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ENVS 101 Environmental Science

Choosing Your Topic

Your topic has to embrace the requirements of the assignment as well as what you are genuinely interested in. Instructors generally require academic topics, but you might not yet be comfortable determining what academic topics are. These resources should help you find a topic that is academic and relevant, and that inspires you. Also, please don't hesitate to talk with your instructor or your librarian to help you find the best topic for you.  

Resources for Choosing a Topic

Recommended Databases

Possible Topics

Here are some topics that students in past quarters have chosen for their class presentations, in alphabetical order.

  • Air pollution
  • Alternative sources of energy
  • Climate disruption
  • Design with nature
  • Emergent diseases [with environmental causes]
  • Endangered species
  • Environmental Racism/Environmental Justice
  • Freshwater pollution
  • Green businesses
  • Marine pollution
  • Nuclear waste
  • Soil erosion and depletion
  • Toxic wastes
  • Urban sprawl
  • Waste disposal

Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a good tool for brainstorming and developing research questions. For help creating your own mind map, check out Mind42 and a tutorial from the University of Arizona on mind mapping by navigating to the links below.