the middle of this century. By working backward from sustainability targets in consultation with faculty and external experts, this initiative seeks to rapidly translate Stanford research into policy and technology solutions. Additional Flagship Destinations will be announced later this week.

Whereas Integrative Projects are designed to produce knowledge and evidence that can eventually lead to solutions, Flagship Destination projects are intended to help verify and demonstrate that well-studied solutions can succeed at large scale so they can be launched out of Stanford and implemented for the benefit of humanity and our planet. Scalable solutions nurtured and launched through these projects could take the form of policy frameworks, open-source platforms, nonprofit organizations, new for-profit companies, and ongoing collaborations all committed to addressing pressing sustainability challenges.

“By working together in these Solution Areas across disciplines and with collaborators beyond the university, we maximize our ability to have positive impacts on the timeframe and scale needed for the planet and humanity,” said Scott Fendorf , senior associate dean for integrative initiatives and the Terry Huffington Professor in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. 

Workshops will be held with faculty and external experts to develop research strategies for each Solution Area on a rolling basis. Strategy workshops, opportunities to provide input on future Integrative Projects, and requests for proposals (open to all Stanford faculty) will be announced in the coming months.

Related message from leadership: Read a letter to faculty about the new Solution Areas from Dean Majumdar with Precourt Institute for Energy director William Chueh; Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment director Chris Field; Accelerator faculty director Yi Cui and executive director Charlotte Pera; and Integrative Initiatives associate dean Jenna Davis and senior associate dean Scott Fendorf.

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New report on Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability affiliates programs

The Industrial Affiliates Review Committee established in February 2024 has released its report on all industrial affiliates programs in the school, identifying gaps and possible solutions for aligning with university guidelines.

Sharing risk to avoid power outages in an era of extreme weather

Heat waves, droughts, and fires place growing stress on the West’s electric grid. Stanford research suggests that more integrated management of electricity resources across the region could significantly reduce the risk of power outages and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

Electric reactor could cut industrial emissions

Researchers have developed a new thermochemical reactor that can generate the immense heat needed for industrial processes using electricity instead of fossil fuels.

National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis

Calls for Proposals

Turn big data into big insights that improve our world .

We periodically invite researchers to submit proposals for collaborative, synthesis research projects in both basic and applied environmental science. If selected, research teams, called working groups, meet one to two times per year at our headquarters in Santa Barbara, CA to focus on their projects.

Successful proposals present research questions that could benefit specifically from the synthesis of existing data and analysis by an interdisciplinary team. 

To receive notifications of open calls for proposals, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Twitter.

Open Calls for Proposals

The Gulf Ecosystem Initiative is a partnership between NCEAS and the  NOAA RESTORE Science Program  to fund synthesis science and postdoctoral researchers. Working groups of scientists and decision makers will collaborate to solve pressing questions across the Gulf of Mexico. Synthesis science proposals and working groups will cover three main areas of research for decision making in the Gulf of Mexico: fisheries, climate change, and the ecological impacts of management. 

The Initiative's annual call for proposals yields 2-3 working groups funded at approximately $75,000 - $125,000 to convene their teams and conduct their work across 2-years. NCEAS provides  training expertise , logistical and cyberinfrastructure support, state-of-the-art facilities, and years of experience running innovative  transdisciplinary working groups . The NCEAS synthesis  working group approach  produces applied science outcomes that can inform  transformative changes  to policy and practice, and can help organizations build science capacity while producing innovative, challenge-specific scientific results

Read our  summary  about the 2023 call for proposals.

Required proposal elements and instructions can be found on the GulfEco Website:  www.nceas.ucsb.edu/gulfeco

The Morpho Initiative’s Annual Request for Proposals  asks potential team leaders to propose a research opportunity to influence management action. Each project will bring together a working group of 12-15 experts for 3-4 in-person collaborative sessions over 24 months. The group will conceive new approaches to its respective problem, synthesize data relevant to the work, and develop science in service of relevant solutions. Between sessions, members will collaborate remotely, participate in Morpho-provided trainings, explore emerging research, identify opportunities to enhance management, and publish results. We will advise on best practices for open data science and offer advice for technical matters related to the group’s synthesis project. Over time, ideas and relationships fostered within Morpho teams may influence management policy or practice at local, state, national or international levels. Awards will be announced in June 2024 and groups will start in Fall 2024. 

