environmental experimental research topics

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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10 Comments

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Research topics on environmental geology

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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
• College Success
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Emily Smith

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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Home » 500+ Environmental Research Topics

500+ Environmental Research Topics

Environmental research is a crucial area of study in today’s world, as we face an increasing number of complex and pressing environmental challenges. From climate change to pollution, biodiversity loss to natural resource depletion, there is an urgent need for scientific inquiry and investigation to inform policy, decision-making, and action. Environmental research encompasses a broad range of disciplines, including ecology, biology , geology, chemistry , and physics , among others, and explores a diverse array of topics , from ocean acidification to sustainable agriculture. Through rigorous scientific inquiry and a commitment to generating evidence-based solutions, environmental research plays a vital role in promoting the health and well-being of our planet and its inhabitants. In this article, we will cover some trending Environmental Research Topics.

Environmental Research Topics

Environmental Research Topics are as follows:

• Climate change and its impacts on ecosystems and society
• The effectiveness of carbon capture and storage technology
• The role of biodiversity in maintaining healthy ecosystems
• The impact of human activity on soil quality
• The impact of plastic pollution on marine life
• The effectiveness of renewable energy sources
• The impact of deforestation on local communities and wildlife
• The relationship between air pollution and human health
• The impact of agricultural practices on soil erosion
• The effectiveness of conservation measures for endangered species
• The impact of overfishing on marine ecosystems
• The role of wetlands in mitigating climate change
• The impact of oil spills on marine ecosystems
• The impact of urbanization on local ecosystems
• The impact of climate change on global food security
• The effectiveness of water conservation measures
• The impact of pesticide use on pollinators
• The impact of acid rain on aquatic ecosystems
• The impact of sea level rise on coastal communities
• The effectiveness of carbon taxes in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• The impact of habitat destruction on migratory species
• The impact of invasive species on native ecosystems
• The role of national parks in biodiversity conservation
• The impact of climate change on coral reefs
• The effectiveness of green roofs in reducing urban heat island effect
• The impact of noise pollution on wildlife behavior
• The impact of air pollution on crop yields
• The effectiveness of composting in reducing organic waste
• The impact of climate change on the Arctic ecosystem
• The impact of land use change on soil carbon sequestration
• The role of mangroves in coastal protection and carbon sequestration
• The impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems
• The impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms
• The effectiveness of carbon offsets in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• The impact of deforestation on climate regulation
• The impact of groundwater depletion on agriculture
• The impact of climate change on migratory bird populations
• The effectiveness of wind turbines in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• The impact of urbanization on bird diversity
• The impact of climate change on ocean currents
• The impact of drought on plant and animal populations
• The effectiveness of agroforestry in improving soil quality
• The impact of climate change on water availability
• The impact of wildfires on carbon storage in forests
• The impact of climate change on freshwater ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green energy subsidies
• The impact of nitrogen pollution on aquatic ecosystems
• The impact of climate change on forest ecosystems
• The effectiveness of community-based conservation initiatives
• The impact of climate change on the water cycle
• The impact of mining activities on local ecosystems
• The impact of wind energy on bird and bat populations
• The effectiveness of bioremediation in cleaning up contaminated soil and water
• The impact of deforestation on local climate patterns
• The impact of climate change on insect populations
• The impact of agricultural runoff on freshwater ecosystems
• The effectiveness of smart irrigation systems in reducing water use
• The impact of ocean currents on marine biodiversity
• The impact of climate change on wetland ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green buildings in reducing energy use
• The impact of climate change on glacier retreat and sea level rise
• The impact of light pollution on nocturnal wildlife behavior
• The impact of climate change on desert ecosystems
• The effectiveness of electric vehicles in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• The impact of ocean pollution on human health
• The impact of land use change on water quality
• The impact of urbanization on bird populations
• The impact of oil spills on marine ecosystems and wildlife
• The effectiveness of green energy storage technologies in promoting renewable energy use
• The impact of climate change on freshwater availability and water management
• The impact of industrial pollution on air quality and human health
• The effectiveness of urban green spaces in promoting human health and well-being
• The impact of climate change on snow cover and winter tourism
• The impact of agricultural land use on biodiversity and ecosystem services
• The effectiveness of green incentives in promoting sustainable consumer behavior
• The impact of ocean acidification on shellfish and mollusk populations
• The impact of climate change on river flow and flooding
• The effectiveness of green supply chain management in promoting sustainable production
• The impact of noise pollution on avian communication and behavior
• The impact of climate change on arctic ecosystems and wildlife
• The effectiveness of green marketing in promoting sustainable tourism
• The impact of microplastics on marine food webs and human health
• The impact of climate change on invasive species distributions
• The effectiveness of green infrastructure in promoting sustainable urban development
• The impact of plastic pollution on human health and food safety
• The impact of climate change on soil microbial communities and nutrient cycling
• The effectiveness of green technologies in promoting sustainable industrial production
• The impact of climate change on permafrost thaw and methane emissions
• The impact of deforestation on water quality and quantity
• The effectiveness of green certification schemes in promoting sustainable production and consumption
• The impact of noise pollution on terrestrial ecosystems and wildlife
• The impact of climate change on bird migration patterns
• The effectiveness of green waste management in promoting sustainable resource use
• The impact of climate change on insect populations and ecosystem services
• The impact of plastic pollution on human society and culture
• The effectiveness of green finance in promoting sustainable development goals
• The impact of climate change on marine biodiversity hotspots
• The impact of climate change on natural disasters and disaster risk reduction
• The effectiveness of green urban planning in promoting sustainable cities and communities
• The impact of deforestation on soil carbon storage and climate change
• The impact of noise pollution on human communication and behavior
• The effectiveness of green energy policy in promoting renewable energy use
• The impact of climate change on Arctic sea ice and wildlife
• The impact of agricultural practices on soil quality and ecosystem health
• The effectiveness of green taxation in promoting sustainable behavior
• The impact of plastic pollution on freshwater ecosystems and wildlife
• The impact of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions and crop production
• The effectiveness of green innovation in promoting sustainable technological advancements
• The impact of climate change on ocean currents and marine heatwaves
• The impact of deforestation on indigenous communities and cultural practices
• The effectiveness of green governance in promoting sustainable development and environmental justice
• The effectiveness of wetland restoration in reducing flood risk
• The impact of climate change on the spread of vector-borne diseases
• The effectiveness of green marketing in promoting sustainable consumption
• The impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems
• The impact of renewable energy development on wildlife habitats
• The effectiveness of environmental education programs in promoting pro-environmental behavior
• The impact of deforestation on global climate change
• The impact of microplastics on freshwater ecosystems
• The effectiveness of eco-labeling in promoting sustainable seafood consumption
• The impact of climate change on coral reef ecosystems
• The impact of air pollution on human health and mortality rates
• The effectiveness of eco-tourism in promoting conservation and community development
• The impact of climate change on agricultural production and food security
• The impact of wind turbine noise on wildlife behavior and populations
• The impact of light pollution on nocturnal ecosystems and species
• The effectiveness of green energy subsidies in promoting renewable energy use
• The impact of invasive species on native ecosystems and biodiversity
• The impact of climate change on ocean acidification and marine ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green public procurement in promoting sustainable production
• The impact of deforestation on soil erosion and nutrient depletion
• The impact of noise pollution on human health and well-being
• The effectiveness of green building standards in promoting sustainable construction
• The impact of climate change on forest fires and wildfire risk
• The impact of e-waste on human health and environmental pollution
• The impact of climate change on polar ice caps and sea levels
• The impact of pharmaceutical pollution on freshwater ecosystems and wildlife
• The effectiveness of green transportation policies in reducing carbon emissions
• The impact of climate change on glacier retreat and water availability
• The impact of pesticide use on pollinator populations and ecosystems
• The effectiveness of circular economy models in reducing waste and promoting sustainability
• The impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems and biodiversity
• The impact of plastic waste on terrestrial ecosystems and wildlife
• The effectiveness of green chemistry in promoting sustainable manufacturing
• The impact of climate change on ocean currents and weather patterns
• The impact of agricultural runoff on freshwater ecosystems and water quality
• The effectiveness of green bonds in financing sustainable infrastructure projects
• The impact of climate change on soil moisture and desertification
• The impact of noise pollution on marine ecosystems and species
• The effectiveness of community-based conservation in promoting biodiversity and ecosystem health
• The impact of climate change on permafrost ecosystems and carbon storage
• The impact of urbanization on water pollution and quality
• The effectiveness of green jobs in promoting sustainable employment
• The impact of climate change on wetland ecosystems and biodiversity
• The impact of plastic pollution on terrestrial ecosystems and wildlife
• The effectiveness of sustainable fashion in promoting sustainable consumption
• The impact of climate change on phenology and seasonal cycles of plants and animals
• The impact of ocean pollution on human health and seafood safety
• The effectiveness of green procurement policies in promoting sustainable supply chains
• The impact of climate change on marine food webs and ecosystems
• The impact of agricultural practices on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change
• The effectiveness of green financing in promoting sustainable investment
• The effectiveness of rainwater harvesting systems in reducing water use
• The impact of climate change on permafrost ecosystems
• The impact of coastal erosion on shoreline ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green infrastructure in reducing urban heat island effect
• The impact of microorganisms on soil fertility and carbon sequestration
• The impact of climate change on snowpack and water availability
• The impact of oil and gas drilling on local ecosystems
• The effectiveness of carbon labeling in promoting sustainable consumer choices
• The impact of marine noise pollution on marine mammals
• The impact of climate change on alpine ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green supply chain management in reducing environmental impact
• The impact of climate change on river ecosystems
• The impact of urban sprawl on wildlife habitat fragmentation
• The effectiveness of carbon trading in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• The impact of ocean warming on marine ecosystems
• The impact of agricultural practices on water quality and quantity
• The effectiveness of green roofs in improving urban air quality
• The impact of climate change on tropical rainforests
• The impact of water pollution on human health and livelihoods
• The effectiveness of green bonds in financing sustainable projects
• The impact of climate change on polar bear populations
• The impact of human activity on soil biodiversity
• The effectiveness of waste-to-energy systems in reducing waste and emissions
• The impact of climate change on Arctic sea ice and marine ecosystems
• The impact of sea level rise on low-lying coastal cities and communities
• The effectiveness of sustainable tourism in promoting conservation and community development
• The impact of deforestation on indigenous peoples and their livelihoods
• The impact of climate change on sea turtle populations
• The effectiveness of carbon-neutral and carbon-negative technologies
• The impact of urbanization on water resources and quality
• The impact of climate change on cold-water fish populations
• The effectiveness of green entrepreneurship in promoting sustainable innovation
• The impact of wildfires on air quality and public health
• The impact of climate change on human migration patterns and social systems
• The impact of noise pollution on bird communication and behavior in urban environments
• The impact of climate change on estuarine ecosystems and biodiversity
• The impact of deforestation on water availability and river basin management
• The impact of climate change on plant phenology and distribution
• The effectiveness of green marketing in promoting sustainable consumer behavior
• The impact of plastic pollution on freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity
• The impact of climate change on marine plastic debris accumulation and distribution
• The effectiveness of green innovation in promoting sustainable technology development
• The impact of climate change on crop yields and food security
• The impact of noise pollution on human health and well-being in urban environments
• The impact of climate change on Arctic marine ecosystems and biodiversity
• The effectiveness of green transportation infrastructure in promoting sustainable mobility
• The impact of deforestation on non-timber forest products and forest-dependent livelihoods
• The impact of climate change on wetland carbon sequestration and storage
• The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtle populations and nesting behavior
• The impact of climate change on marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the Southern Ocean
• The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable agriculture
• The impact of climate change on oceanographic processes and upwelling systems
• The impact of noise pollution on terrestrial wildlife communication and behavior
• The impact of climate change on coastal erosion and shoreline management
• The effectiveness of green finance in promoting sustainable investment
• The impact of deforestation on indigenous communities and traditional knowledge systems
• The impact of climate change on tropical cyclones and extreme weather events
• The effectiveness of green buildings in promoting energy efficiency and carbon reduction
• The impact of plastic pollution on marine food webs and trophic interactions
• The impact of climate change on algal blooms and harmful algal blooms in marine ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green business partnerships in promoting sustainable development goals
• The impact of climate change on ocean deoxygenation and its effects on marine life
• The impact of noise pollution on human sleep and rest patterns in urban environments
• The impact of climate change on freshwater availability and management
• The effectiveness of green entrepreneurship in promoting social and environmental justice
• The impact of deforestation on wildlife habitat and biodiversity conservation
• The impact of climate change on the migration patterns and behaviors of birds and mammals
• The effectiveness of green urban planning in promoting sustainable and livable cities
• The impact of plastic pollution on microplastics and nanoplastics in marine ecosystems
• The impact of climate change on marine ecosystem services and their value to society
• The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable forestry
• The impact of climate change on ocean currents and their effects on marine biodiversity
• The impact of noise pollution on urban ecosystems and their ecological functions
• The impact of climate change on freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
• The effectiveness of green policy implementation in promoting sustainable development
• The impact of deforestation on soil carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions
• The impact of climate change on marine mammals and their ecosystem roles
• The effectiveness of green product labeling in promoting sustainable consumer behavior
• The impact of plastic pollution on coral reefs and their resilience to climate change
• The impact of climate change on waterborne diseases and public health
• The effectiveness of green energy policies in promoting renewable energy adoption
• The impact of deforestation on carbon storage and sequestration in peatlands
• The impact of climate change on ocean acidification and its effects on marine life
• The effectiveness of green supply chain management in promoting circular economy principles
• The impact of noise pollution on urban birds and their vocal communication
• The impact of climate change on ecosystem services provided by mangrove forests
• The effectiveness of green marketing in promoting sustainable fashion and textiles
• The impact of plastic pollution on deep-sea ecosystems and biodiversity
• The impact of climate change on marine biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities
• The effectiveness of green investment in promoting sustainable infrastructure development
• The impact of deforestation on ecosystem services provided by agroforestry systems
• The impact of climate change on snow and ice cover and their effects on freshwater ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green tourism in promoting sustainable tourism practices
• The impact of noise pollution on human cognitive performance and productivity
• The impact of climate change on forest fires and their effects on ecosystem services
• The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable seafood consumption
• The impact of climate change on insect populations and their ecosystem roles
• The impact of plastic pollution on seabird populations and their reproductive success
• The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable public sector spending
• The impact of deforestation on soil erosion and land degradation
• The impact of climate change on riverine ecosystems and their ecosystem services
• The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable fisheries
• The impact of noise pollution on marine mammals and their acoustic communication
• The impact of climate change on terrestrial carbon sinks and sources
• The effectiveness of green technology transfer in promoting sustainable development
• The impact of deforestation on non-timber forest products and their sustainable use
• The impact of climate change on marine invasive species and their ecological impacts
• The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable private sector spending
• The impact of plastic pollution on zooplankton populations and their ecosystem roles
• The impact of climate change on wetland ecosystems and their services
• The effectiveness of green education in promoting sustainable behavior change
• The impact of deforestation on watershed management and water quality
• The impact of climate change on soil nutrient cycling and ecosystem functioning
• The effectiveness of green technology innovation in promoting sustainable development
• The impact of noise pollution on human health in outdoor recreational settings
• The impact of climate change on oceanic nutrient cycling and primary productivity
• The effectiveness of green urban design in promoting sustainable and resilient cities
• The impact of plastic pollution on marine microbial communities and their functions
• The impact of climate change on coral reef bleaching and recovery
• The impact of deforestation on ecosystem services provided by community-managed forests
• The impact of climate change on freshwater fish populations and their ecosystem roles
• The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable tourism
• The impact of noise pollution on human stress and cardiovascular health
• The impact of climate change on glacier retreat and their effects on freshwater ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green technology diffusion in promoting sustainable development
• The impact of plastic pollution on sea grass beds and their ecosystem services
• The impact of climate change on forest phenology and productivity.
• The effectiveness of green transportation policies in promoting sustainable mobility
• The impact of deforestation on indigenous peoples’ livelihoods and traditional knowledge
• The impact of climate change on Arctic ecosystems and their biodiversity
• The effectiveness of green building standards in promoting sustainable architecture
• The impact of noise pollution on nocturnal animals and their behavior
• The impact of climate change on migratory bird populations and their breeding success
• The effectiveness of green taxation in promoting sustainable consumption and production
• The impact of deforestation on wildlife corridors and ecosystem connectivity
• The impact of climate change on urban heat islands and their effects on public health
• The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable forestry practices
• The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtle populations and their nesting success
• The impact of climate change on invasive plant species and their ecological impacts
• The effectiveness of green business practices in promoting sustainable entrepreneurship
• The impact of noise pollution on urban wildlife and their acoustic communication
• The impact of climate change on alpine ecosystems and their services
• The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable agriculture and food systems
• The impact of deforestation on soil carbon stocks and their effects on climate change
• The impact of climate change on wetland methane emissions and their contribution to greenhouse gas concentrations
• The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable forestry and timber production
• The impact of plastic pollution on marine mammal populations and their health
• The impact of climate change on marine fisheries and their sustainable management
• The effectiveness of green investment in promoting sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation
• The impact of noise pollution on bat populations and their behavior
• The impact of climate change on permafrost thaw and its effects on Arctic ecosystems
• The impact of deforestation on ecosystem services provided by sacred groves
• The impact of climate change on tropical cyclones and their impacts on coastal ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green technology transfer in promoting sustainable agriculture and food systems
• The impact of plastic pollution on benthic macroinvertebrate populations and their ecosystem roles
• The impact of climate change on freshwater invertebrate populations and their ecosystem roles
• The effectiveness of green tourism in promoting sustainable wildlife tourism practices
• The impact of noise pollution on amphibian populations and their communication
• The impact of climate change on mountain ecosystems and their biodiversity
• The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable agriculture and food systems
• The impact of deforestation on indigenous peoples’ food security and nutrition
• The impact of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions and their ecosystem roles
• The impact of plastic pollution on freshwater ecosystems and their services
• The impact of climate change on oceanic currents and their effects on marine ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green investment in promoting sustainable transportation infrastructure
• The impact of noise pollution on human sleep quality and mental health
• The impact of climate change on marine viruses and their effects on marine life
• The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable packaging and waste reduction
• The impact of deforestation on ecosystem services provided by riparian forests
• The impact of climate change on insect-pollinated crops and their yields
• The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable waste management
• The impact of plastic pollution on estuarine ecosystems and their services
• The impact of climate change on groundwater recharge and aquifer depletion
• The effectiveness of green education in promoting sustainable tourism practices
• The impact of climate change on coral reefs and their biodiversity
• The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable clothing and textile production
• The impact of deforestation on riverine fish populations and their fishery-dependent communities
• The impact of climate change on mountain water resources and their availability
• The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable tourism accommodations
• The impact of plastic pollution on deep-sea ecosystems and their biodiversity
• The impact of climate change on sea-level rise and its effects on coastal ecosystems and communities
• The effectiveness of green energy policies in promoting renewable energy production
• The impact of noise pollution on human cardiovascular health
• The impact of climate change on biogeochemical cycles in marine ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable personal care and cosmetic products
• The impact of deforestation on carbon sequestration and its effects on climate change
• The impact of climate change on wildfire frequency and severity
• The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable energy-efficient technologies
• The impact of plastic pollution on beach ecosystems and their tourism potential
• The impact of climate change on marine mammals and their habitat range shifts
• The effectiveness of green urban design in promoting sustainable and livable neighborhoods
• The impact of noise pollution on urban human and wildlife communities
• The impact of climate change on soil microorganisms and their roles in nutrient cycling
• The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable electronics and e-waste management
• The impact of deforestation on watershed services and their effects on downstream ecosystems and communities
• The impact of climate change on human migration patterns and their impacts on urbanization
• The effectiveness of green investment in promoting sustainable water management and infrastructure
• The impact of plastic pollution on seabird populations and their nesting success
• The impact of climate change on ocean acidification and its effects on marine ecosystems
• The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
• The impact of noise pollution on terrestrial carnivore populations and their communication
• The impact of climate change on snow and ice dynamics in polar regions
• The effectiveness of green tourism in promoting sustainable cultural heritage preservation
• The impact of deforestation on riverine water quality and their effects on aquatic life
• The impact of climate change on forest fires and their ecological effects
• The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable home appliances and energy use
• The impact of plastic pollution on marine invertebrate populations and their ecosystem roles
• The impact of climate change on soil erosion and its effects on agricultural productivity
• The effectiveness of green procurement in promoting sustainable construction materials and waste reduction
• The impact of noise pollution on marine mammal populations and their behavior
• The impact of climate change on ocean circulation and its effects on marine life
• The effectiveness of green investment in promoting sustainable forest management
• The impact of deforestation on medicinal plant populations and their traditional uses
• The impact of climate change on wetland ecosystems and their carbon storage capacity
• The effectiveness of green urban planning in promoting sustainable and resilient cities
• The impact of plastic pollution on seabed ecosystems and their biodiversity
• The effectiveness of green certification in promoting sustainable palm oil production
• The impact of noise pollution on bird populations and their communication
• The impact of climate change on freshwater quality and its effects on aquatic life
• The effectiveness of green labeling in promoting sustainable food packaging and waste reduction
• The impact of deforestation on streamflow and its effects on downstream

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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.

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Experimental Ecology

Ecology—the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment—is a wide-ranging area of research. Technological progress and data sharing are increasingly enabling ecologists to carry out observational studies at unprecedented large scales. Yet, experimental ecology remains needed to address questions in both basic and applied research. Manipulative experiments are key to testing ecological hypotheses and validating causal relationships, providing us with insights needed to tackle the growing environmental and biodiversity challenges that the world faces. Therefore, the editors of Nature Communications , Communications Biology , Communications Earth & Environment and Scientific Reports invite submissions of papers highlighting the contributions that can be made with experimental ecology.

To be considered for this Collection, the research can come from any branch of ecology, but should have a major focus on experimental findings. The variety of experiments in ecology matches that of the systems and questions to which they are applied, from laboratory microcosm studies to experimental forests the size of cities. Some experimentalists are capitalising on, and contributing to, technical advances that enable experimental manipulations and measurements at ever finer scales. Meanwhile, transnational collaborations have resulted in standardized distributed experiments across geographically distant sites. Experiments can also be designed to complement observational studies, or to bridge the gap between rigorous but artificial controlled experiments and realistic but “messy” quasi-experimental studies.

All participating journals except Scientific Reports also welcome Reviews, Perspectives, and Comments.

• Collection content
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• About this Collection

Effects of plant diversity on productivity strengthen over time due to trait-dependent shifts in species overyielding

Species-rich plant communities often have higher productivity than monocultures. Here, the authors analyse biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiments in grasslands and forests and find that the biodiversity effects on community productivity strengthen over time thanks to shifts in contributions of species with different resource acquisition traits.

• Liting Zheng
• Kathryn E. Barry
• Yann Hautier

Inverse relationship between species competitiveness and intraspecific trait variability may enable species coexistence in experimental seedling communities

Intraspecific trait variation could influence competitive interactions among species. Here, the authors show that higher intraspecific variation in seedling traits and performance may enable competitively inferior plant species to coexist with competitively superior species.

• Guochun Shen

Whole-soil warming leads to substantial soil carbon emission in an alpine grassland

This study demonstrates that future whole-soil warming has a much stronger effect on soil carbon emission in the alpine grassland ecosystem than what is estimated by previous warming experiments which only warm surface soils mostly.

• Wenkuan Qin

Multiple anthropogenic pressures eliminate the effects of soil microbial diversity on ecosystem functions in experimental microcosms

It is unclear whether the positive effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning are maintained under multifaceted anthropogenic disturbance. In this experiment, the authors show that multiple simultaneous stressors can negate the positive effect of microbial diversity on soil functions.

• Gaowen Yang
• Masahiro Ryo
• Matthias C. Rillig

Heterogeneity within and among co-occurring foundation species increases biodiversity

Species interactions that can enhance habitat heterogeneity such as facilitation cascades of foundation species have been overlooked in biodiversity models. This study conducted 22 geographically distributed experiments in different ecosystems and biogeographical regions to assess the extent to which biodiversity is explained by three axes of habitat heterogeneity in facilitation cascades.

• Mads S. Thomsen
• Andrew H. Altieri
• Gerhard Zotz

Ecological memory of recurrent drought modifies soil processes via changes in soil microbial community

Legacies of past ecological disturbances are expected but challenging to demonstrate. Here the authors report a 10-year field experiment in a mountain grassland that shows ecological memory of soil microbial community and functioning in response to recurrent drought.

• Alberto Canarini
• Hannes Schmidt
• Andreas Richter

Variable food alters responses of larval crown-of-thorns starfish to ocean warming but not acidification

Variable food supply in future ocean conditions is shown to affect the growth and development of Acanthaster sp. starfish larvae, suggesting that the success of this species under ocean warming may depend on the abundance of its phytoplankton prey.

• Benjamin Mos
• Naomi Mesic
• Symon A. Dworjanyn

Artificial lighting affects the landscape of fear in a widely distributed shorebird

Eurasian curlew are less willing to take off in low-light, an effect largely governed by light pollution. Artificial light at night appears to cause birds to trade off risky low-light flight against predation risk and foraging opportunities.

• Juho Jolkkonen
• Kevin J. Gaston
• Jolyon Troscianko

Streamflow decreases in response to acid deposition in a subtropical forest watershed in China

Acid deposition promotes short-term plant growth and transpiration, contributing to increase evapotranspiration by 54.9% and reduce streamflow by 51.6% in a subtropical watershed in China, according to 10-year acid addition experiment and 20-years of watershed monitoring data.

• Linhua Wang
• Matthew Lanning

Continuous decrease in soil organic matter despite increased plant productivity in an 80-years-old phosphorus-addition experiment

Several decades of tillage drives continual decreases in soil organic carbon, nitrogen and organic phosphorus with mean carbon transit times in soils estimated at less than 10 years despite increased plant productivity, suggest chemical analyses of European cropland soils.

• Marie Spohn
• Sabina Braun
• Carlos A. Sierra

Experimentally increased snow depth affects high Arctic microarthropods inconsistently over two consecutive winters

• Eveline J. Krab
• Erik J. Lundin
• Elisabeth J. Cooper

Top-down control of planktonic ciliates by microcrustacean predators is stronger in lakes than in the ocean

• Xiaoteng Lu
• Thomas Weisse

Competition between the tadpoles of Japanese toads versus frogs

• Takashi Haramura
• Koshiro Eto
• Richard Shine

Negative plant-soil feedbacks disproportionally affect dominant plants, facilitating coexistence in plant communities

• Elias P. Goossens
• Vanessa Minden
• Harry Olde Venterink

Perspective

Reduced predation pressure as a potential driver of prey diversity and abundance in complex habitats

• Chia-chen Chang
• Peter A. Todd

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Methods article, how to integrate experimental research approaches in ecological and environmental studies: anaee france as an example.

• 1 Station of Experimental and Theoretical Ecology, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Paul Sabatier University, Moulis, France
• 2 INRA, UMR UAPV-INRA EMMAH, Centre PACA, Avignon, France
• 3 Centre de Recherche en Écologie Expérimentale et Prédictive (Ecotron IleDeFrance), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, PSL Research University, UMS 3194, Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
• 4 INRA, UR P3F, Centre Poitou-Charentes, Lusignan, France
• 5 Plateforme Biochem-Env, UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
• 6 INRA, UAR 1275 EFPA, Centre de Nancy, Champenoux, France
• 7 INRA, URFM, Centre PACA, Avignon, France
• 8 Ecotron Européen de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France
• 9 INRA, UR BEF, Centre de Nancy, Champenoux, France

Human activities have altered continental ecosystems worldwide and generated a major environmental crisis, prompting urgent societal questions on how to best produce goods while at the same time securing sustainable ecological services and raising needs to better understand and predict biodiversity and ecosystems dynamics under global changes. To tackle these questions, experimentation on ecosystems is necessary to improve our knowledge of processes and to propose scientifically sound management strategies. Experimental platforms able to manipulate key factors of global change and including state of the art observation methodologies are available worldwide but how to best integrate them has been rarely addressed. Here, we present and discuss the case of the national research infrastructure AnaEE France dedicated to the study of continental ecosystems and designed to congregate complementary experimental approaches in order to facilitate their access and use through a range of distributed and shared services. The conceptual design of AnaEE France includes five modules. Three modules gather experimental facilities along a gradient of experimental control ranging from highly controlled Ecotron facilities, semi-natural field mesocosms to in natura experimental sites covering major continental ecosystems (forests, croplands, grasslands, and lakes). In addition, AnaEE France also includes shared instruments that can be implemented in experiments and analytical platforms specifically dedicated to environmental biology. To promote reuse of data, generalize results and improve predictive models, AnaEE France further gathers modeling and information systems. The implementation of AnaEE France allowed for mutual synergies, improved the technical skills, stimulated new experiments and helped our scientific community to enter into the big data sharing era.

Introduction

Ecosystems provide key ecological services to human societies including provisioning services (e.g., biomass production) and the regulation of climate conditions and element cycles ( Balmford and Bond, 2005 ; Cardinale et al., 2012 ). Human activities are the direct or indirect cause of various environmental pressures, including pollution, global warming, or the degradation of natural habitats ( Vitousek et al., 1997 ; Pereira et al., 2010 ). Altogether, this has caused a rapid erosion of biodiversity and a major perturbation of most ecological systems and services, at the same time as increasing demands for food and energy and stronger competition for land and water use are expected in the near future ( Howden et al., 2007 ; Ehrlich and Harte, 2015 ). Understanding ecological responses to global changes, and identifying possible mitigation or adaptation strategies are therefore becoming a crucial component of the research agenda (e.g., Olesen et al., 2011 ; Mooney et al., 2013 ).

Ecological studies indicate that living organisms are crucial drivers of ecosystem processes, hence pointing toward studies that address how biodiversity and ecosystems respond and eventually adapt ( Loreau, 2010 ). To understand and predict ecosystem responses to a changing world, four scientific challenges of biodiversity research must be addressed. At the species level, we need first to understand phenotypic flexibility in response to environmental changes. When it comes to understand phenotypic variation, evolutionary theory begs for the simultaneous study of genetic factors, physiological trade-offs (i.e., the concurrent use of energy and resources by different traits) and developmental plasticity (i.e., the ability of a genotype to exhibit different phenotypes in different environments) since this is the only way to account for the interplay between genetic and non-genetic factors (e.g., Schlichting and Pigliucci, 1998 ; Vandenkoornhuyse et al., 2010 ). Second, studying the momentous impacts of biotic interactions on ecosystems dynamics entails detailed investigations of trophic and non-trophic interactions, which is a major challenge in the field of biodiversity science that attempts to predict the relationship between biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems, including biogeochemical cycles ( Hooper et al., 2005 ). Third, one fundamental aspect of living organisms is their ability to evolve by means of natural selection. Recent empirical studies in natural populations have shown that, provided genetic variability is sufficiently high, selection can sometimes be fast enough to interact with ecological processes ( Post and Palkovacs, 2009 ). Thus, natural selection could alter the speed at which ecological systems respond to global changes if the genetic variation is not exhausted too quickly by such changes ( Gonzalez et al., 2013 ). Fourth, how landscape features, such as habitat fragmentation ( Legrand et al., 2017 ), interact with ecosystem dynamics, and especially with biogeochemical cycles, remains to be understood ( Thompson et al., 2017 ).

Experimental approaches in ecology provide one of the best mean to achieve these goals ( Schoener, 1983 ), although they have sometimes been criticized due to their lack of generality and limited spatial and temporal scales (e.g., Carpenter, 1996 ; Schindler, 1998 ). The use of experimental approaches in ecology and environmental sciences increased as a way to test predictions of the core theoretical concepts of population biology, population genetics, evolutionary biology, ecosystem science and food web theory, which arose in the 1960s ( Begon et al., 1996 ). Now that modeling and analytical progresses lead to better and more accurate understanding and prediction of matter and energy processes through interdisciplinary approaches (e.g., Bashkin, 2002 ), a major focus in ecological sciences is on the production of quantitative, experimentally testable approaches using advances in our ability to characterize better the influence and cascading effects of heterogeneity at lower levels on higher levels of complexity (from genes to ecosystems, see Loreau, 2010 ). This challenge strongly urges the need for building novel, collaborative experimental infrastructures since no single effort will be able to provide us the necessary set of tools and data to solve interdisciplinary questions in our research community.

Up to now, most attempts to build generic experimental facilities have been strongly scale and approach specific, and little effort has been made to promote complementarities among experimental facilities in terms of replication, scales of approaches, levels of complexity, types of ecosystem, data management and modeling, as well as methods and tools for assessing biodiversity and ecosystem matter fluxes ( Blanchfield et al., 2009 ; but see Stokstad, 2011 ). We propose here that the implementation of a network of experimental facilities cannot solely copy and paste from the success stories of observatory networks in our discipline, which have been reviewed elsewhere (e.g., Lindenmayer et al., 2012 ; Peters et al., 2014 ). Although complementary to observations, the logic behind experiments involves different constraints and opportunities, and thus calls for different solutions. The aim of this manuscript is therefore to provide a framework for the development of a network of experimental facilities open to a research community studying ecosystems' biology and ecology. This framework will be illustrated by the case of the Research Infrastructure (RI) AnaEE France, which is a set of open-access platforms offering services to experiment on, analyse, and model ecosystems ( Mougin et al., 2015 ).

Current Networking Efforts in Environmental Sciences and Ecology

The large spatial and long temporal scales of global change impacts on ecological systems implies that results from site-based research must be scaled up in order to predict ecological processes operating on yearly to century time scales at a continent scale or even more ( Peters et al., 2014 ). Local ecological observations have proved to be essential for studying diverse ecological phenomena such as plankton or terrestrial plant successions, cyclic predator-prey population dynamics or lake eutrophication ( Magnuson, 1990 ). Some of the longest term observations started very early: for example, records in lake Suwa in Japan began in 1443 and those of the Anagara River in Siberia began in 1720 ( Magnuson et al., 2000 ). However, long-term ecological research per se was initiated in the Rothamsted experimental farm in England in 1843 ( Taylor, 1989 ), and it has flourished since then (reviewed by Clutton-Brock and Sheldon, 2010 for population studies). Most of these long term observations were not performed in coordinated networks until recently, preventing any straightforward comparisons across time and space by lack of harmonization and/or standardization of scientific practices ( Peters et al., 2014 ). Efforts have been made in the last decades to develop dedicated observation networks (e.g., Lindenmayer et al., 2012 ). To achieve this goal, key milestones includes (1) the selection of existing or de novo construction of observational sites such that several ecosystem types can be studied and compared; (2) the standardization of existing methods to collect data across sites; and (3) the development of tools for prediction, databases, and a centralized policy management ( Baker et al., 2000 ).

Among existing infrastructures, LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) is funded since 1980 and gathers 24 long-term study sites in USA encompassing diverse continental and oceanic ecosystems ( Baker et al., 2000 ). More recent initiatives include ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System, http://www.icos-infrastructure.eu/ ) dedicated to the monitoring of greenhouse gases budgets in 12 European countries since 2008 ( Ciais et al., 2014 ), NEON (the National Ecological Observatory Network) designed to provide long-term ecological data on the US continental scale since 2012 ( Kampe et al., 2010 ; Kao et al., 2012 ), and TERN ( http://www.tern.org.au ) contributing since 2008 to deliver observation data on all Australian ecosystems ( Lindenmayer et al., 2012 ). Other networks aim at understanding specific ecosystem types such as GLEON (Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network; http://gleon.org ), which is a grassroots network of limnologists, ecologists, information technology experts, and engineers who have a common goal of building a scalable, persistent network of lake ecology observatories ( Weathers et al., 2013 ).

Most of the above mentioned coordinated networks are devoted to observational studies and do not include experimental designs and experimental sites, and most experimental approaches are not commonly conducted at the same spatial and temporal scales than observational programs ( Pinto et al., 2014 ). Some long-term experiments have been done for example on ecosystems fragmentation ( Brudvig et al., 2015 ) or forest dynamics (e.g., Magill et al., 2004 ), but they were usually not coordinated. A notable exception is the nutrient network experiment (NUTNET), which is a collaborative project at more than 40 grassland sites across North America, Europe, Australia, South America, Asia, and Africa, http://www.nutnet.umn.edu/home ) to perform identical field experiments. NutNet is a unique effort to establish a general understanding of how fertilization (e.g., nitrogen or phosphorus runoff) and herbivory jointly control plant communities and ecosystem services ( Stokstad, 2011 ). The case of the Experimental Lake Area (ELA) in Ontario should also be mentioned (see Blanchfield et al., 2009 ). Since it was created in 1968, more than 50 experiments were conducted at the ELA ranging in duration from several years to more than four decades. Through its ability to conduct whole-ecosystem experiments, this network has helped to understand many environmental concerns such as algal blooms associated with eutrophication, the effects of acid rains on lakes, the environmental impacts of aquaculture and dam development, or the effects on synthetic hormones on fish.