Read our full 2024  Call for Proposals .

Required proposal elements and instructions can be found on the Morpho Website:  www.nceas.ucsb.edu/morpho

The  data produced at LTER sites  are an extraordinary scientific resource that can inform a wide variety of questions. Among-site comparisons interrogate the generality of effects observed at particular sites. Modeling efforts employ long term observations and experiments to formulate and test rigorous descriptions of theory. Scaling exercises get at the continental or even global impacts of documented effects. LTER synthesis working groups organized through the LTER Network Office (LNO) are intended to support collaboration on these and many other types of questions.

Please check back in Spring 2024 for our next call for proposals - https://lternet.edu/synthesis/ 

Working Group Model

Collaboration and diversity are among our core values, and team science is part of our approach. Our research is always conducted in working groups, a model we've pioneered for the field of ecology. 

Research proposals should reflect these values and approach. 

Calls for proposals are typically associated with one of the following initiatives.

Gulf ecosystem initiative.

The Gulf Ecosystem Initiative is a partnership between the NCEAS and the NOAA RESTORE Science Program to fund synthesis science and postdoctoral research. Working groups of scientists and decision makers will collaborate to solve pressing questions across the Gulf of Mexico. Synthesis science proposals and working groups will cover three main areas of research for decision making in the Gulf of Mexico: fisheries, climate change, and the ecological impacts of management.

Morpho Initiative

The Morpho Initiative is an applied environmental science initiative that convenes working groups consisting of government agency, NGO, tribal, and academic researchers to develop and accelerate science in the service of environmental management.

Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network Synthesis

Through the LTER Network Office, we solicit proposals for projects that synthesize and analyze data from one or more LTER sites. While all relevant ideas will be considered, the selection committee is most interested in ideas that could have high-impact results in the core LTER research areas. Principal investigators are strongly encouraged to contact the Network Office to briefly discuss ideas before submitting proposals.

Special Projects

We occasionally convene one or more working groups to tackle a specific issue of interest to a funding partner, such as a foundation, consortium, or government agency.

Research Connect

Latest Environmental Research Funding Opportunities

Discover a selection of the latest funding, awards and projects for environmental research, offered by a variety of societies, educational establishments and government branches.

Humans impact the natural environment in a variety of ways, including pollution, overpopulation, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Such actions have accelerated climate change, caused soil erosion, poor air quality, poor water quality, and reduced fishing stocks.

Environmental research funding opportunities and funding grants related to the natural environment are critical in advancing our understanding of our impact on the world, and how it might be reversed. This matters because Earth is the only home that humans have, providing air, food, and much else.

Environmental research funding – a selection from our subscription database

To access more funding opportunities, log in to ResearchConnect or get in touch today to learn more about subscribing to our services.

RAEng Green Future Fellowships

envious-dev 2024-08-15T12:05:13+01:00 August 15th, 2024 |

EPSRC UK Multidisciplinary Centre for Neuromorphic Computing

shelley 2024-08-08T08:59:57+01:00 August 8th, 2024 |

Bavarian Pioneer Award

shelley 2024-07-30T09:24:38+01:00 July 24th, 2024 |

Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions (HI-ACT) Flexible Funding Secondment Call

shelley 2024-07-24T16:21:09+01:00 July 24th, 2024 |

AHRC Design Accelerators – Future Observatory

2024-05-08T16:02:07+01:00 May 8th, 2024 |

Horizon Europe: Mission – Cross-Cluster Activities for the New European Bauhaus

2024-04-24T16:02:06+01:00 April 24th, 2024 |

UArctic/Lloyd’s Register Foundation Research Fellowships

Shared island bioeconomy demonstration initiative.