In parallel to this, laboratory experiments were performed since the beginning of modern ecological sciences (for example see Park, 1962 ), but most were uncoordinated among each other as well as with experiments done in semi-natural or natural conditions ( Schoener, 1983 ). Laboratory or field experiments were designed for a single researcher-question approach and have been extremely successful, but they were not meant to be repeated by other researchers or to be used to respond to wider set of questions. Important initiatives that span multiple research questions exist and include for example the Silwood Park Ecotron dedicated to biodiversity research ( Lawton, 1996 ), the Cedar Creek long-term experiment ( Tilman et al., 2012 ), the Jena experiment ( Roscher et al., 2005 ), the Harvard Forest laboratory ( Stott, 1991 ), or the Landscape Earth Observatory ( Pangle et al., 2015 ). Yet, until very recently, there was little attempt to coordinate experimental research in the field of ecological and environmental sciences, and few examples of coordinated experimental projects. Below, we focus on a new French project called AnaEE France (Analysis and Experimentation on Ecosystems), which was initiated in parallel to the European project called AnaEE in an attempt to improve synergies and global impacts of experimental research in our discipline ( Chabbi and Loescher, 2017a ).

Main Objectives and Implementation of Ecosystem Experimental Research Infrastructure

Ecologists working on ecosystems have only recently recognized the necessity of network-based approaches for the building of common instrumentation and facilities ( Swanson and Sparks, 1990 ; Robertson et al., 2012 ; Peters et al., 2014 ). However, this approach has been rarely applied to experimental platforms ( Chabbi and Loescher, 2017a ). Clear advantages to gather a community around a distributed research infrastructure include (1) the improvement of integration and complementarities among experimental set-ups and instruments, and hence an increase in research efficiency, (2) a more inclusive and collaborative decision-making process to build new experimental facilities or abandon old fashioned ones, (3) the construction of information systems for the sharing of data and models, and (4) the optimization of funds. Here, we propose that the building of an experimental infrastructure in ecological sciences, such as our case study of AnaEE France, must respond to the three major challenges listed below and we suggest a method to do so based on the work done in France as well as the conclusions of a similar, ongoing integration process at the European level ( Chabbi et al., 2017b ).

Allowing for Integrative Study of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning

Ecosystems are characterized by four main essential characteristics. First, their dynamics are typically difficult to predict ( Scheffer and Carpenter, 2003 ; Pereira et al., 2010 ) due to, for example, tipping points, high sensitivity to initial conditions, or complex non-linear response curves. Second, most ecological processes are characterized by a strong spatial structure. Many living organisms have limited dispersal ability and display complex dispersal responses with respect to variation in the environment ( Clobert et al., 2012 ). Thus, some ecological processes cannot be understood properly if the spatial structure is ignored ( Peterson, 2000 ). Third, there is a strong functional heterogeneity among individuals, among species and among trophic levels which all have a major influence on the functioning and stability of ecosystems services ( Loreau, 2010 ). For example, inter-individual and inter-specific heterogeneity in plastic responses to social and physical environments are currently pointed out has having major effect on ecosystem functioning ( Jacob et al., 2015 ). Fourth, the interplay between the evolution of this biological diversity and ecological dynamics can be the key to predict the ecosystem state even on the short term ( Post and Palkovacs, 2009 ; Schoener, 2011 ). For example, global changes shift the state of the environmental, which leads to changes in the shape and strength of selection on individual and species traits and feedbacks into ecological dynamics ( Reiss et al., 2009 ). To account for these four essential properties, we acknowledge that integrated experimental set-ups should offer a high level of replication over multiple gradients of temporal and spatial scales and strong capacity to unravel complex biological processes.

Coping With Trade-Offs Imposed by the Size and Complexity of Experimental Units

Ecologists have developed experimental tools ranging from chemostats on a bench or complex climate chambers of Ecotrons to more or less complicated field set-ups. Such tools have been rarely taught in term of complementarities or in term of choosing the appropriate level of testability, replication, realism and multi-disciplinarity. Experimental approaches at small spatial and temporal scales (e.g., laboratory microcosms) offer a high degree of replication and environmental control, and are extremely powerful tools to validate general theories ( Caswell, 1988 ), but they might lack realism and complexity (Figure 1 , see Benton et al., 2007 ; Drake and Kramer, 2012 ). On the other hand, large scale, field experiments offer a high degree of natural complexity but are often poorly controlled and replicated ( Osmond et al., 2004 ; Leuzinger et al., 2011 ; Haddad et al., 2017 ). More complex, larger experimental set-ups also often allow for more multidisciplinary research programs, with some large-scale field experiments often congregating a wider community of users from ecology, geosciences or even social sciences. In addition, it has been suggested that small-scale experimental approaches have a stronger internal validity (i.e., a high certainty to attribute causal effects to a given set of factors) but often lack external validity (i.e., a lower generalization capacity, De Boeck et al., 2015 ). In between these two extreme scales, mesocosm approaches (semi-natural experimental facilities) are an oft-used solution to manipulate a few biotic and/or abiotic factors while leaving some natural fluctuations operating on the system ( Stewart et al., 2013 ). Technical and budgetary constraints impose a strong trade-off between replication power and biological complexity, and the environmental control and measurement capacity of experimental units (reviewed in Petersen et al., 1999 ; Stewart et al., 2013 ).

Figure 1 . The design of an experimental set-up typically involves several trade-offs. Here, experimental set-ups were arranged by size from small laboratory microcosms, highly controlled laboratory mesocosms inside Ecotrons, field mesoscosms and natural ecosystems. Control capacity describes the level of environmental control that the experimental set-up can offer and it typically decreases from enclosed, laboratory systems to natural ecosystems ( Petersen et al., 1999 ). Complexity defines the number of species, trophic levels or ecosystem types, as well as the spatial complexity in the environment, and it typically increases from laboratory to natural systems. Replication power is related to the maximum number of experimental units and, given budgetary and technical constraints, it decreases with the spatial scale and technological complexity of the experimental set-up. Internal validation defines the extent to which the experimental set-up can be used to test for a given theory and it trade-offs with theory evaluation as spatial scale increases ( De Boeck et al., 2015 ). Multidisciplinarity is the extent to which several disciplines can work together in the experimental set-up, and it increases on average with spatial scale ( Stewart et al., 2013 ).

Altogether, this implies (1) that not a single experimental set-up can optimize all components and we will need new experimental tools characterized by a capacity to somehow escape from technical and budgetary constraints ( Haddad, 2012 ), and that (2) the optimization of each component of the experimental set-up should be carefully thought given the ecosystem type, research question, and available technologies. More generally the novelty of experimental approaches will lie in both their possibility to recreate ill investigated ecosystems as well as enabling to study complex biotic and abiotic interactions with a high level of replication. Such experimental set ups are very costly and can only be programmed and managed by an entire scientific community. These new types of experimental set-ups will be key for speeding up research on ecosystems and addressing key scientific challenges.

Allowing for Feedback Loops Between Theory and Experimentation

Many theories have flourished in ecology during the last decades, but most have only been partially tested and some are even untested. Theory validation has been attempted in chemostats, Ecotrons, or in semi-natural conditions, but theory evaluation (i.e., assessment of the part of variance explained in the natural systems variation) still remains rare (Figure 1 , but see Schmid et al., 2002 ; Tilman et al., 2014 ). It is therefore urgent to organize experimental set-ups in such a way that they can be complementary and compatible with models and allow more efficient model-data interactions.

A Proposed Method

Challenges to develop experimental approaches spanning multiple scales, covering a range of processes and complexity, and tightly coupled with ecological models are multiple. A research infrastructure can cope with these challenges more easily than independent site-based approaches if it provides an efficient access to cutting edge experimental facilities and modeling tools, and if it facilitates the scientific process by offering fluent links between data collected in different experiments and models. We propose a method based on six key ingredients to achieve these overarching goals:

1. A selection of front edge resources including experimentation, analytical and data-models platforms . The core elements of the research infrastructure (RI) should include experimentation platforms ranging from highly controlled experimental setups to long term experiments in natural ecosystems but also analytical tools (dedicated to data acquisition) and information systems dedicated to data management, model implementation and experimentation-data-model integration. Each experimentation platform must present outstanding characteristics and a strong originality (see for example, Legrand et al., 2012 ; Verdier et al., 2014 ). In addition, each experimentation platform must be supported by a strong and skilled staff to perform high quality research. The RI will have the responsibility to manage the life cycle of all platforms by promoting new ideas, facilitating the construction of new platforms and evaluating their quality and management.

2. A standardized and centralized access policy to the platforms . Access to each platform must follow standardized procedures similar to the open-access policy recently adopted for data access and services should be open to both the academic and private sectors. The RI should be the appropriate entity to decide for shared procedures dedicated to project submission, pricing policy and data dissemination.

3. A standardized catalog of resources, data and models . The complex management and operation of the RI requires to describe each of its component using standardized metadata. This description includes the platforms themselves, the results of the experiments performed in each platform, and the models. The RI should provide strict metadata guidelines, make them semantically consistent and expose them in efficient querying interface for the discovery and access to the RI resources, data and models.

4. Harmonization of measurements and methods . In order to facilitate the handling of data of different origins and to ensure their comparability, the infrastructure should define a policy for the acquisition, processing and qualification of measurements. It is important to share and harmonize protocols. Harmonization implies to identify equipment, instruments and data, and may include a standardization of the protocols, for example standard procedures to use specific sensors. In particular, a procedure to design and describe experimental protocols must be adopted and shared.

5. Promoting data access and reuse . The infrastructure data policy has to contribute to the development of an open-science through the sharing and reuse of data from ecosystem studies. Intellectual property rules and data sets' identifiers must guarantee that most data produced by the RI platforms will be accessible and citable by the international research community. Data can be directly delivered by a database interface proper to the infrastructure, through web services or in modeling environments that integrate data in modeling activities.

6. Contributing to the agenda of the scientific community . The RI should attract a scientific community that shares an interest on the use of experimental platforms and their management. It is therefore a central place to foster discussions on a range of topics such as cutting edge science which can be done with the infrastructure, experimentation-model coupling, implementation of new technologies and data synthesis (see for example this review dedicated to fragmentation experiments produced by AnaEE France, Haddad et al., 2017 ).

The Case Study of AnaEE France

The RI AnaEE France was built according to the above methodology in order to join efforts from various French research organizations to upgrade and integrate existing experimental tools on ecosystems in France. During the last 25 years, we developed independently some experimental facilities in France to study various types of continental ecosystems. These facilities were usually built by single research teams without considering of their overall complementarities. The construction of AnaEE France thus involved a first step to define criteria for selecting among existing platforms followed by a second step to define a general and complementary organization and propose a central management plan. We discuss below each of these steps and conclude by showing the added values of the RI for the research community.

Selection and Organization of the Resources

Experimental facilities in AnaEE France focused on continental ecosystems (aquatic and terrestrial) and were selected for their originality, large community of users, and open access to the international research community. They were also chosen on the basis of their complementary tools and approaches to offer opportunities for scaling up and down from in vitro to in natura approaches within a unique infrastructure and with the same access rules, and to allow feedbacks between models and experiments. In order to compare data by using a common framework, and to use comparable measures and standards across platforms, we anticipated the need for a common set of analytical platforms and a common procedure for collecting data using the same instruments with a mobile laboratory. Thus, the distributed and coordinated network of experimental platforms of AnaEE France was associated with a selection of some analytical and modeling platforms.

Existing experimental platforms were first ranked along a control axis (Figure 2 ) leading to three categories of platforms including controlled environment facilities (Ecotrons), semi-controlled field mesocosms in which some environmental and biotic factors could be manipulated and field experiments with in natura ecosystems. Each experimental platform must allow for the simultaneous manipulation and monitoring of ecosystem processes through a multi-disciplinary approach (see Mougin et al., 2015 for more technical details on each platform type). Experimental platforms were selected based on their ability to manipulate a range of distinct, representative ecosystems types including forests, grasslands, croplands and aquatic ecosystems ( Mougin et al., 2015 ). In addition, we included analytical platforms offering tools to describe the most relevant biotic and abiotic conditions (including metabarcoding, Yang et al., 2014 ) and we designed a new e-service dedicated to data management and modeling. Modeling services were based on platforms hosting models and modules, offering model coupling facilities, direct access to the data and statistical tools (sensitivity analysis, parameter estimation, error assessment, output visualization). The modular structure of the proposed RI allowed for a better internal organization, but synergies between modules were promoted through regular workshops and meetings (see below). A full list of the services is summarized in Mougin et al. (2015) and is also available on a dedicated web site ( http://www.anaee-france.fr/ ).

Figure 2 . General organization of the experimental facilities along a gradient of size of the experimental set-ups complemented by analytical facilities, modeling platforms and information systems. The degree of control of environmental conditions diminishes from Ecotrons to field experiments (see Figure 1 ).

General Organization, Types of Services, and Access Policy

The first goal of the construction of the infrastructure was to build a coherent set of experimental, analytical and data-model platforms with respect to the different key conditions defined in sections Main objectives and Implementation of ecosystem experimental research infrastructure. The second goal was to ensure a smooth infrastructure management and an open access policy. We first defined the three main kinds of AnaEE France services, which include (1) access to experimental and analytical facilities, instruments, and modeling platforms; (2) access to archived samples and collections of biological resources; and (3) access to data sets. The two first kinds of services require matching the demands with the offers in terms of technical, financial and logistic needs, while the data access is regulated by a general license defining the rights and duties associated with the use of data. To implement the data access policy, users are asked to register and commit to properly cite the source and authorship of the downloaded data sets. We developed a single access point with updated information on services and fees, open calls for projects, and a review process to evaluate the scientific and technical relevance of proposed projects (see Figure 3 ). The general policy for access fees (i.e., the economic model of the RI) is to ask users to cover part of the running costs of the services for projects coordinated by academics and to charge additional fees corresponding to manpower and renewal of instruments for projects coordinated by private partners. Approved users are requested to sign an agreement with AnaEE France including information on data and patent protection, copyright and ownership. A core part of the general policy for access rules and fees is mandatory to all services but additional specificities can be included by each platform. Each platform has a dedicated panel of reviewers with peer-reviewers in charge of selecting projects and scheduling the access to the platform. The novelty of this approach is not only about the common rules related to access policy and data management but stands in the construction of unique web portal an data base dedicated to project submission and implementation (see Figure 4 ).

Figure 3 . Project submission procedure. The flow chart illustrates the standard project submission review and selection which includes either external review for funding or internal review when funding is not based on external, peer-review.

Figure 4 . Information system for the administration of AnaEE RI including dedicated web applications for project submission (Project Proposal Administration), project implementation (Experiment Design Event Measures) and data management (Management Analysis Sample). The diagram shows the flow path from project submission to data production and storage, and associated databases dedicated to project and exploitation metadata, database structure and raw data.

Information Systems

The AnaEE France information system is based on a distributed architecture gathering information about databases located in different centers, some modeling platforms and a portal for metadata and access to the resources (Figure 5 ). The databases information system was designed to store data, to make them available and to manage access rights. Two complementary systems were developed in parallel for the management of data generated by experimental platforms, including one dedicated to long-term experiments (i.e., decades) conducted with in natura platforms (accessible for instance at https://si-acbb.inra.fr for experiments on agrosystems) and one dedicated to short-term (i.e., months or years) research projects operated with Ecotrons and field mesocosms. Since the goal of the information systems for long term experiments is to deliver core data, tools were developed for on line data stream, the standardization of variables and metadata across platforms, data querying and the management of rights. For short-term experiments, a dedicated web application, called ISIA (Information System for Infrastructure Administration), was designed and implemented (see Figure 4 ). The aim of ISIA is to collect the information of the whole experimental cycle within a single environment and database including the project submission, the experimental design, the experimental protocols and the raw data. To identify all data available in the information systems, a web portal was developed. Thanks to semantically rigorous annotation, data can be found either from predefined filters or through open queries. To increase the functionalities of the modeling platforms and promote data reuse, web services were designed to transfer data from the information systems to the modeling platforms.

Figure 5 . The distributed architecture of the AnaEE-F information system includes a discovery catalog to access metadata information about platforms, datasets, or models, a portal to access metadata about observations or model variables including a semantic referential and an ontology, and a data repository to store digital object identifies (DOI) of data sets from information systems of in natura and mesocosm experiments. Data sets from experiments are linked with model factories to enable model parameterisation or data assimilation.

The annotation of resources using metadata (data about data) is a key to promote their discovery and reuse. When based on common standards, it directly contributes to build an efficient interoperability between raw data, models and experiments. Metadata is used in three main mechanisms including discovery (identification of the data sources that contain a given information), exploration (evaluation of the match between data and users' needs) and exploitation (use and access conditions of the data sources). Exploitation of metadata are usually managed within the data information systems, whereas discovery metadata are most frequently managed in a dedicated environment allowing compatibility with international standards and the harvesting by different catalogs (e.g., GEOBON at a global scale in the field of biodiversity research). We used two international metadata standards developed for environmental sciences and ecology: the geospatial metadata standard ISO19115/19139 compatible with the EU INSPIRE directive ( Anonymous, 2013 ), and the Ecological Metadata Language (EML, Fegraus et al., 2005 ). Currently, the description of all resources of AnaEE France ( http://w3.avignon.inra.fr/geonetwork_anaee ) follows uses of the GeoNetwork ( http://geonetwork-opensource.org/ ) software.

In addition to these standards, there are international initiatives to develop metadata standards such as OGC's Sensor Web Enablement (SWE) to implement data flow from sensors to web interface and a series of Metadata Language (e.g., SensorML) to describe sensors and associated data sets. However, these standards do not fix the vocabulary and semantic links between concepts, and there exist several initiatives led by different groups of ecologists, agronomists or geoscientists to develop thesaurus and ontologies. To fulfill our specific needs, we therefore developed our own semantic referential tools by using vocabularies derived from different existing thematic thesauri (GEMET, EnvThes, AGROVOC, TAXREF, etc.) and by collecting the vocabularies used in the different distributed platforms of the infrastructure. These terms were then gathered in an AnaEE France Thesaurus, which is supported by the VOCBENCH software and shared with the whole AnaEE community. The AnaEE thesaurus is publicly accessible through the AgroPortal semantic repository ( http://agroportal.lirmm.fr/ ; Jonquet et al., 2016 ). In order to provide an accurate description of data resources and to allow their interoperability with modeling platforms, existing databases and models were semantically annotated using ontologies. We used the OBOE ontology ( https://github.com/NCEAS/oboe/ ; Madin et al., 2007 ; Schildhauer et al., 2016 ) developed for scientific observations and measurements in ecology as the core element of our ontology. Extensions to OBOE are developed for the specific needs of AnaEE France and others thematic ontologies are also used such as wgs84_pos for spatially-located objects to describe their spatial patterns and SSN-SensorML to describe sensors and methods. The AnaEE ontology is developed using the Protégé collaborative software and will be accessible through AgroPortal as well.

Harmonization

Current monitoring, measurements and experimental protocols in AnaEE France are not standardized due to various historical, logistical or monitoring constraints. Substantial improvements are expected on the short-term in order to improve data traceability and facilitate comparisons across experiments. Harmonization of data and protocol description is an outcome of the use of the shared information systems, which provide an integrated, semantically correct and shared description of each data set. Standardization of protocols and measurements, including accuracy assessment, curation procedure and the use of shared instruments will be a key objective to improve data quality and make them comparable across datasets. For example, methodological developments are implemented on different platforms to improve methods as for soil moisture sensor calibration or soil gas sampling techniques. These studies can take advantage of the variety of sites contexts and newly improved methods can then be more quickly deployed in the different platforms.

Community Building Activities

AnaEE France involves a large technical and scientific community dedicated to the platform management (about 300 permanent staff) and a wide community of users (about 300–400 projects per year). The high technical skill, the variety of experimental approaches and the range of scientific domains addressed by the AnaEE France community give it the legitimacy to play a leading role in the scientific community on topics related to the experimentation on ecosystems and methodological developments. In AnaEE France, significant effort has been therefore paid for community building activities. Working groups on methodological issues most relevant for the development of the infrastructure have been established. These groups address topics about measurements and experimental protocol standardization, the development of new instruments or experimental set-ups, or the use of model organisms and ecosystems. For example, working groups were established to address some of them as for instance the review of concepts and methods to measure biodiversity, dedicated sensors, and tools to analyse and model biodiversity data.

The RI also raises opportunities to develop both training and teaching based on technologies and data available in all platforms. In AnaEE France, the infrastructure was used to organize and offer some training on best techniques or practices, and to foster or develop experiment-oriented teaching. Outreach activities were also developed for the general public. By their very nature, research infrastructures offer also other possibilities of developing synthesis works such as comparisons of ecosystem indicators or reviews of management practices. In the field of ecosystem science, an infrastructure can help developing general measures of the state of the environment such as CO 2 storage capacities, or tools to characterize and measure biodiversity. These tools can be made available to scientists as well as to public agencies and policy makers.

Performance Indicators and Some Examples

The RI AnaEE France was officially started at the end of 2011 and we have been producing summary statistics since then, which may indicate trends in the performance of experimental research tools over the last four years (Table 1 ). Since the beginning, financial and human support by our funding agencies has been steady (annual budget around 10 M€ and full-time equivalent manpower of about 145 persons), and most of the resources from the RI have been invested into the upgrading of existing platforms and the construction of new platforms (22 services including 3 newly constructed). At the same time, the leverage effect on regional and national funding programmes for associated platforms was important and in constant increase (from 2 to 5 M€) and the revenues secured from user fees and external projects increased from 0.2 to 1.4 M€ due to some average increase in occupancy rate, a new fee policy and an increase in the number of funded projects. A fairly high number of research projects was hosted each year with fluctuations caused by inter-annual changes in the average duration of each project. A reasonable number (20%) of projects involved foreign laboratories. In addition, we have importantly increased the use and re-use of data and models generated by each service (10 times increase after 4 years). This was accompanied by an increase in the number of publications including technical publications, and in the performance statistics of training activities. Current efforts will continue to raise the number of private sectors projects, improve further harmonizing of measurements and methods, and deploy the newly developed information systems.

Table 1 . Performance indicators of AnaEE France since its construction in 2011.

Examples of remarkable, recent studies conducted in AnaEE France include experiments on climate change usually difficult to perform within the realm of a single laboratory. For example, collaborations between in natura and Ecotrons platforms make it possible to conduct short-term climate simulation experiments on intact pieces of soil-plant ecosystems extracted from long-term study sites. Using this approach, Roy et al. (2016) recently uncovered that elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations predicted for the future should compensate the negative effect of a summer drought stress on grasslands, and therefore influences the resilience to warming of this ecosystem. Such extreme weather events are also predicted to increase extinction risks of numerous species on earth, but large scale experimental demonstration are missing and it remains unknown if species can compensate climate warming by means of dispersal ( Sinervo et al., 2010 ). Recently, an experiment performed in one AnaEE France platform (see Legrand et al., 2012 ) allowing joint manipulations of climate conditions and habitat fragmentation was able to show that neither dispersal nor acclimation can prevent the rapid extinction of lizard populations by 2050 with a further 2.5°C increase in mean temperature ( Bestion et al., 2015a , b ).

Conclusion and Perspectives

There are still too few attempts to network together relevant experimental facilities from the same country in the scientific fields of biodiversity, agronomy and ecology. Learning from grand challenges in ecological research, we propose guidelines for the construction and operation of such a research infrastructure. In the case of AnaEE France, experimental set-ups were selected from a range of control capacity and a capacity to handle a representative set of ecosystem types. The infrastructure included analytical and modeling platforms, and dedicated information systems. Standardized methods and practices, solutions for data storing and access, modeling platforms, and training activities were developed to increase the quality of all services and promote synergies among existing platforms. Experimental set-ups and services usually have a limited lifetime. By organizing the life cycle of platforms together with the financial bodies, it is expected that a long term sustained and optimized effort in progressing in the understanding of ecosystems and the management of ecological services will be initiated in France. Now in its fifth year of life, AnaEE France is fulfilling its initial objectives and the number of projects and researchers using these services is encouraging.

Experimental infrastructures are not the only tools which have to be developed in a coordinated way to optimize research in the ecology-environment domain. Long term observations of ecosystems and socio-ecosystems are other important infrastructures, and well-established observational networks do exist. Links between experimental and observational infrastructures should be established or strengthened if they already exist because they will generate synergies and enable better dialog between observational and experimental approaches in our field. Such an effort is a key objective to address pressing questions about the state and future of ecosystems.

Author Contributions

JC, AnC, J-FL, AbC, TC, ML, CM, CP, JR, and LS-A conceived the infrastructure. JC, AnC, J-FL, and AbC conceived the general structure of the AnaEE-France infrastucture with the help of TC, ML, CM, CP, JR, and LS-A. JC, AnC, J-FL, and LG wrote the manuscript. TC, ML, CM, CP, JR, and LS-A helped reviewing different versions of the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge CNRS, INRA, Université Grenoble Alpes and colleagues from AnaEE France for their support. Cécile Callou and Aurélien Maire coordinated the construction of the ISIA software and helped draw Figure 4 in this paper. AnaEE France is a project supported under the program Investissements d'Avenir launched by the French government and implemented by ANR with the reference ANR-11-INBS-0001.

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Keywords: research infrastructure, experimentation, continental ecosystems, global changes, environmental sciences, open-access platforms, modeling, data management

Citation: Clobert J, Chanzy A, Le Galliard J-F, Chabbi A, Greiveldinger L, Caquet T, Loreau M, Mougin C, Pichot C, Roy J and Saint-André L (2018) How to Integrate Experimental Research Approaches in Ecological and Environmental Studies: AnaEE France as an Example. Front. Ecol. Evol . 6:43. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00043

Received: 19 January 2017; Accepted: 03 April 2018; Published: 20 April 2018.

Reviewed by:

Copyright © 2018 Clobert, Chanzy, Le Galliard, Chabbi, Greiveldinger, Caquet, Loreau, Mougin, Pichot, Roy and Saint-André. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Jean Clobert, [email protected]

† These authors have contributed equally to this work.

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Environmental Issues Research Paper Topics

Designed to serve as a comprehensive guide for students, this page provides a wide array of environmental issues research paper topics . Whether you are just starting your course or are looking for a unique topic for your final project, you will find a wealth of ideas here. The topics are divided into ten categories, each featuring ten distinct research ideas, offering a diverse range of issues to explore. Additionally, you will find expert advice on how to select a suitable topic and how to write an impactful research paper on environmental issues. The page also introduces iResearchNet’s professional writing services, which can assist students in creating high-quality, custom research papers on any environmental issue.

100 Environmental Issues Research Paper Topics

The field of environmental science is vast and interrelated to so many other academic disciplines like civil engineering, law, and even healthcare. That is why it is imperative to create a comprehensive and engaging list of environmental issues research paper topics. These topics are not only necessary for your academic career, but they also provide valuable insights into the current state of our planet and the steps we can take to mitigate the adverse effects of human activities.

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Climate Change

• The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity
• Climate Change and Agriculture
• The Role of Renewable Energy in Mitigating Climate Change
• Climate Change and Public Health
• Climate Change and Migration
• Climate Change and Natural Disasters
• Climate Change and Water Resources
• Climate Change and Food Security
• Climate Change and Urbanization
• Climate Change and Marine Life

Air Pollution

• The Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health
• Air Pollution and Climate Change
• The Role of Transportation in Air Pollution
• Air Pollution and Ecosystems
• Indoor Air Pollution
• Air Pollution and Policy
• Air Pollution and Energy Production
• Air Pollution and Urban Planning
• Air Pollution and Agriculture
• Air Pollution and Waste Management

Water Pollution

• The Impact of Water Pollution on Marine Life
• Water Pollution and Human Health
• Industrial Waste and Water Pollution
• Water Pollution and Agriculture
• Water Pollution and Policy
• Water Pollution and Waste Management
• Water Pollution and Climate Change
• Water Pollution and Urbanization
• Water Pollution and Food Security
• Water Pollution and Biodiversity

Soil Erosion

• The Impact of Soil Erosion on Agriculture
• Soil Erosion and Climate Change
• Soil Erosion and Deforestation
• Soil Erosion and Urbanization
• Soil Erosion and Water Pollution
• Soil Erosion and Desertification
• Soil Erosion and Biodiversity
• Soil Erosion and Policy
• Soil Erosion and Land Management
• Soil Erosion and Food Security

Deforestation

• The Impact of Deforestation on Biodiversity
• Deforestation and Climate Change
• Deforestation and Soil Erosion
• Deforestation and Urbanization
• Deforestation and Agriculture
• Deforestation and Policy
• Deforestation and Land Management
• Deforestation and Indigenous Rights
• Deforestation and Water Cycle
• Deforestation and Carbon Cycle

Biodiversity Loss

• The Impact of Biodiversity Loss on Ecosystem Services
• Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change
• Biodiversity Loss and Agriculture
• Biodiversity Loss and Deforestation
• Biodiversity Loss and Urbanization
• Biodiversity Loss and Policy
• Biodiversity Loss and Invasive Species
• Biodiversity Loss and Extinction
• Biodiversity Loss and Conservation
• Biodiversity Loss and Genetic Diversity

Waste Management

• The Impact of Waste Management on Public Health
• Waste Management and Climate Change
• Waste Management and Policy
• Waste Management and Urbanization
• Waste Management and Water Pollution
• Waste Management and Soil Pollution
• Waste Management and Air Pollution
• Waste Management and Recycling
• Waste Management and Landfills
• Waste Management and Plastic Pollution

Energy Consumption

• The Impact of Energy Consumption on Climate Change
• Energy Consumption and Air Pollution
• Energy Consumption and Policy
• Energy Consumption and Urbanization
• Energy Consumption and Transportation
• Energy Consumption and Renewable Energy
• Energy Consumption and Fossil Fuels
• Energy Consumption and Energy Efficiency
• Energy Consumption and Economic Growth
• Energy Consumption and Lifestyle

Overpopulation

• The Impact of Overpopulation on Natural Resources
• Overpopulation and Climate Change
• Overpopulation and Urbanization
• Overpopulation and Food Security
• Overpopulation and Water Scarcity
• Overpopulation and Biodiversity Loss
• Overpopulation and Policy
• Overpopulation and Public Health
• Overpopulation and Migration
• Overpopulation and Social Inequality

Ozone Layer Depletion

• The Impact of Ozone Layer Depletion on Human Health
• Ozone Layer Depletion and Climate Change
• Ozone Layer Depletion and Marine Life
• Ozone Layer Depletion and Policy
• Ozone Layer Depletion and Air Pollution
• Ozone Layer Depletion and UV Radiation
• Ozone Layer Depletion and Agriculture
• Ozone Layer Depletion and Skin Cancer
• Ozone Layer Depletion and Eye Diseases
• Ozone Layer Depletion and Ecosystems

This comprehensive list of environmental issues research paper topics provides a wide range of areas to choose from for your research. The topics cover major environmental issues, from climate change and air pollution to biodiversity loss and overpopulation. Each of these topics can be explored from various angles, providing a rich source of ideas for your research paper. Remember, the key to a successful research paper is a well-defined topic and a clear focus.

Environmental Issues Research Guide

Welcome to the world of environmental science, a discipline that focuses on understanding and addressing the complex challenges our planet faces today. As our society becomes increasingly aware of the critical importance of environmental sustainability, the study of environmental science has gained immense significance. In this page, we delve into the realm of environmental issues research paper topics, providing students like you with a wealth of ideas, guidance, and resources to embark on impactful research journeys.

Environmental issues, ranging from climate change to biodiversity loss, deforestation, pollution, and resource depletion, pose serious threats to our planet’s well-being. The need for in-depth research, innovative solutions, and informed decision-making has never been more urgent. As students of environmental science, you have a unique opportunity to contribute to this field of study by conducting research papers that explore various aspects of environmental issues. These research papers serve as a platform for understanding the complexities of environmental problems and proposing viable solutions.

The purpose of this page is to empower you in your research endeavors by providing a comprehensive list of environmental issues research paper topics. We recognize that choosing a suitable research topic is a critical step in the research process, and it can significantly impact the outcome and relevance of your work. Moreover, we understand the challenges students face when trying to navigate the vast landscape of environmental issues and find a research topic that aligns with their interests and goals. That’s why we are here to offer expert advice and guidance to help you make informed decisions.

Whether you are a novice researcher exploring the world of environmental science or an experienced student seeking new avenues to expand your knowledge, this page is designed to cater to your needs. Our curated list of environmental issues research paper topics spans a wide range of categories, ensuring that you can find a topic that aligns with your specific interests and academic goals. Each topic has been carefully selected to reflect the current and pressing environmental challenges we face today, allowing you to delve into the intricacies and complexities of these issues.

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Choosing an Environmental Issues Topic

Choosing the right environmental issues research paper topic is crucial for conducting meaningful and impactful research. With such a broad and diverse field, it can be challenging to narrow down your focus and select a topic that aligns with your interests, academic goals, and the current state of environmental science. In this section, we provide expert advice and guidance to help you navigate the process of selecting environmental issues research paper topics. Here are ten valuable tips to consider:

• Identify your areas of interest : Begin by reflecting on your personal interests within the field of environmental science. Consider the environmental issues that resonate with you the most and align with your long-term career goals. Are you passionate about climate change, water pollution, biodiversity conservation, or sustainable energy? Identifying your areas of interest will guide you towards topics that you genuinely care about.
• Stay updated on current environmental challenges : Stay informed about the current environmental challenges and emerging issues. Environmental science is a dynamic field, constantly evolving as new research and discoveries emerge. Subscribe to reputable environmental journals, attend conferences, and follow reputable sources to stay up-to-date with the latest environmental issues and debates. This will help you choose topics that are relevant and address the pressing concerns of the time.
• Consider the scope and depth of research : Evaluate the scope and depth of research required for each potential topic. Some topics may require extensive data collection, fieldwork, or laboratory experiments, while others may rely more on literature review and theoretical analysis. Consider your available resources, time constraints, and access to relevant data or research materials when selecting a topic that is feasible within the given parameters.
• Explore interdisciplinary approaches : Environmental issues are often complex and interconnected, requiring interdisciplinary perspectives. Consider topics that allow you to explore the intersections of environmental science with other disciplines such as economics, sociology, policy studies, or public health. Interdisciplinary research can provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental challenges and offer innovative solutions.
• Assess the significance and impact : Evaluate the significance and potential impact of each research topic. Ask yourself: Does the topic address a critical environmental issue? Does it have the potential to contribute to the existing body of knowledge or influence environmental policy and decision-making? Choosing a topic with significant implications can enhance the relevance and importance of your research.
• Consider local and global contexts : Environmental issues can vary in their local and global contexts. Consider topics that have relevance and implications at both scales. Local environmental issues may involve studying the impact of pollution on a specific ecosystem or analyzing the effectiveness of local environmental policies. Global topics could encompass climate change, deforestation, or biodiversity loss and their implications on a global scale.
• Seek guidance from faculty and experts : Consult with your faculty members, advisors, or experts in the field of environmental science. They can provide valuable insights, suggest potential research topics, and guide you towards relevant literature and resources. Their expertise and experience can help you refine your research focus and identify unique research angles.
• Conduct a preliminary literature review : Before finalizing your topic, conduct a preliminary literature review to familiarize yourself with existing research and identify research gaps. This will enable you to identify topics that have not been extensively explored or provide new perspectives on existing issues. A thorough literature review will also help you develop a solid research question and methodology.
• Consider the ethical implications : Environmental research often raises ethical considerations. Reflect on the potential ethical implications associated with your research topic. Consider how your research may impact communities, ecosystems, or vulnerable populations. Ensure that your research design and methodology prioritize ethical standards and promote the well-being of the environment and human communities.
• Stay flexible and open to refinement : Lastly, remain flexible and open to refining your research topic throughout the research process. As you delve deeper into your research, new insights and perspectives may emerge, leading you to adjust your focus or narrow down your research question. Embrace the iterative nature of research and allow yourself the freedom to adapt and refine your topic as needed.

By considering these ten expert tips, you can choose environmental issues research paper topics that align with your interests, contribute to the field of environmental science, and make a meaningful impact. Remember, selecting the right topic is the first step towards conducting a successful and rewarding research study.

How to Write an Environmental Issues Research Paper

Writing an environmental issues research paper requires careful planning, organization, and attention to detail. It involves conducting thorough research, analyzing data, and presenting your findings in a clear and compelling manner. In this section, we provide expert advice and ten valuable tips to guide you through the process of writing an environmental issues research paper.

• Understand the research question and objectives : Begin by thoroughly understanding the research question and objectives of your paper. Clearly define the scope and purpose of your study, ensuring that it aligns with the overall theme of environmental issues. This clarity will help you stay focused and maintain a logical flow throughout your paper.
• Conduct comprehensive literature review : Before diving into your research, conduct a comprehensive literature review. Familiarize yourself with existing studies, theories, and methodologies related to your chosen environmental issue. This will provide a foundation of knowledge and help you identify research gaps or areas where your study can contribute.
• Develop a solid research methodology : Design a robust research methodology that aligns with your research question and objectives. Determine the appropriate data collection methods, such as surveys, interviews, field observations, or laboratory experiments. Consider the ethical implications of your research and ensure compliance with ethical guidelines.
• Collect and analyze data : Collect relevant data using your chosen research methods. Ensure data integrity and accuracy by using standardized data collection techniques. Analyze the data using appropriate statistical or qualitative analysis methods, depending on the nature of your research.
• Organize your paper effectively : Create a clear and logical structure for your research paper. Organize it into sections such as introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. Use headings and subheadings to guide the reader and make the paper easy to navigate.
• Write a compelling introduction : Begin your paper with an engaging introduction that provides background information on the environmental issue and highlights the significance of your research. Clearly state your research question or hypothesis and provide an overview of your methodology and key findings.
• Present your findings objectively : Present your research findings objectively, using appropriate data visualization techniques such as tables, graphs, or charts. Clearly interpret the results and explain their implications for the environmental issue you’re studying. Support your findings with references to relevant literature.
• Engage in critical analysis and discussion : Engage in critical analysis and discussion of your findings. Compare your results with existing research, highlight similarities, differences, or inconsistencies, and discuss possible reasons for these variations. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of your study and suggest areas for future research.
• Use clear and concise language : Communicate your ideas clearly and concisely. Avoid jargon and use plain language that is accessible to a wide audience. Define technical terms if necessary and ensure that your arguments and explanations are easy to follow.
• Craft a compelling conclusion : End your research paper with a strong conclusion that summarizes your key findings, reinforces the significance of your research, and suggests avenues for further exploration. Emphasize the implications of your study for addressing the environmental issue and provide recommendations for future actions or policies.