2024-04-17T16:02:06+01:00 April 17th, 2024 |

Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change Research Projects

2024-04-10T16:02:07+01:00 April 10th, 2024 |

Sea-Changers Marine Conservation Grant

2024-05-01T16:02:07+01:00 April 10th, 2024 |

BES Long-Term Research Grants

2024-03-13T15:02:06+00:00 March 13th, 2024 |

RES Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Grants

2024-02-28T15:02:07+00:00 February 28th, 2024 |

Supergen Energy Storage Network+ ECR Outreach Competition

Pairi daiza foundation grant for biodiversity and conservation research.

2024-02-21T15:02:07+00:00 February 21st, 2024 |

INNOspace Masters Competition

2024-03-20T15:02:06+00:00 February 7th, 2024 |

NERC Doctoral Focal Awards in the Environmental Sciences

2024-03-06T15:02:06+00:00 February 7th, 2024 |

Want to access more research funding?

Simply access the latest research funding by logging in to ResearchConnect. Or, if you want to find out more about our services, get in touch today.

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New Funding

Evan Kane (CFRES/ESC) is the principal investigator on a project that has received a $283,645 research and development co-op joint agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The project is titled “Stamp Sand Phytoremediation for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.”

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Environmental Science BS

Undergraduate Major

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Wondering whether a degree in environmental sciences might be right for you? Contact us ask questions or set up a conversation with one of our advisors.

Phone: 530-898-5262 Email: [email protected]

Take on the complex challenges facing the environment today and help make a difference. In our program, you will learn about the environment that surrounds us, how people are affecting the environment, and how we can protect it.

Passionate faculty will teach you about fundamental environmental processes, how to collect data in the field, how to interpret data, and how to communicate your findings to others. Fieldwork will allow you to explore the workings of the world, how it was formed, and how it has changed. Upon graduation, you will be prepared for a wide variety of jobs, from managing air quality to protecting water resources.

Immersive Learning Environment

We combine theory and practice with faculty who are committed to teaching and rich research opportunities. You will learn the fundamentals of data collection and interpretation, grow your oral and written communication skills, and take courses in chemistry, atmospheric science, physics, pollution science, and more.

Unearth Your Passions

As a student in the BS program, you’ll choose one of four options that will prepare you for a career or graduate school.

Applied Ecology

Apply the science of ecology to real-world questions and problems with the goal of providing recommendations on resource management. We ask questions like: How will climate change and drought impact vegetation communities? How does wildfire affect the growth and reproduction of vegetation communities?

Atmosphere and Climate

The atmosphere is one of the most significant factors influencing the environment. The weather controls how water evaporates, how greenhouse gases move, and how pollutants spread. The Earth's rotation and the location of bodies of water and landforms also have a profound impact.

Energy and Earth Resources

Energy demands consume a tremendous number of resources. You will explore energy resources and conservation, alternative energy, and sustainability, and apply these concepts to mine reclamation, solar and wind farm projects, and resource-heavy industries. Participate in projects that involve clean-up efforts, including mercury contamination of abandoned hydraulic mines.

Learn how water moves, what it's made of, and where it's found. Dive into the science of rainfall, river flow, evaporation, and more. Discover how these processes impact the amount and quality of water in our environment and gain a deep understanding of how these factors play a crucial role in managing water resources sustainably.

A High-Reward, In-Demand Career

Use your talents for the greater good in a field that is seeing massive growth in opportunities. By pursuing a degree in environmental science, you open doors to rewarding careers such as microbiologists, industrial ecologists, climate change analysts, and environmental engineers. Our graduates are making a difference in agencies like US Fish and Wildlife Service, River Partners, California Air Pollution Control Officers Association, and the California Department of Water Resources.

Learn by Doing

Students in our department get hands-on. Whether you are collecting soil samples outside or learning how to code a sensor, you will gain real skills that you will take with you into your future jobs.

Research Reveals the Threat of Wildfires on Water Quality

Critical research by faculty at Chico State, UC Boulder, and USGS aims to identify preventative insight during future wildfires.

Research and Presentations

Conduct important research in your field of interest and have the opportunity to present your findings at the California Society for Ecology Restoration and Geological Society of America conferences.