By following these ten expert tips, you can effectively write an environmental issues research paper that is well-structured, supported by solid evidence, and contributes to the field of environmental science. Remember to revise and proofread your paper for clarity, coherence, and grammar before submitting it for review.

Custom Research Paper Writing Services

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• Expert Degree-Holding Writers : Our writing team consists of expert degree-holding writers with extensive knowledge and experience in the field of environmental science. They possess the expertise to tackle complex environmental issues and deliver high-quality research papers.
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Research Topics in Bioactivity, Environment and Energy

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• Carlton A. Taft 0 ,
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Physics, Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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Departamento de Quimica, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil

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Part of the book series: Engineering Materials (ENG.MAT.)

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Evaluation and comparison of classical interatomic potentials through a user-friendly interactive web-interface

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Table of contents (27 chapters)

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Emerging Metal-Halide Perovskite Materials for Enhanced Solar Cells and Light-Emitting Applications

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SrTi1-xSnxO3 Thin Films as Photocatalysts for Organic Dye Degradation: Influence of the Composition, Deposition Method, and Growth Orientation

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Advances in the Synthesis and Applications of Self-Activated Fluorescent Nano- and Micro-Hydroxyapatite

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Spintronic Properties in Complex Perovskites: A Concordance Between Experiments and Ab-Initio Calculations

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Graphenylene-Like Structures as a New Class of Multifunctional Materials Alternatives to Graphene

• Nicolas F. Martins, Guilherme S. L. Fabris, Anderson R. Albuquerque, Ricardo Paupitz, Julio R. Sambrano

Computer Simulations of MOF Systems: Key Applications

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Advanced DFT Atomistic Approaches for Electronic, Optical, and Structural Properties of Semiconductor Oxides

• Sergio R. de Lazaro, Renan A. P. Ribeiro, Marisa C. Oliveira, Elson Longo

Computational Simulations to Predict the Morphology of Nanostructures and Their Properties

• José A. S. Laranjeira, Mateus M. Ferrer, Anderson R. Albuquerque, Carlos A. Paskocimas, Julio R. Sambrano, Guilherme S. L. Fabris

Unraveling the Surface Chemistry of the Heterogeneous Catalytic Decomposition of O3 for Selectivity Concerning O2 or HO• Formation

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Editors and Affiliations

Carlton A. Taft

Sergio R. de Lazaro

About the editors

Sergio Ricardo de Lazaro received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry 1999 and his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2006 from the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Since 2007 he is an adjunct professor of chemistry and materials science at the State University of Ponta Grossa (UFPG).  His research interests are in the field of computational chemistry, quantum chemistry, surface, morphology, magnetic oxides, ferroelectric, dielectric, superconductors, density functional theory (DFT) and applications of novel advanced materials from a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches. 

Prof. Dr Carlton Anthony Taft earned the Master of Science (Physics) in 1969 at the University of Illinois (USA), and the Ph.D. in Physics at the Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas (CBPF) in 1975. He was hired at CBPF in 1976 and worked his way up through the decades from assistant, associate to full professor. He works in multidisciplinaryareas with focus on theoretical–computational simulation physical/chemical/biological/engineering applications in molecular and material sciences.

80 sustainability research topics for students to explore green campus issues

You’re planning your thesis, paper or capstone? You want to do a student research project with impact. We have outlined a range of sustainability research topics for you. The list specifically focuses on how to green your campus . Take action to make your university more sustainable!

Our list of sustainability research topics helps students investigate green campus issues.

Sustainability research topics: Education

Some sustainability research topics on education for sustainable development :

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of different definitions of sustainability education? Which definition could your university adopt?
• To what extent is sustainability education already implemented in the curriculum of your university?
• What are the strengths and limitations of advancing sustainability education within your curriculum?
• Where does your university stand with regards to sustainability education compared to other institutions of higher education?
• What is the demand among students for more, different or better sustainability education?
• How can existing sustainability projects on campus be used for educational purposes, e.g. visit solar cells on rooftops as part of engineering classes?

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• What definition of sustainability research should your university embrace?
• To what extent is sustainability research already practised at your university?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the institution’s sustainability research portfolio compared to other institutions of higher education?
• What are the drivers of and barriers to sustainability research at your university?
• How could sustainability research help students to study sustainability issues on campus and inform practical change projects?
• What are the opportunities and costs associated with promoting sustainability research? What could a plan of action look like to strategically advance it?

Some sustainability research topics on community engagement and awareness:

• What are the perceptions of and attitudes towards sustainability by students and staff?
• What are ways to promote sustainable lifestyles among students?
• To what extent are students and staff aware of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ?
• How aware are students and staff about the institution’s sustainability ambitions?
• What are the benefits and disadvantages of approaches to communicate the university’s sustainability efforts better?
• What are the challenges to involve students and staff in the university’s sustainability efforts?
• Which ways to increase the engagement of the campus community exist, for example by organising sustainability events ?

For inspiration, read our post on 10 projects to engage students on the SDGs .

Explore sustainability topics for research papers on different issues related to greening campus operations:

• What are the opportunities and costs of improving the building insulations to save energy?
• What lighting systems exist on the market that are more energy efficient?
• What would a business case look like to install a new lighting system?
• Where are the main consumers of energy on campus?
• What innovative energy technologies are developed at the institution itself? To what extent could those be directly installed and tested in buildings?
• What lux values are sufficient for work and study places so that places are appropriately lit without wasting too much electricity?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of different sustainable building standards?
• Which building standards would be most appropriate to inform the institution’s sustainable building policy?
• What are the costs and benefits associated with different types of green roofs?
• On which buildings could green roofs be installed?
• To what extent are catering and food products certified as organic or fair trade food?
• How much and why do students attach importance to organic and fair trade products sold in the cafeteria?
• How can students and employees be made more aware of the multiple benefits – e.g. health, environment, economics – of sustainable (organic, fair trade, local) food ?
• How much are students willing to pay for more organic or fair trade products?
• What types and amounts of waste are produced by whom and where at the institution?
• How did waste streams develop over the last years?
• What are innovative practices in reducing waste going to landfill or incineration? How could those be applied?
• What are the costs and benefits associated with waste recycling ?
• What options exist to switch from paper-based to more digital forms of working and studying to reduce paper consumption?
• What are the environmental, economic, and social benefits and disadvantages of different options to advance more digital working and studying?

More sustainability research topics on campus operations:

Biodiversity

• What species live at different campus locations?
• To what extent do students, faculty and staff value this biodiversity?
• What are ways to enhance biodiversity on campus?

Greenhouse-gase (GHG)

• What are the pros and cons of different GHG accounting standards?
• Which standard should the institution use to develop a GHG emissions inventory ?
• Where are GHG emissions released at the institution?
• How big is the institution’s GHG footprint?

Procurement

• What does sustainable procurement mean in the context of a university?
• How is procurement currently organised? To what extent are sustainability criteria already applied in tenders?
• To what extent could the university implement sustainability criteria that go beyond the legal minimum to advance the environmental, economic and social benefits of tenders?
• What are the largest consumers of water?
• What is the direct and indirect water-footprint of the institution?
• What are opportunities and costs to reduce water usage?

Transportation and mobility

• How do students and staff currently travel to the university and as part of their study or work?
• What is the environmental impact of these travel behaviours? How could the impact be reduced?
• What best practices exist among companies and other institutions of higher education to reduce staff travel or incentivize different travel behaviours?

Behaviour change

• What is the potential to reduce resource consumption through behaviour change?
• What are the best practices of behaviour change interventions at institutions of higher education?
• To what extent could these projects be also applied at your university?

Sustainability research topics on governance, strategy and reporting

Sustainability research topics on governance issues:

• What does sustainability mean for institutions of higher education?
• How does a comprehensive concept of a sustainable institution of higher education look like?
• How could the university’s long-term sustainability vision look like? How could this vision be realized through a roadmap?
• What are innovative ways to develop sustainability strategies for a university through a bottom-up approach?
• What ethical imperatives would demand that institutions of higher education care for their impact on the planet, people and profit?
• What are the responsibilities of institutions of higher education to contribute to global challenges, such as poverty, gender inequality, and climate change?

Monitoring and reporting

• What data is important to monitor the institution’s environmental impact? How can this data be collected and analysed?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of different sustainability reporting standards?
• Which sustainability reporting standards should the university adhere to?
• What are efficient ways to organize sustainability reporting within the organization?
• What is the best way to communicate results among students, staff and outside actors?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies (e.g. payback or Net Present Value) to calculate the financial costs and benefits of sustainability investments?
• Which methodology should the institution apply?
• To what extent could sustainability projects be financed through a revolving loan fund?
• What are the possibilities to involve outside organizations through energy contracting?
• What subsidies are available at the European, national and city level to develop a green campus?
• How could the university use these financing options to advance its energy transition?
• What are approaches to integrate negative externalities into the accounting schemes of the university?
• What would be the opportunities, benefits and risks associated with establishing an energy company that’s owned by the university?
• What are the best practices to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at public institutions around the world?
• How can incentive schemes be changed so that energy end-users directly benefit from reductions in energy usage?

We hope this list inspired you to find a sustainability topic for research papers.

• 12 sustainability documentaries to educate yourself and get inspired
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200+ Experimental Quantitative Research Topics For STEM Students In 2023

STEM means Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, which is not the only stuff we learn in school. It is like a treasure chest of skills that help students become great problem solvers, ready to tackle the real world’s challenges.

In this blog, we are here to explore the world of Research Topics for STEM Students. We will break down what STEM really means and why it is so important for students. In addition, we will give you the lowdown on how to pick a fascinating research topic. We will explain a list of 200+ Experimental Quantitative Research Topics For STEM Students.

And when it comes to writing a research title, we will guide you step by step. So, stay with us as we unlock the exciting world of STEM research – it is not just about grades; it is about growing smarter, more confident, and happier along the way.

What Is STEM?

Table of Contents

STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It is a way of talking about things like learning, jobs, and activities related to these four important subjects. Science is about understanding the world around us, technology is about using tools and machines to solve problems, engineering is about designing and building things, and mathematics is about numbers and solving problems with them. STEM helps us explore, discover, and create cool stuff that makes our world better and more exciting.

Why STEM Research Is Important?

STEM research is important because it helps us learn new things about the world and solve problems. When scientists, engineers, and mathematicians study these subjects, they can discover cures for diseases, create new technology that makes life easier, and build things that help us live better. It is like a big puzzle where we put together pieces of knowledge to make our world safer, healthier, and more fun.

• STEM research leads to new discoveries and solutions.
• It helps find cures for diseases.
• STEM technology makes life easier.
• Engineers build things that improve our lives.
• Mathematics helps us understand and solve complex problems.

How to Choose a Topic for STEM Research Paper

Here are some steps to choose a topic for STEM Research Paper:

Step 1: Identify Your Interests

Think about what you like and what excites you in science, technology, engineering, or math. It could be something you learned in school, saw in the news, or experienced in your daily life. Choosing a topic you’re passionate about makes the research process more enjoyable.

Step 2: Research Existing Topics

Look up different STEM research areas online, in books, or at your library. See what scientists and experts are studying. This can give you ideas and help you understand what’s already known in your chosen field.

Step 3: Consider Real-World Problems

Think about the problems you see around you. Are there issues in your community or the world that STEM can help solve? Choosing a topic that addresses a real-world problem can make your research impactful.

Step 4: Talk to Teachers and Mentors

Discuss your interests with your teachers, professors, or mentors. They can offer guidance and suggest topics that align with your skills and goals. They may also provide resources and support for your research.

Step 5: Narrow Down Your Topic

Once you have some ideas, narrow them down to a specific research question or project. Make sure it’s not too broad or too narrow. You want a topic that you can explore in depth within the scope of your research paper.

Here we will discuss 200+ Experimental Quantitative Research Topics For STEM Students: 

Qualitative Research Topics for STEM Students:

Qualitative research focuses on exploring and understanding phenomena through non-numerical data and subjective experiences. Here are 10 qualitative research topics for STEM students:

• Exploring the experiences of female STEM students in overcoming gender bias in academia.
• Understanding the perceptions of teachers regarding the integration of technology in STEM education.
• Investigating the motivations and challenges of STEM educators in underprivileged schools.
• Exploring the attitudes and beliefs of parents towards STEM education for their children.
• Analyzing the impact of collaborative learning on student engagement in STEM subjects.
• Investigating the experiences of STEM professionals in bridging the gap between academia and industry.
• Understanding the cultural factors influencing STEM career choices among minority students.
• Exploring the role of mentorship in the career development of STEM graduates.
• Analyzing the perceptions of students towards the ethics of emerging STEM technologies like AI and CRISPR.
• Investigating the emotional well-being and stress levels of STEM students during their academic journey.

Easy Experimental Research Topics for STEM Students:

These experimental research topics are relatively straightforward and suitable for STEM students who are new to research:

•  Measuring the effect of different light wavelengths on plant growth.
•  Investigating the relationship between exercise and heart rate in various age groups.
•  Testing the effectiveness of different insulating materials in conserving heat.
•  Examining the impact of pH levels on the rate of chemical reactions.
•  Studying the behavior of magnets in different temperature conditions.
•  Investigating the effect of different concentrations of a substance on bacterial growth.
•  Testing the efficiency of various sunscreen brands in blocking UV radiation.
•  Measuring the impact of music genres on concentration and productivity.
•  Examining the correlation between the angle of a ramp and the speed of a rolling object.
•  Investigating the relationship between the number of blades on a wind turbine and energy output.

Research Topics for STEM Students in the Philippines:

These research topics are tailored for STEM students in the Philippines:

•  Assessing the impact of climate change on the biodiversity of coral reefs in the Philippines.
•  Studying the potential of indigenous plants in the Philippines for medicinal purposes.
•  Investigating the feasibility of harnessing renewable energy sources like solar and wind in rural Filipino communities.
•  Analyzing the water quality and pollution levels in major rivers and lakes in the Philippines.
•  Exploring sustainable agricultural practices for small-scale farmers in the Philippines.
•  Assessing the prevalence and impact of dengue fever outbreaks in urban areas of the Philippines.
•  Investigating the challenges and opportunities of STEM education in remote Filipino islands.
•  Studying the impact of typhoons and natural disasters on infrastructure resilience in the Philippines.
•  Analyzing the genetic diversity of endemic species in the Philippine rainforests.
•  Assessing the effectiveness of disaster preparedness programs in Philippine communities.

Read More 

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Good Research Topics for STEM Students:

These research topics are considered good because they offer interesting avenues for investigation and learning:

•  Developing a low-cost and efficient water purification system for rural communities.
•  Investigating the potential use of CRISPR-Cas9 for gene therapy in genetic disorders.
•  Studying the applications of blockchain technology in securing medical records.
•  Analyzing the impact of 3D printing on customized prosthetics for amputees.
•  Exploring the use of artificial intelligence in predicting and preventing forest fires.
•  Investigating the effects of microplastic pollution on aquatic ecosystems.
•  Analyzing the use of drones in monitoring and managing agricultural crops.
•  Studying the potential of quantum computing in solving complex optimization problems.
•  Investigating the development of biodegradable materials for sustainable packaging.
•  Exploring the ethical implications of gene editing in humans.

Unique Research Topics for STEM Students:

Unique research topics can provide STEM students with the opportunity to explore unconventional and innovative ideas. Here are 10 unique research topics for STEM students:

•  Investigating the use of bioluminescent organisms for sustainable lighting solutions.
•  Studying the potential of using spider silk proteins for advanced materials in engineering.
•  Exploring the application of quantum entanglement for secure communication in the field of cryptography.
•  Analyzing the feasibility of harnessing geothermal energy from underwater volcanoes.
•  Investigating the use of CRISPR-Cas12 for rapid and cost-effective disease diagnostics.
•  Studying the interaction between artificial intelligence and human creativity in art and music generation.
•  Exploring the development of edible packaging materials to reduce plastic waste.
•  Investigating the impact of microgravity on cellular behavior and tissue regeneration in space.
•  Analyzing the potential of using sound waves to detect and combat invasive species in aquatic ecosystems.
•  Studying the use of biotechnology in reviving extinct species, such as the woolly mammoth.

Experimental Research Topics for STEM Students in the Philippines

Research topics for STEM students in the Philippines can address specific regional challenges and opportunities. Here are 10 experimental research topics for STEM students in the Philippines:

•  Assessing the effectiveness of locally sourced materials for disaster-resilient housing construction in typhoon-prone areas.
•  Investigating the utilization of indigenous plants for natural remedies in Filipino traditional medicine.
•  Studying the impact of volcanic soil on crop growth and agriculture in volcanic regions of the Philippines.
•  Analyzing the water quality and purification methods in remote island communities.
•  Exploring the feasibility of using bamboo as a sustainable construction material in the Philippines.
•  Investigating the potential of using solar stills for freshwater production in water-scarce regions.
•  Studying the effects of climate change on the migration patterns of bird species in the Philippines.
•  Analyzing the growth and sustainability of coral reefs in marine protected areas.
•  Investigating the utilization of coconut waste for biofuel production.
•  Studying the biodiversity and conservation efforts in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

Capstone Research Topics for STEM Students in the Philippines:

Capstone research projects are often more comprehensive and can address real-world issues. Here are 10 capstone research topics for STEM students in the Philippines:

•  Designing a low-cost and sustainable sanitation system for informal settlements in urban Manila.
•  Developing a mobile app for monitoring and reporting natural disasters in the Philippines.
•  Assessing the impact of climate change on the availability and quality of drinking water in Philippine cities.
•  Designing an efficient traffic management system to address congestion in major Filipino cities.
•  Analyzing the health implications of air pollution in densely populated urban areas of the Philippines.
•  Developing a renewable energy microgrid for off-grid communities in the archipelago.
•  Assessing the feasibility of using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for agricultural monitoring in rural Philippines.
•  Designing a low-cost and sustainable aquaponics system for urban agriculture.
•  Investigating the potential of vertical farming to address food security in densely populated urban areas.
•  Developing a disaster-resilient housing prototype suitable for typhoon-prone regions.

Experimental Quantitative Research Topics for STEM Students:

Experimental quantitative research involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to conclude. Here are 10 Experimental Quantitative Research Topics For STEM Students interested in experimental quantitative research:

•  Examining the impact of different fertilizers on crop yield in agriculture.
•  Investigating the relationship between exercise and heart rate among different age groups.
•  Analyzing the effect of varying light intensities on photosynthesis in plants.
•  Studying the efficiency of various insulation materials in reducing building heat loss.
•  Investigating the relationship between pH levels and the rate of corrosion in metals.
•  Analyzing the impact of different concentrations of pollutants on aquatic ecosystems.
•  Examining the effectiveness of different antibiotics on bacterial growth.
•  Trying to figure out how temperature affects how thick liquids are.
•  Finding out if there is a link between the amount of pollution in the air and lung illnesses in cities.
•  Analyzing the efficiency of solar panels in converting sunlight into electricity under varying conditions.

Descriptive Research Topics for STEM Students

Descriptive research aims to provide a detailed account or description of a phenomenon. Here are 10 topics for STEM students interested in descriptive research:

•  Describing the physical characteristics and behavior of a newly discovered species of marine life.
•  Documenting the geological features and formations of a particular region.
•  Creating a detailed inventory of plant species in a specific ecosystem.
•  Describing the properties and behavior of a new synthetic polymer.
•  Documenting the daily weather patterns and climate trends in a particular area.
•  Providing a comprehensive analysis of the energy consumption patterns in a city.
•  Describing the structural components and functions of a newly developed medical device.
•  Documenting the characteristics and usage of traditional construction materials in a region.
•  Providing a detailed account of the microbiome in a specific environmental niche.
•  Describing the life cycle and behavior of a rare insect species.

Research Topics for STEM Students in the Pandemic:

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised many research opportunities for STEM students. Here are 10 research topics related to pandemics:

•  Analyzing the effectiveness of various personal protective equipment (PPE) in preventing the spread of respiratory viruses.
•  Studying the impact of lockdown measures on air quality and pollution levels in urban areas.
•  Investigating the psychological effects of quarantine and social isolation on mental health.
•  Analyzing the genomic variation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its implications for vaccine development.
•  Studying the efficacy of different disinfection methods on various surfaces.
•  Investigating the role of contact tracing apps in tracking & controlling the spread of infectious diseases.
•  Analyzing the economic impact of the pandemic on different industries and sectors.
•  Studying the effectiveness of remote learning in STEM education during lockdowns.
•  Investigating the social disparities in healthcare access during a pandemic.
• Analyzing the ethical considerations surrounding vaccine distribution and prioritization.

Research Topics for STEM Students Middle School

Research topics for middle school STEM students should be engaging and suitable for their age group. Here are 10 research topics:

• Investigating the growth patterns of different types of mold on various food items.
• Studying the negative effects of music on plant growth and development.
• Analyzing the relationship between the shape of a paper airplane and its flight distance.
• Investigating the properties of different materials in making effective insulators for hot and cold beverages.
• Studying the effect of salt on the buoyancy of different objects in water.
• Analyzing the behavior of magnets when exposed to different temperatures.
• Investigating the factors that affect the rate of ice melting in different environments.
• Studying the impact of color on the absorption of heat by various surfaces.
• Analyzing the growth of crystals in different types of solutions.
• Investigating the effectiveness of different natural repellents against common pests like mosquitoes.

Technology Research Topics for STEM Students

Technology is at the forefront of STEM fields. Here are 10 research topics for STEM students interested in technology:

• Developing and optimizing algorithms for autonomous drone navigation in complex environments.
• Exploring the use of blockchain technology for enhancing the security and transparency of supply chains.
• Investigating the applications of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in medical training and surgery simulations.
• Studying the potential of 3D printing for creating personalized prosthetics and orthopedic implants.
• Analyzing the ethical and privacy implications of facial recognition technology in public spaces.
• Investigating the development of quantum computing algorithms for solving complex optimization problems.
• Explaining the use of machine learning and AI in predicting and mitigating the impact of natural disasters.
• Studying the advancement of brain-computer interfaces for assisting individuals with
• disabilities.
• Analyzing the role of wearable technology in monitoring and improving personal health and wellness.
• Investigating the use of robotics in disaster response and search and rescue operations.

Scientific Research Topics for STEM Students

Scientific research encompasses a wide range of topics. Here are 10 research topics for STEM students focusing on scientific exploration:

• Investigating the behavior of subatomic particles in high-energy particle accelerators.
• Studying the ecological impact of invasive species on native ecosystems.
• Analyzing the genetics of antibiotic resistance in bacteria and its implications for healthcare.
• Exploring the physics of gravitational waves and their detection through advanced interferometry.
• Investigating the neurobiology of memory formation and retention in the human brain.
• Studying the biodiversity and adaptation of extremophiles in harsh environments.
• Analyzing the chemistry of deep-sea hydrothermal vents and their potential for life beyond Earth.
• Exploring the properties of superconductors and their applications in technology.
• Investigating the mechanisms of stem cell differentiation for regenerative medicine.
• Studying the dynamics of climate change and its impact on global ecosystems.

Interesting Research Topics for STEM Students:

Engaging and intriguing research topics can foster a passion for STEM. Here are 10 interesting research topics for STEM students:

• Exploring the science behind the formation of auroras and their cultural significance.
• Investigating the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy in the universe.
• Studying the psychology of decision-making in high-pressure situations, such as sports or
• emergencies.
• Analyzing the impact of social media on interpersonal relationships and mental health.
• Exploring the potential for using genetic modification to create disease-resistant crops.
• Investigating the cognitive processes involved in solving complex puzzles and riddles.
• Studying the history and evolution of cryptography and encryption methods.
• Analyzing the physics of time travel and its theoretical possibilities.
• Exploring the role of Artificial Intelligence  in creating art and music.
• Investigating the science of happiness and well-being, including factors contributing to life satisfaction.

Practical Research Topics for STEM Students

Practical research often leads to real-world solutions. Here are 10 practical research topics for STEM students:

• Developing an affordable and sustainable water purification system for rural communities.
• Designing a low-cost, energy-efficient home heating and cooling system.
• Investigating strategies for reducing food waste in the supply chain and households.
• Studying the effectiveness of eco-friendly pest control methods in agriculture.
• Analyzing the impact of renewable energy integration on the stability of power grids.
• Developing a smartphone app for early detection of common medical conditions.
• Investigating the feasibility of vertical farming for urban food production.
• Designing a system for recycling and upcycling electronic waste.
• Studying the environmental benefits of green roofs and their potential for urban heat island mitigation.
• Analyzing the efficiency of alternative transportation methods in reducing carbon emissions.

Experimental Research Topics for STEM Students About Plants

Plants offer a rich field for experimental research. Here are 10 experimental research topics about plants for STEM students:

• Investigating the effect of different light wavelengths on plant growth and photosynthesis.
• Studying the impact of various fertilizers and nutrient solutions on crop yield.
• Analyzing the response of plants to different types and concentrations of plant hormones.
• Investigating the role of mycorrhizal in enhancing nutrient uptake in plants.
• Studying the effects of drought stress and water scarcity on plant physiology and adaptation mechanisms.
• Analyzing the influence of soil pH on plant nutrient availability and growth.
• Investigating the chemical signaling and defense mechanisms of plants against herbivores.
• Studying the impact of environmental pollutants on plant health and genetic diversity.
• Analyzing the role of plant secondary metabolites in pharmaceutical and agricultural applications.
• Investigating the interactions between plants and beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere.

Qualitative Research Topics for STEM Students in the Philippines

Qualitative research in the Philippines can address local issues and cultural contexts. Here are 10 qualitative research topics for STEM students in the Philippines:

• Exploring indigenous knowledge and practices in sustainable agriculture in Filipino communities.
• Studying the perceptions and experiences of Filipino fishermen in coping with climate change impacts.
• Analyzing the cultural significance and traditional uses of medicinal plants in indigenous Filipino communities.
• Investigating the barriers and facilitators of STEM education access in remote Philippine islands.
• Exploring the role of traditional Filipino architecture in natural disaster resilience.
• Studying the impact of indigenous farming methods on soil conservation and fertility.
• Analyzing the cultural and environmental significance of mangroves in coastal Filipino regions.
• Investigating the knowledge and practices of Filipino healers in treating common ailments.
• Exploring the cultural heritage and conservation efforts of the Ifugao rice terraces.
• Studying the perceptions and practices of Filipino communities in preserving marine biodiversity.

Science Research Topics for STEM Students

Science offers a diverse range of research avenues. Here are 10 science research topics for STEM students:

• Investigating the potential of gene editing techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 in curing genetic diseases.
• Studying the ecological impacts of species reintroduction programs on local ecosystems.
• Analyzing the effects of microplastic pollution on aquatic food webs and ecosystems.
• Investigating the link between air pollution and respiratory health in urban populations.
• Studying the role of epigenetics in the inheritance of acquired traits in organisms.
• Analyzing the physiology and adaptations of extremophiles in extreme environments on Earth.
• Investigating the genetics of longevity and factors influencing human lifespan.
• Studying the behavioral ecology and communication strategies of social insects.
• Analyzing the effects of deforestation on global climate patterns and biodiversity loss.
• Investigating the potential of synthetic biology in creating bioengineered organisms for beneficial applications.

Correlational Research Topics for STEM Students

Correlational research focuses on relationships between variables. Here are 10 correlational research topics for STEM students:

• Analyzing the correlation between dietary habits and the incidence of chronic diseases.
• Studying the relationship between exercise frequency and mental health outcomes.
• Investigating the correlation between socioeconomic status and access to quality healthcare.
• Analyzing the link between social media usage and self-esteem in adolescents.
• Studying the correlation between academic performance and sleep duration among students.
• Investigating the relationship between environmental factors and the prevalence of allergies.
• Analyzing the correlation between technology use and attention span in children.
• Studying how environmental factors are related to the frequency of allergies.
• Investigating the link between parental involvement in education and student achievement.
• Analyzing the correlation between temperature fluctuations and wildlife migration patterns.

Quantitative Research Topics for STEM Students in the Philippines

Quantitative research in the Philippines can address specific regional issues. Here are 10 quantitative research topics for STEM students in the Philippines

• Analyzing the impact of typhoons on coastal erosion rates in the Philippines.
• Studying the quantitative effects of land use change on watershed hydrology in Filipino regions.
• Investigating the quantitative relationship between deforestation and habitat loss for endangered species.
• Analyzing the quantitative patterns of marine biodiversity in Philippine coral reef ecosystems.
• Studying the quantitative assessment of water quality in major Philippine rivers and lakes.
• Investigating the quantitative analysis of renewable energy potential in specific Philippine provinces.
• Analyzing the quantitative impacts of agricultural practices on soil health and fertility.
• Studying the quantitative effectiveness of mangrove restoration in coastal protection in the Philippines.
• Investigating the quantitative evaluation of indigenous agricultural practices for sustainability.
• Analyzing the quantitative patterns of air pollution and its health impacts in urban Filipino areas.

Things That Must Keep In Mind While Writing Quantitative Research Title 

Here are few things that must be keep in mind while writing quantitative research tile:

1. Be Clear and Precise

Make sure your research title is clear and says exactly what your study is about. People should easily understand the topic and goals of your research by reading the title.

2. Use Important Words

Include words that are crucial to your research, like the main subjects, who you’re studying, and how you’re doing your research. This helps others find your work and understand what it’s about.

3. Avoid Confusing Words

Stay away from words that might confuse people. Your title should be easy to grasp, even if someone isn’t an expert in your field.

4. Show Your Research Approach

Tell readers what kind of research you did, like experiments or surveys. This gives them a hint about how you conducted your study.

5. Match Your Title with Your Research Questions

Make sure your title matches the questions you’re trying to answer in your research. It should give a sneak peek into what your study is all about and keep you on the right track as you work on it.

STEM students, addressing what STEM is and why research matters in this field. It offered an extensive list of research topics , including experimental, qualitative, and regional options, catering to various academic levels and interests. Whether you’re a middle school student or pursuing advanced studies, these topics offer a wealth of ideas. The key takeaway is to choose a topic that resonates with your passion and aligns with your goals, ensuring a successful journey in STEM research. Choose the best Experimental Quantitative Research Topics For Stem Students today!

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Top 50 Experimental Research Topics for School and College Students

At the core of academic exploration lies experimental research, a cornerstone that empowers students to venture into uncharted territories, challenge existing beliefs, and contribute to the ever-expanding realm of knowledge. Offering both school-age and college-aged individuals invaluable opportunities, experimental research nurtures critical thinking skills, fosters creativity, and provides hands-on experience with the scientific method. This article aims to delve into a diverse array of experimental research topics across various disciplines, offering students poised for intellectual exploration a rich tapestry of ideas to embark upon.

Also see 3 Areas of Study in China | Medicine, Engineering and Mandarin

Exploring Experimental Research Topics: Stimulating Ideas for Investigation

1) Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Function

Investigate how varying levels of sleep deprivation impact decision-making, memory retention, and cognitive functions.

2) The Influence of Music on Learning

Examine the effects of different musical genres on focus, memory, and information retention during study sessions.

3) Smartphone Addiction and Its Impact on Academic Performance

Analyze the correlation between excessive smartphone use and students’ academic success.

4) The Role of Probiotics in Mental Health

Explore the potential effects of probiotics on mental well-being and cognitive abilities.

5) Effects of Virtual Reality on Memory Recall

Investigate how immersive virtual reality experiences affect memory recall compared to traditional learning methods.

6) Optimizing Study Environments for Enhanced Learning

Analyze the impact of various study environments on focus, productivity, and information retention.

7) The Relationship Between Physical Exercise and Academic Performance

Explore how regular physical exercise influences cognitive abilities and academic achievement.

8) Impact of Social Media on Perceived Body Image

Examine the link between social media usage and teenagers’ perception of body image.

9) The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Meditation in Stress Reduction

Explore the potential benefits of mindfulness meditation in alleviating stress and enhancing overall well-being.

10) Influence of Color on Memory

Investigate how different colors affect memory retention and recall in learning environments.

11) The Impact of Video Games on Reaction Time

Analyze the correlation between exposure to video games and improvements in reaction time.

12) Exploring Alternative Energy Sources

Conduct experiments to harness energy from unconventional sources like piezoelectric materials or bioenergy.

13) The Psychology of Decision-Making

Investigate cognitive biases and their role in shaping decision-making processes.

14) Effect of Different Teaching Methods on Student Engagement

Compare traditional teaching methods with innovative approaches to evaluate student engagement and learning outcomes.

15) The Relationship Between Diet and Academic Performance

Analyze the correlation between dietary habits, nutritional intake, and academic success.

16) Human Microbiome and Mental Health

Explore the connection between gut microbiota and mental health disorders.

17) The Impact of Nature Exposure on Stress Reduction

Investigate the physiological and psychological effects of spending time in natural environments on stress reduction.

18) Biodegradable Plastics: Evaluating Environmental Impact

Assess the effectiveness of biodegradable plastics in mitigating environmental pollution.

19) Effects of Peer Pressure on Decision-Making

Examine how peer pressure influences decision-making processes among adolescents.

20) The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Educational Technology

Explore the integration of artificial intelligence in educational tools and its impact on student learning outcomes.

21) Analysis of Water Quality in Urban vs. Rural Areas

Compare water quality parameters in urban and rural settings to uncover potential environmental differences.

22) Impact of Social Diversity on Team Performance

Investigate how diverse team compositions influence collaboration and overall performance.

23) The Psychology of Humor and Its Impact on Memory Retention

Explore how humor influences information processing and memory retention.

24) Assessment of Noise Pollution in Urban Environments

Measure and analyze noise levels in urban areas to understand the effects of noise pollution on residents.

25) The Impact of Sleep Position on Dreams

Investigate whether sleep position affects the content and vividness of dreams.

26) The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Stress Reduction

Explore how various forms of physical activity contribute to stress reduction.

27) The Use of Nanotechnology in Medicine

Investigate potential applications of nanotechnology in diagnosing and treating medical conditions.

28) Impact of Social Support on Mental Health

Analyze the correlation between social support systems and mental health outcomes.

29) The Effects of Climate Change on Plant Growth

Study the impact of changing climate conditions on the growth and development of plants.

30) Exploring the Efficacy of Online Learning Platforms

Evaluate the effectiveness of online learning platforms compared to traditional classroom settings.

31) The Relationship Between Personality Traits and Academic Success

Investigate how different personality traits contribute to academic achievement.

32) Analysis of Air Quality in Urban Green Spaces

Assess the air quality in urban green spaces and its potential benefits for residents’ health and well-being.

33) The Impact of Virtual Teams on Workplace Productivity

Explore the dynamics of virtual teams and their influence on overall workplace productivity.

34) The Use of Robotics in Rehabilitation Therapy

Investigate the effectiveness of robotic devices in assisting rehabilitation therapy for individuals with physical disabilities.

35) Effects of Social Media on Interpersonal Relationships

Examine how social media usage influences the quality and dynamics of interpersonal relationships.

36) The Role of Microorganisms in Soil Fertility

Study the contribution of microorganisms to soil fertility and its implications for agricultural productivity.

37) Impact of Climate Change on Marine Ecosystems

Investigate the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems, including coral reefs and fish populations.

38) The Relationship Between Exercise and Mental Acuity in Aging

Analyze how regular exercise impacts cognitive function and mental acuity in the aging population.

39) The Use of Augmented Reality in Education

Explore the potential benefits and applications of augmented reality in enhancing educational experiences.

40) Effects of Color in Marketing

Investigate how color choices in marketing materials influence consumer perceptions, emotions, and purchasing behavior.

41) Impact of Urbanization on Bird Species Diversity

Study how urban development affects bird species diversity across different habitats.

42) The Psychology of Procrastination

Delve into the psychological factors underlying procrastination and its consequences on personal productivity.

43) The Use of Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management

Investigate how blockchain technology can enhance transparency and efficiency in supply chain operations.

44) Effects of Temperature on Plant Germination

Explore the influence of temperature fluctuations on the germination process of various plant species.

45) The Impact of Social Media Influencers on Consumer Behavior

Analyze the role of social media influencers in shaping consumer preferences and purchasing behavior.

46) The Relationship Between Parental Involvement and Student Achievement

Investigate how parental engagement in a child’s education impacts their academic performance.

47) Assessment of Solar Panel Efficiency

Evaluate the efficiency of solar panels under different conditions to optimize renewable energy utilization.

48) The Use of CRISPR Technology in Genetic Modification

Explore the ethical considerations and potential applications of CRISPR technology in genetic engineering.

49) Effects of Air Pollution on Respiratory Health

Investigate the relationship between air pollution levels and respiratory health issues in urban communities.