Faculty Receive $6 Million Grant for Soil Carbon Accrual Project

John Knowles and Sandrine Matiasek will contribute to the Soil Carbon Accrual Project (SCAP) project component that is designed to address soil degradation, erosion, and diminished water availability, all critical issues facing California agriculture.

student to faculty ratio

annual median

projected job growth

Embrace a Welcoming Environment

The Association of Geological and Environmental Students (AGES) is a great way for you to get involved with the department, interact with your peers in a friendly and casual setting, and participate in professional development opportunities.

Intersection of the Environment, Stewardship, and Science

Learning Beyond the Classroom

You will have access to industry-standard technologies to study the earth and atmosphere, including the Raman-shifted Eye-safe Aerosol Lidar (REAL), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, and a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Related Programs

Geography ba, biological sciences bs, here's where it all starts. apply today., honoring the mechoopda people.

We acknowledge and are mindful that Chico State stands on lands that were originally occupied by the first people of this area, Mechoopda, and we recognize their distinctive spiritual relationship with this land, the flora, the fauna, and the waters that run through campus. We are humbled that our campus resides upon sacred lands that since time immemorial have sustained the Mechoopda people and continue to do so today.

Civil | Construction | Nuclear

Bridging Environmental Justice and Public Health

NSF Awards $500,000 Collaborative Grant for Innovative Research Led by Jennifer Weidhaas

The National Science Foundation has awarded a $500,000 grant for Dr. Jennifer Weidhaas’s latest project, “Collaborative Research: Wastewater exposome as an untapped source for understanding air pollution burden in environmental justice communities.” Dr. Weidhaas , an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Utah, will lead the project, with Dr. Randal Martin , a Professor at Utah State University.

The research, which will continue into 2027, aims to uncover the environmental burdens faced by disadvantaged communities by offering a non-invasive method to verify air pollution exposure to toxic effects on humans through wastewater analysis.

A New Frontier in Disease Surveillance: Using Wastewater to Track Air Pollution Exposure

Chronic diseases, a major cause of preventable deaths in the U.S., are often linked to air pollution, which is known to exacerbate asthma, respiratory diseases, and other health issues. Dr. Weidhaas’s research is pioneering preventative solutions to mitigate these preventable deaths.

By analyzing air pollution metabolites found in urine, researchers can directly confirm human exposure to pollutants and the magnitude of health effects. This innovative project aims to explore the impact of air pollution on environmental justice communities by correlating air pollution levels, urine markers of exposure, and wastewater data. The findings may extend beyond air pollution to monitor other diseases, including cancer and mental health disorders.

Investment in preventing non-communicable diseases has a high return on investment and paves the way for earlier, targeted public health interventions. This project will develop disease surveillance tools using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) methods, which will demonstrate that wastewater can reflect community exposure to air pollution. By focusing on socioeconomically disadvantaged communities with high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), the project will use extracellular microRNA monitoring and mass spectroscopy detection of PAH metabolites in wastewater, alongside indoor and outdoor air sampling.

Engaging Title 1 schools and community members in sample collection and result dissemination through community meetings, this project aims to co-generate knowledge with environmental justice communities. While primarily focusing on air pollution exposure, this WBE approach has the potential to investigate a wide variety of non-communicable diseases associated with environmental exposures.

The project not only enhances our understanding of environmental justice issues but also presents new innovative public health solutions.

Environmental Engineering at the University of Utah

Environmental engineering research  has a far-reaching impact, from influencing policy decisions to driving innovation in industry

Working within and throughout academia and industry, Environmental Engineering researchers at the U work to improve public health and quality of life, while protecting and restoring environmental systems.

Explore Environmental Engineering→

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Reforestation to capture carbon could be done much more cheaply, study says

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• New research shows that a mix of natural forest regrowth and tree planting could remove up to 10 times more carbon at $20 per metric ton than previously estimated by the IPCC, the U.N.’s climate science panel.
• The study found that natural regeneration is more cost-effective in 46% of suitable areas, while tree planting is better in 54%, suggesting a tailored approach could maximize carbon capture.
• Researchers estimate that using the most cost-effective method in each location could remove 31.4 billion metric tons of CO2 over 30 years at less than $50 per metric ton.
• While the findings are promising, experts caution that reforestation alone can’t solve the climate crisis and emphasize the need to consider biodiversity and other ecological factors alongside cost-effectiveness.