50) The Impact of Mind-Body Practices on Mental Health

Analyze the effects of mind-body practices like yoga and meditation on mental well-being and emotional resilience.

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The diverse array of research topics explored in this article showcases the breadth and depth of scientific inquiry across various fields. From understanding the ecological impacts of urbanization to unraveling the complexities of human behavior, each topic offers valuable insights into our world. By delving into these subjects, researchers can uncover new knowledge, address pressing challenges, and ultimately contribute to the advancement of society. Whether it’s examining the effects of emerging technologies or investigating the interplay between environmental factors and human health, the possibilities for research are limitless. As we continue to explore these topics, we move closer to a deeper understanding of the world around us and the potential solutions to some of our most pressing issues.

211+ Best Experimental Research Topics for Students [2024]

Experimental research serves as a cornerstone in scientific inquiry, allowing researchers to test hypotheses through controlled experiments. 

For students, engaging in experimental research not only fosters a deeper understanding of theoretical concepts but also cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for academic success. 

By exploring experimental research topics, students gain hands-on experience, honing their analytical abilities while gaining practical insights into their chosen fields of study. 

In this blog, we will delve into a myriad of experimental research topics for students across various disciplines, providing inspiration and guidance for conducting meaningful experiments and advancing academic endeavors.

What is Experimental Research?

Table of Contents

Experimental research is a systematic approach to scientific inquiry where researchers manipulate one or more variables to observe the effect on another variable, known as the dependent variable, while controlling other factors. 

This method aims to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables, providing empirical evidence to support or refute hypotheses. Through controlled experiments conducted in laboratory or field settings, researchers can investigate phenomena, test theories, and draw conclusions about the underlying mechanisms governing natural phenomena. 

Experimental research plays a crucial role in advancing knowledge across various disciplines, from psychology and medicine to physics and engineering, by providing empirical evidence to support theoretical claims.

Importance of Experimental Research Topics for Students

Experimental research topics for students are crucial for several reasons:

Hands-on Learning

Experimental research topics offer students practical experience in applying theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, enhancing their understanding of complex concepts.

Critical Thinking Skills

Engaging in experimental research cultivates critical thinking skills as students design experiments, analyze data, and draw conclusions, fostering a deeper understanding of scientific methodologies.

Problem-Solving Abilities

By tackling experimental challenges, students develop problem-solving abilities essential for navigating academic and professional environments.

Personalized Learning

Students can explore topics aligned with their interests and passions, fostering a sense of ownership and motivation in their academic pursuits.

Preparation for Future Endeavors

Experimental research equips students with essential skills and experiences valuable for future academic pursuits, research endeavors, and professional careers.

List of Experimental Research Topics for Students

Here’s a list of experimental research topics for students across various fields can explore:

• The effects of mindfulness meditation on stress reduction.
• Investigating the impact of social media usage on self-esteem.
• Examining the relationship between sleep quality and academic performance.
• The influence of music on cognitive function and memory.
• Exploring the bystander effect in emergency situations.
• Investigating the effects of color on mood and productivity.
• The relationship between exercise and mental health outcomes.
• Examining the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy in anxiety management.
• Investigating the effects of peer pressure on decision-making.
• The impact of parental involvement on children’s academic achievement.
• Exploring the psychology of addiction and its treatment.
• Investigating the role of genetics in personality traits.
• Examining the effects of early childhood trauma on adult mental health.
• The influence of cultural factors on perception and behavior.
• Investigating the placebo effect and its implications for medical treatment.
• Investigating the effects of different diets on gut microbiota composition.
• Examining the impact of environmental pollutants on amphibian populations.
• Investigating the efficacy of natural remedies in treating common ailments.
• Exploring the genetics of aging and longevity.
• The effects of climate change on plant phenology and growth patterns.
• Investigating the role of gut-brain axis in mental health disorders.
• Examining the effects of exercise on cardiovascular health.
• Exploring the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
• Investigating the ecological impacts of invasive species.
• Examining the effects of light pollution on nocturnal animals.
• Exploring the genetics of rare diseases and potential treatments.
• Investigating the biodiversity of coral reef ecosystems.
• Examining the effects of different pollutants on aquatic organisms.
• Exploring the role of epigenetics in gene expression.
• Investigating the evolutionary origins of human behavior.
• Investigating the properties of superconductors at different temperatures.
• Exploring the behavior of quantum particles in entangled states.
• Investigating the relationship between temperature and electrical conductivity in metals.
• Examining the principles of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics.
• Exploring the physics of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.
• Investigating the properties of materials under extreme pressure conditions.
• Examining the behavior of fluids in microgravity environments.
• Exploring the principles of chaos theory and deterministic systems.
• Investigating the physics of sound and its applications in acoustics.
• Examining the behavior of particles in accelerators and colliders.
• Exploring the properties of electromagnetic waves and their applications.
• Investigating the phenomenon of gravitational waves and their detection.
• Examining the principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer.
• Exploring the physics of nanomaterials and their applications.
• Investigating the principles of quantum computing and its potential applications.
• Investigating the properties of different catalysts in chemical reactions.
• Exploring the principles of green chemistry and sustainable synthesis methods.
• Investigating the kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
• Examining the behavior of nanoparticles in solution.
• Exploring the chemistry of medicinal plants and natural remedies.
• Investigating the effects of pH on chemical reactions.
• Examining the properties of polymers and their applications.
• Exploring the chemistry of atmospheric pollutants and their effects on the environment.
• Investigating the principles of electrochemistry and battery technology.
• Examining the synthesis and properties of novel materials for electronic devices.
• Exploring the chemistry of food additives and preservatives.
• Investigating the mechanisms of drug metabolism in the human body.
• Examining the properties of supercritical fluids and their applications.
• Exploring the chemistry of fermentation and its industrial applications.
• Investigating the synthesis and properties of nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

Computer Science

• Investigating the effectiveness of machine learning algorithms in predicting stock prices.
• Exploring the security vulnerabilities of blockchain technology.
• Investigating the impact of virtual reality on learning outcomes.
• Examining the effectiveness of different programming languages in software development.
• Exploring the potential of quantum computing in solving complex problems.
• Investigating the impact of social media algorithms on user behavior.
• Examining the privacy implications of data mining techniques.
• Exploring the principles of artificial intelligence and its ethical considerations.
• Investigating the effectiveness of cybersecurity measures in protecting against cyber threats.
• Examining the potential of augmented reality in enhancing user experiences.
• Exploring the applications of natural language processing in text analysis.
• Investigating the impact of mobile technology on daily life.
• Examining the effectiveness of different encryption techniques in securing data.
• Exploring the principles of distributed computing and its applications.
• Investigating the potential of autonomous vehicles in improving transportation systems.

Environmental Science

• Investigating the impact of deforestation on biodiversity loss.
• Exploring the effects of climate change on ocean acidification.
• Investigating the efficacy of renewable energy technologies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Examining the effects of pollution on air quality and public health.
• Exploring the restoration of degraded ecosystems and their ecological benefits.
• Investigating the relationship between urbanization and heat island effects.
• Examining the effects of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.
• Exploring the principles of sustainable agriculture and food production.
• Investigating the impacts of invasive species on native biodiversity.
• Examining the effectiveness of conservation strategies in protecting endangered species.
• Exploring the effects of water pollution on aquatic ecosystems and human health.
• Investigating the potential of carbon sequestration techniques in mitigating climate change.
• Examining the impacts of land use changes on ecosystem services.
• Exploring the principles of ecological modeling and their applications in conservation.
• Investigating the effects of habitat fragmentation on wildlife populations.
• Investigating the effects of social media on interpersonal relationships.
• Exploring the impact of income inequality on social mobility.
• Investigating the factors influencing voting behavior in democratic societies.
• Examining the effects of globalization on cultural diversity.
• Exploring the dynamics of family structures and their impact on child development.
• Investigating the correlation between socioeconomic status and access to education.
• Examining the effects of mass media on shaping public opinion.
• Exploring the relationship between gender equality and economic development.
• Investigating the impact of immigration on social cohesion.
• Examining the role of religion in shaping societal norms and values.
• Exploring the dynamics of social movements and their impact on policy change.
• Investigating the effects of racial discrimination on mental health outcomes.
• Examining the relationship between crime rates and socioeconomic factors.
• Exploring the influence of cultural norms on gender roles and identity.
• Investigating the impact of technology on social interactions and community cohesion.
• Investigating the effectiveness of flipped classrooms in improving student learning outcomes.
• Exploring the impact of inclusive education on students with disabilities.
• Investigating the effects of parental involvement on student achievement.
• Examining the role of teacher-student relationships in academic success.
• Exploring the efficacy of project-based learning in fostering critical thinking skills.
• Investigating the impact of standardized testing on student stress levels.
• Examining the effectiveness of online learning platforms in distance education.
• Exploring the benefits of early childhood education on long-term academic success.
• Investigating the effects of classroom environment on student motivation.
• Examining the impact of socioeconomic factors on educational attainment.
• Exploring the role of technology in personalized learning and adaptive instruction.
• Investigating the effectiveness of bilingual education programs in language acquisition.
• Examining the impact of school nutrition programs on student health and academic performance.
• Exploring the benefits of arts education on cognitive development and creativity.
• Investigating the relationship between school climate and student behavior.
• Investigating the impact of minimum wage laws on employment levels.
• Exploring the effects of globalization on income inequality.
• Investigating the relationship between economic growth and environmental sustainability.
• Examining the effects of government subsidies on agricultural markets.
• Exploring the impact of foreign direct investment on economic development.
• Investigating the effects of trade tariffs on international trade flows.
• Examining the relationship between inflation and interest rates.
• Exploring the impact of unemployment on mental health and well-being.
• Investigating the effectiveness of fiscal policy in mitigating economic recessions.
• Examining the role of entrepreneurship in economic growth and innovation.
• Exploring the effects of income taxation on labor supply and consumer behavior.
• Investigating the relationship between education levels and earning potential.
• Examining the impacts of economic sanctions on target countries.
• Exploring the principles of behavioral economics and decision-making.
• Investigating the role of central banks in monetary policy and economic stability.

Political Science

• Investigating the factors influencing voter turnout in elections.
• Exploring the effects of political polarization on democratic institutions.
• Investigating the impact of media framing on public opinion.
• Examining the role of political parties in shaping policy agendas.
• Exploring the dynamics of international diplomacy and conflict resolution.
• Investigating the effects of electoral systems on political representation.
• Examining the relationship between political ideology and policy preferences.
• Exploring the impact of campaign finance regulations on electoral outcomes.
• Investigating the effects of gerrymandering on political representation.
• Examining the role of interest groups in the policy-making process.
• Exploring the impact of political propaganda on public perceptions.
• Investigating the effects of term limits on political accountability.
• Examining the role of social movements in driving political change.
• Exploring the dynamics of political leadership and decision-making.
• Investigating the impact of globalization on national sovereignty.

Health Sciences

• Investigating the effects of lifestyle factors on cardiovascular health.
• Exploring the efficacy of alternative medicine approaches in pain management.
• Investigating the relationship between diet and mental health outcomes.
• Examining the effects of stress on immune system function.
• Exploring the efficacy of vaccination programs in preventing infectious diseases.
• Investigating the impact of healthcare disparities on health outcomes.
• Examining the effects of air pollution on respiratory health.
• Exploring the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive function.
• Investigating the efficacy of telemedicine in delivering healthcare services.
• Examining the effects of aging on musculoskeletal health.
• Exploring the relationship between gut microbiota and metabolic disorders.
• Investigating the impact of exercise on mental health and well-being.
• Examining the effects of environmental toxins on reproductive health.
• Exploring the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions in stress management.
• Investigating the relationship between social support and health outcomes.

Engineering

• Investigating the efficiency of renewable energy technologies in power generation.
• Exploring the potential of 3D printing in manufacturing and prototyping.
• Investigating the effects of material properties on structural integrity in engineering design.
• Examining the efficiency of water treatment technologies in wastewater management.
• Exploring the potential of nanotechnology in drug delivery systems.
• Investigating the impact of transportation infrastructure on urban development.
• Examining the effects of seismic retrofitting on building resilience in earthquake-prone areas.
• Exploring the principles of artificial intelligence in autonomous vehicle navigation.
• Investigating the efficacy of biodegradable materials in sustainable packaging.
• Examining the potential of robotics in healthcare applications.
• Exploring the effects of climate change on civil engineering infrastructure.
• Investigating the efficiency of smart grid technologies in electricity distribution.
• Examining the impact of renewable energy integration on power grid stability.
• Exploring the potential of biomimicry in engineering design.
• Investigating the principles of quantum computing in information technology.
• Investigating the effects of corporate social responsibility initiatives on brand reputation.
• Exploring the impact of organizational culture on employee satisfaction and productivity.
• Investigating the relationship between customer satisfaction and loyalty in service industries.
• Examining the effects of e-commerce on traditional retail markets.
• Exploring the impact of supply chain disruptions on business resilience.
• Investigating the effectiveness of marketing strategies in influencing consumer behavior.
• Examining the relationship between leadership styles and organizational performance.
• Exploring the effects of globalization on multinational corporations.
• Investigating the impact of technology adoption on business innovation.
• Examining the effects of workplace diversity on team performance and creativity.
• Exploring the relationship between financial incentives and employee motivation.
• Investigating the effects of mergers and acquisitions on corporate profitability.
• Examining the impact of digital transformation on business operations.
• Exploring the principles of risk management and its applications in business decision-making.
• Investigating the relationship between organizational structure and agility in fast-paced markets.

Literature and Language Studies

• Investigating the impact of translation on the reception of literary works in different cultures.
• Exploring the evolution of language through historical literature analysis .
• Investigating the portrayal of gender roles in contemporary literature.
• Examining the influence of literary movements on societal attitudes and values.
• Exploring the use of symbolism in literary works and its interpretation.
• Investigating the effects of bilingualism on cognitive development and language proficiency.
• Examining the relationship between language and identity in immigrant communities.
• Exploring the depiction of mental illness in literature and its impact on stigma.
• Investigating the role of literature in fostering empathy and understanding.
• Examining the influence of political ideology on literary censorship.
• Exploring the use of narrative techniques in autobiographical literature.
• Investigating the portrayal of cultural diversity in contemporary literature.
• Examining the relationship between language and power in political discourse.
• Exploring the representation of marginalized voices in literature.
• Investigating the effects of translation strategies on the fidelity of literary texts.
• Investigating the influence of digital media on storytelling techniques in contemporary literature.
• Exploring the portrayal of environmental themes and sustainability in literature across different cultural contexts.

These experimental research topics for students span various disciplines, offering students a wide range of avenues for exploration and inquiry in their academic pursuits.

Tips for Conducting Experimental Research Topics

Conducting experimental research can be a challenging but rewarding endeavor. Here are some tips to help students effectively plan and carry out their experiments:

• Clearly define your research question and objectives to guide your experimental design.
• Develop a detailed experimental protocol outlining procedures, variables, and controls.
• Ensure proper randomization and blinding techniques to minimize bias and ensure validity.
• Collect data meticulously, recording observations accurately and consistently.
• Analyze data rigorously using appropriate statistical methods to draw meaningful conclusions.
• Consider ethical considerations throughout the research process, obtaining necessary approvals and consent.
• Communicate findings effectively through clear and concise reporting in academic formats.
• Iterate and refine your experimental approach based on feedback and further analysis for continuous improvement.

Wrapping Up

Exploring experimental research topics for students is a valuable opportunity for intellectual growth and academic development. 

Through hands-on inquiry and investigation, students can deepen their understanding of theoretical concepts, hone critical thinking skills, and cultivate a passion for scientific exploration. 

Engaging in experimental research fosters creativity, resilience, and problem-solving abilities essential for success in both academic and professional realms. Moreover, the interdisciplinary nature of experimental research encourages students to bridge gaps between various fields, fostering a holistic approach to knowledge acquisition. 

By embracing experimentation, students not only contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge but also empower themselves to become lifelong learners and innovative thinkers prepared to tackle the challenges of the future.

1. How do I narrow down my topic?

Start by brainstorming broad areas of interest and gradually narrow down your focus based on feasibility, resources, and academic relevance.

2. Can I change my topic midway through the research?

While it’s best to stick with your chosen topic, sometimes unforeseen circumstances may require adjustments. Consult with your supervisor or mentor before making any significant changes.

3. How long does it take to conduct experimental research?

The duration of experimental research varies depending on the complexity of the topic, availability of resources, and experimental design. It could range from a few weeks to several months or even years.

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Dynamic Targeting: Experimental Evidence from Energy Rebate Programs

Economic policies often involve dynamic interventions, where individuals receive repeated interventions over multiple periods. This dynamics makes past responses informative to predict future responses and ultimate outcomes depend on the history of interventions. Despite these phenomena, existing economic studies typically focus on static targeting, possibly overlooking key information from dynamic interventions. We develop a framework for designing optimal dynamic targeting that maximizes social welfare gains from dynamic policy intervention. Our framework can be applied to experimental or quasi-experimental data with sequential randomization. We demonstrate that dynamic targeting can outperform static targeting through several key mechanisms: learning, habit formation, and screening effects. We then propose methods to empirically identify these effects. By applying this method to a randomized controlled trial on a residential energy rebate program, we show that dynamic targeting significantly outperforms conventional static targeting, leading to improved social welfare gains. We observe significant heterogeneity in the learning, habit formation, and screening effects, and illustrate how our approach leverages this heterogeneity to design optimal dynamic targeting.

More Research From These Scholars

Choosing who chooses: selection-driven targeting in energy rebate programs, the dynamic impact of market integration: evidence from renewable energy expansion in chile, moral suasion and economic incentives: field experimental evidence from energy demand.

143 Experiment Research Topics

Welcome to our collection of experimental research topics! Experiments are the cornerstone of empirical research, allowing scholars to test hypotheses and expand knowledge. With our experimental research questions ideas, you can uncover the diverse realms of empirical studies, from the natural sciences to social sciences and beyond.

🧪 7 Best Experimental Research Questions Ideas

🏆 best experimental research topics, 💡 simple experimental essay titles, 👍 catchy experimental research questions ideas, ❓ more experimental research questions ideas, 🎓 interesting experimental research topics.