Trees are allies in the struggle against climate change, and regrowing forests to capture carbon may be cheaper than we thought. According to new research published in Nature Climate Change , a strategic mix of natural regrowth and tree planting could be the most cost-effective way to capture carbon.

Researchers analyzed reforestation projects in 138 low- and middle-income countries to compare the costs of different reforestation approaches. They found it’s possible to remove 10 times more carbon at $20 per metric ton, and almost three times more at $50, compared to what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had previously estimated .

Neither natural regeneration nor tree planting consistently outperforms the other. Instead, the most cost-effective method varies depending on local conditions. Natural regeneration, which involves letting forests regrow on their own, is cheaper in about 46% of suitable areas. Tree planting, on the other hand, is more cost-effective in 54% of areas.

“Natural regeneration is more cost-effective in areas where tree planting is expensive, regrowing forests accumulate carbon more quickly, or timber infrastructure is distant,” said lead author Jonah Busch, who conducted the study while working for Conservation International. “On the other hand, plantations outperform in areas far from natural seed sources, or where more of the carbon from harvested wood is stored in long-lasting products.”

The research team estimates that by using the cheapest method in each location, we could remove a staggering 31.4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over 30 years, at a cost of less than $50 per metric ton. This is about 40% more carbon removal than if only one method was used universally.

“It’s exciting that the opportunity for low-cost reforestation appears much more plentiful than previously thought; this suggests reforestation projects are worth a second look by communities that might have prejudged them to be cost prohibitive,” said Busch. “While reforestation can’t be the only solution to climate change, our findings suggest it should be a bigger piece of the puzzle than previously thought.”

To reach these conclusions, the research team gathered data from hundreds of reforestation projects and used machine-learning techniques to map costs across different areas at a 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) resolution. This detailed approach allowed them to consider crucial factors such as tree growth rates and potential species in different regions.

Ecologist Robin Chazdon, who wasn’t involved in the research, praised the comprehensive approach but highlighted important considerations beyond cost-effectiveness.

“These eye-opening findings add nuance and complexity to our understanding of the net costs of carbon storage for naturally regenerating forests and monoculture plantations,” Chazdon said. However, she emphasized that “the relative costs of carbon storage should not be the only factor to consider regarding spatial planning of reforestation.”

Chazdon pointed out some of the ecological trade-offs involved in different reforestation methods. Monoculture tree plantations, while potentially cost-effective in certain areas, often create excessive water demand and provide poor opportunities for native biodiversity conservation. In contrast, naturally regenerating forests typically offer a wider range of ecosystem services and better support local biodiversity.

“Ultimately, these environmental costs and benefits — which can be difficult to monetize — need to be incorporated in decisions regarding how and where to grow plantations or foster natural regeneration,” Chazdon said.

The study’s authors acknowledge these limitations and suggest several directions for future research. They propose extending the analysis to high-income countries and exploring other forms of reforestation, such as agroforestry or planting patches of trees and allowing the rest of an area to regrow naturally.

Additionally, the researchers emphasize the need to integrate their findings on cost-effectiveness with data on biodiversity, livelihoods and other societal needs to guide reforestation efforts in different contexts.

While the study’s findings are promising, the researchers caution that reforestation alone won’t solve the climate crisis. Even at its maximum potential, reforestation would only remove as much carbon dioxide in 30 years as eight months of current global emissions.

Reforestation is very important, but it won’t solve climate change on its own, Busch said. Ultimately, “we still need to reduce emissions from fossil fuels.”

Banner image of two men planting trees in the Yokadouma Council Forest, Cameroon. Image courtesy WWF.

Liz Kimbrough  is a staff writer for Mongabay and holds a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from Tulane University, where she studied the microbiomes of trees. View more of her reporting  here .

How to pick a tree-planting project? Mongabay launches transparency tool to help supporters decide

Busch, J., Bukoski, J. J., Cook-Patton, S. C., Griscom, B., Kaczan, D., Potts, M. D., … Vincent, J. R. (2024). Cost-effectiveness of natural forest regeneration and plantations for climate mitigation.  Nature Climate Change , 1-7. doi: 10.1038/s41558-024-02068-1

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