• Bean Seed Germination Experiment Results
• Archimedes’ Principle Experiment: Determining Gravity of Objects
• Water Quality and Contamination Experiment Report
• Physical Health Indicator: Pulse Rate Experiment
• Static and Kinetic Friction: A Lab Experiment
• Human Transport Systems: The Pulse Rate Experiment
• Experiment: Flame Test and Chemical Fingerprinting
• “Stanford Prison Experiment Ethics” by Philip Zimbardo The primary purpose of Zimbardo’s work was to explore how quickly individuals would identify with corrections officers and prisoner roles during the prison simulation.
• Fiji Water Quality: Biology Lab Experiment Since Fiji water is among the popular brands in the US, it is essential to evaluate whether it is clean, that is, safe for human consumption.
• Kant’s Ethical Philosophy and Milgram’s Experiments The problem for Kant’s ethical philosophy is whether moral principles are applicable to nonhumans, such as Galacticans.
• Helicopter Experiment Assessment This report of a paper helicopter experiment involved designating a paper helicopter in varied designs and then dropping it severally while recording the flight time.
• Scientific Report Draft on Osmosis Egg Experiment Understanding how an egg reacts when placed in solutions of different concentrations enables one to understand the role of osmosis in the human body.
• Chemical Experiment on Enzyme Amylase This paper presents an experiment that was conducted to determine the activity of amylase on starch at various pH levels.
• Why People Obey Authority: Milgram Experiment and Real-World Situation Human beings would obey authority depending on the overall rewards, potential personal gains, and the consequences of failing to do so.
• Miles Davis and Steve Reich: Geniuses of Experiments and Creativity Although Miles Davis’ and Steve Reich’s music belongs to different genres, they are connected in their constant search for a new sound by experimenting and improvising.
• Should Animals Be Used for Scientific Experiments? Unfortunately, at the moment, the use of animals in science and medicine cannot be excluded entirely. However, it is possible to conduct experiments using mathematical models.
• Metal and Non-metal Redox Reactions Experiment The following experiment aimed to investigate Redox reaction and hence determine which elements were reactive; metal v. metal redox reactions, and non-metal v. non-metal reactions.
• John Watson and the “Little Albert” Experiment John Watson is considered to be the founder of behaviorism, a psychological theory that focuses on visible behavior while diminishing the notion of consciousness.
• Hawthorne Experiments – Elton Mayo With Roethlisberger and Dickson The Hawthorne theories have brought about a positive change in the behavior and attitude of the managers as well as the workers.
• Ideal Gas Expansion Law: Experiment The purpose of the experiment was to understand the differences between different types of ideal gas expansions, paying attention to the amount of work done.
• Unethical Research Experiments Violation of ethical principles can be traced in two analyzed cases; only in Landis’s experiment harm and killing were real in relation to animals.
• Conducting a Titration Experiment Titration studies are conducted to quantify the amount of an unidentified element in the sample using a methodological approach.
• Putnam’s “Twin Earth” Thought-Experiment Throughout the history of analytic philosophy, the problem of meaning has been and remains one of its central themes.
• “Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment – The Deadly Deception”: Unethical Scientific Experiment “Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment – The Deadly Deception” reviews an unethical scientific experiment on humans that was conducted by White physicians on African-Americans.
• The Power of Conformity: Asch’s Experiments The article examines a series of experiments by Asch that helped him identify the factors influencing social conformity.
• The Use of Animals in Psychological Experiments The method of experimentation is of great significance for multiple fields of psychology, especially for the behaviorist branch.
• Air Pressure Experiment Methods and Results The plastic mesh fabric was placed over the mouth of the Mason jar, and the metal screw band of the latter was fastened firmly over the plastic mesh sheet.
• Social Experiment: Informal Norms of Gender Issues The social experiment presents a contradiction between the socially-accepted norms and the understanding of equality between men and women.
• Psychology: Milgram Obedience Experiment Milgram’s experiment may be the last psychological experiment that has had a significant impact on psychology and public opinion.
• Ideal Experiment Design: Independent and Dependent Variables This work describes the ideal experiment, that is designed to verify the causal relationship between independent and dependent variables.
• Ethical Analysis of the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments The Tuskegee Syphilis Study failed to take into account several critical ethical considerations. This essay examines some of the ethical problems linked to the investigation.
• Metrology Experiment with Measurement Tools The experiment concerned testing the efficacy of the measurement tools such as the Vernier caliper, a depth gauge, a micrometer, and a gauge in an uncertainty analysis.
• Osmosis Experiment With Parsnip Through Differing Concentration of Sucrose
• Identifying the Benefits of Home Ownership: A Swedish Experiment
• Experiment for Cancer Risk Factors
• Hydrochloric Acid Into Tubes of Water and Sodium Thiosulphate Experiment
• General Information about Monkey Drug Trials Experiment
• Reaction Rates Experiment Hydrochloric Acid
• Hydrochloric Acid and Marble Chips Experiment
• Physical Disability and Labor Market Discrimination: Evidence From a Field Experiment
• Canadian Advanced Nanosatellite Experiment Biology
• Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment: Reality or Illusion
• Experiment and Multi-Grid Modeling of Evacuation From a Classroom
• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Experiment
• Social Capital and Contributions in a Public-Goods Experiment
• Illusory Gains From Chile’s Targeted School Voucher Experiment
• Short Selling and Earnings Management: A Controlled Experiment
• Theft and Rural Poverty: Results of a Natural Experiment
• Lab Experiment: The Effectiveness of Different Antibiotics on Bacteria
• Brucellosis and Its Treatment: Experiment With Doxycycline
• The Link Between Stanford Prison Experiment and Milgram Study
• Four Fundamental Results From the Mice Experiment
• Acoustics Experiment in Brunel’s Thames Tunnel In this project, tunnels that exist below London streets for a variety of communications, civil defense, and military purposes will be used as the objects of the experiment.
• Virtue Ethics in Stanford and Milgram’s Experiments This paper investigates the notion of virtue ethics, discussing two major studies, the Stanford prison experiment, and Milgram’s obedience studies.
• The Stanford Prison Experiment The Stanford prison experiment is an example of how outside social situations influence changes in thought and behavior among humans.
• Pasture Experiment: Fertiliser Treatments Response This work is an experiment that defines the role of fertilizers in pasture production and to establish the appropriate use of pasture sampling to assess pasture mass.
• Isopods and Their Use in Experiments Isopod is a large family belonging to the crayfish order. The fact that isopods are good to use in various experiments is related to their habitat.
• Inductor-Capacitor-Resistor Circuit Experiment The article presents the experiment that will demonstrate the relationship between an inductor, voltmeter, and resistor in an inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit.
• P. Zimbardo’s Stanford Experiment A psychological experiment is an event conducted to acquire new scientific knowledge about psychology through the researcher’s deliberate intervention in the life of the examinee.
• Experiment on Effect of Energy Drinks on Athletic Performance Experimental research is a study that a researcher sets up to evaluate a given situation, such as a drug or treatment intervention.
• Stanford Prison Experiment: Behind the Mask Stanford Prison Experiment organized by Stanford researcher Philip Zimbardo led to a strong public response and still discussed today.
• A Hypothesis and an Experiment: A Case Study On the control experiment, there would be a seed grown at normal aeration, and wind conditions. All should have a viable bean seed planted centrally on watered soil preferably.
• Social Experiment: Wrong Outfit in a Wedding Event The attendees of the wedding event displayed disappointment, discomfort, and open resentment towards the dressing style.
• Situation, Institutional Norms, and Roles: The Stanford Experiment of Zimbardo Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Experiment brought him critical acclaim. At the same time, it accorded him a certain level of notoriety; because of the methodologies he utilized to conduct the experiment.
• Scientific Experiments on Animals from Ethical Perspectives This paper discusses using animals in scientific experiments from the consequentialist, Kantian deontological and Donna Yarri’s Christian character-based perspectives.
• The Stanford Prison Experiment Analysis Abuse between guards and prisoners is an imminent factor attributed to the differential margin on duties and responsibilities.
• The Stanford Prison Experiment’s Historical Record The Stanford Prison Experiment is a seminal investigation into the dynamics of peer pressure in human psychology.
• Socioeconomic Status and Sentencing Severity Experiment There are two types of validity threats: external and internal. External validity refers to the degree to which the study can be applied to situations outside the research context.
• Psychology: Zimbardo Prison Experiment Despite all the horrors that contradict ethics, Zimbardo’s research contributed to the formation of social psychology. It was unethical to conduct this experiment.
• Post-Covid Adaptation Laboratory Experiment The goal of the laboratory experiment that this paper will outline is to test the hypothesis about the needs of senior citizens in the post-pandemic era.
• Predicting the Replicability of Social Science Lab Experiments The quality of work is the most significant factor for any academic organization. A research process for any scientific project requires careful evaluation of information sources.
• Moral Dilemma and Thought Experiments The aim of this essay is to set up a thought experiment in which a moral dilemma must be resolved. A person is invited to make a choice as a result of which people should suffer.
• Experiments in High-Frequency Trading High-frequency trading (HFT) is becoming increasingly popular with private businesses and traders. HFT allows traders to make transactions within fractions of seconds.
• The Ethical Issues in 1940’s U.S. Experiments With Syphilis in Guatemala The Guatemala tests have been viewed as a dark side of the U.S. clinical examination: in the 1940s, they purposely uncovered over 5,000 individuals with syphilis and gonorrhea.
• Sociological Experiment: The Salience of Social Norms Based on the sociological experiment described in the paper, the author demonstrated the salience of social norms that exist in our culture.
• Thought Experiment: The Morality of Human Actions A thought experiment aimed at assessing the morality of human actions motivated by divine punishment or reward raises the question of morality and religion correlation.
• Ethical Implications of the Early Studies in Psychology: Milgram’s Experiment Milgram’s experiment on obedience content and results are valuable for understanding the ethical issues that may occur in social and behavioral research.
• Blue-Eyed vs. Brown-Eyed Experiment Elliot exposed the learners to discrimination, in which blue-eyed children were initially preferred and given more privileges in the classroom than brown-eyed students.
• Experiment: Science Meets Real Life The experiment involves the sequential study of the dog’s behavior and its reaction to a change in some factors, such as food and bowl.
• Smoking: An Idea for a Statistical Experiment The hypothesis is that people who smoke cigarettes daily tend to earn more than others: this is a personal observation that requires careful experimental testing.
• The Stanford Jail Experiment Critiques One of the most important critiques leveled at the Stanford Jail Experiment is the length of time it took Zimbardo to call a halt to the experiment.
• Super Size Me and Jogn Cisna Experiments In comparison to Super Size Me, the experiment of John Cisna immediately stands out with a positive attitude towards fast food.
• The Milgram Experiment: Ethical Issues The Milgram experiment is a controversial study on the subject of obedience to authority figures. The participants were asked to deliver electric shocks to other people.
• Health and Medicine: Experiments and Discussions In the first experiment, researchers tested the subjectivity of polygraph examiners’ assessments. The specialist was given a specific name before the test began to do it.
• Can Nonrandomized Experiments Yield Accurate Answers?
• What Kind of Experiments Are Done on Animals?
• Is It Good to Use Animals for Experiments?
• What Are the Types of Experiments?
• Is There Any Healthy Way to Experiment With Drugs?
• What Are the Top Experiments of All Time?
• Are Breaching Experiments Ethical?
• What Does It Mean to Experiment With a Drug?
• Why Do We Use Factorial Experiments?
• How Does Temperature Affect the Rate of Reaction Experiment?
• What Are the Easiest Experiments to Do?
• How Can Rushing Harm the Data and the Experiment Overall?
• What Are the Steps to a Science Experiment?
• How Do Errors Affect the Experiment?
• What Is the Purpose of the Wax Experiment and What Conclusion Does Descartes Reach on Its Basis?
• Can an Experiment Be Invalid but Reliable?
• What Is the Most Influential Experiment in Psychology?
• Why Are Fruit Flies Used for Experiments?
• How Can You Improve the Accuracy of an Experiment?
• What Was Galileo’s Famous Cannonball Drop Experiment?
• What Can Knowledge Be Gained From Conducting a Breaching Experiment?
• How Do You Identify the Independent and Dependent Variables in an Experiment?
• What Was Griffith’s Experiment and Why Was It Important?
• What Is the Difference Between Contingent Valuation and Choice Experiment?
• What Is the Choice Experiment Valuation Method?
• An Experiment in DNA Cloning and Sequencing The aim of this experiment is to clone a fragment of DNA that includes the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) gene into the vector pTTQ18, which is an expression vector.
• Lab Experiment on Animals’ Taste or Smell Senses The hypothesis of the study is that taste perception and detection of different sugars by insects were similar to that of humans.
• An Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay Experiment In our society presently, immunoassay techniques used in data analyses have assumed a place of high significance, particularly as it applies to pure/applied research.
• Anaerobic Threshold: An Experiment Anaerobic Threshold refers to the minimum level below which no increase in blood lactose can occur. At levels above AT, supplementing aerobic production needs aerobic energy.
• Comparative Effectiveness of Various Surfactants: Experiment Surfactants refer to chemical substances that lessen the surface tension in water. This experiment aimed at establishing the comparative effectiveness of various surfactants.
• An Experiment on Data Mining Extend This experiment aims to utilize knowledge and principles of data mining in depicting the investigation of emergent data in biology- particularly on the development of ELISAs.
• Bolted & Welded Connections and Tension Experiment Exploring and comparing the expected and actual failure modes of both bottled and welded connections in tension are the primary purposes of the paper.
• Lab Experiment on Photovoltaics The experiment was done specifically to ascertain how various connected units could be coordinated to give a more reliable and controllable functioning.
• Mind Control: Ethics of the Experiment The topics of mind control and free will has always been seen as a morally grey area in terms of its research potential.
• A Personal Behavior Modification Experiment Using Operant Conditioning This research paper points out the positive outcomes of swearing: it can relieve stress and help one cope with emotional work.
• Jane Elliott’s Experiment on Discrimination The teacher Jane Elliott from Iowa decided to conduct an experiment demonstrating to her students what discrimination is and what it feels like.
• The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment When the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment was begun, over 75 years ago, no such principles were officially in place.
• Extraneous Variables in Experiments There are some variables in experiments besides the independent variables that usually cause a variation or a change to the dependent variables.
• The Critical Characteristics of an Experiment The main aim of this assignment is to evaluate the thought control experiment by famous psychologist Ellen Langer and determine whether it is a qualitative experiment.
• Milgram Experiment: The Question of Ethics This essay will discuss the Milgram experiment and also argue that it was ethical as medical research standards were met, and no undue harm to the participants was caused.
• Boston’s Experiment: Harvard Business Review’s Lessons In Harvard Business Review’s Lessons from Boston’s Experiment with The One Fund, Mitchell discusses his experience with fund distribution to the victims of the Boston bombing.
• The Stanford Prison Experiment Review The video presents an experiment held in 1971. In general, a viewer can observe that people are subjected to behavior and opinion change when affected by others.
• The Way to Come To Terms With Yourself: Social Distancing Experiment In this work, the author describes the course and results of an experiment on social distance: refusal to use gadgets, any communication, and going out.
• Experiment: Bacteria vs Antibiotics The experiment aimed was to test the reaction of bacteria towards some antibiotics and determine the effectiveness of those antibiotics in treating some diseases.
• Ethics: Experiments on Animals Industrial and biomedical research is often painful and most of the test ends up killing the animals. Experiments such as these often incur the wrath of the animal rights movement.
• Impact of the Stanford Prison Experiment Have on Psychology This essay will begin with a brief description of Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment then it will move to explore two main issues that arose from the said experiment.
• Medical Pharmacology: The Langendorff Experiment The Langendorff experiment aimed at using an ex vivo isolated rat heart preparation to demonstrate the pharmacological effects of two unknown drugs.
• Studying Organisations: The Hawthorne Experiments The Hawthorn experiments marked a new direction in research of motivation and productivity. More than half a century has passed, and productivity remains a concern of management.
• Chemistry of Cooking. Saffron Rice Experiment This research project outlines an experiment that aims to determine the temperature at which Saffron rice turns yellow.
• Evaluation of the Stanford Prison Experiment’ Role The Stanford Prison Experiment is a study that was conducted on August 20, 1971 by a group of researchers headed by the psychology professor Philip Zimbardo.
• Heat Transfer Rates in a Hot Jet: Experiment The experiment is aimed at determining the heat transfer rates in a hot jet. The reasons for the hot jet to have different heat rates in different areas will be determined.
• Inattentive Blindness in Psychological Experiment The features of the human consciousness not to notice quite obvious changes are natural and innate. Such blindness can be caused by several factors.
• An Observable Experiment: Control Over the Variables An observable experiment is defined as the experiment in which the independent variables cannot possibly be controlled by the person or person setting the test.
• Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment: Ethical Controversy Tuskegee case set the background for the reconsideration of healthcare ethics, which means that the ethical value of the given case deserves reconsideration.
• Gender Stereotyping Experiment: The Level of Gender Stereotyping in Society The present study measures the effects of stereotyping women. It examines the first impression formed by subjects based on the information about a fictitious man or a woman.
• Psychological Studies and Experiments: Code of Conduct The following paper is based on past psychological studies i.e. Stanly Milgram’s ‘Obedience Experiment’, Philip Zimbardo’s ‘Stanford Prison Experiment, and Jane Elliott’s ‘Class Divided’.
• Using Animals in Medical Experiments This paper explores how the principles of the character-based ethical approach can be applied to the discussion of using animals in the medical research and experiments.
• The Stanford Experiment by Philip Zimbardo Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Experiment shows that situational power and norms dictate the behavior of the individual more than the core beliefs that made up his personal identity.

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These essay examples and topics on Experiment were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 22, 2024 .

Articles on World Environment Day

Displaying all articles.

Nearly 25% of land in Africa has been damaged – what’s to blame, and what can be done

Mlungele M. Nsikani , South African National Biodiversity Institute

Buying and selling forest carbon as a commodity is dangerous if it trumps other environmental and social uses – new report

Constance McDermott , University of Oxford ; Eric Kumeh Mensah , University of Oxford , and Mark Hirons , University of Oxford

South Africa: new Drakensberg nature reserve will protect ancient rock art, wildlife, livelihoods, grasslands and water

Caitlin Blaser Mapitsa , University of the Witwatersrand

Malawi faces a food crisis: why plans to avert hunger aren’t realistic and what can be done

Joachim De Weerdt , International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Jan Duchoslav , International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Horn of Africa droughts: how a network of groundwater bores could help – study

Bradley Hiller , University of Cambridge

Sweet sorghum is a hardy, nutritious, biofuel crop that offers solutions in drought-hit southern Africa

Hamond Motsi , Stellenbosch University

Ghana’s efforts to employ young people and regrow forests could work better

Stephen Appiah Takyi , Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Owusu Amponsah , Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

How countries alongside the Sahara can restore productive land faster

Lars Laestadius , Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences ; Chris Reij , World Resources Institute , and Dennis Garrity , Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)

Africa’s drylands are getting more support. How to make the most of this

Anja Gassner , Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) ; Philip Dobie , Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) , and Robert Nasi , Centre for International Forestry Research

Key insights into land degradation from seven African countries

Karl Hughes , Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)

Tracking the battles for environmental justice: here are the world’s top 10

Julie Snorek , Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Related Topics

• afforestation
• Climate solutions
• Deforestation
• Natural world
• Peacebuilding

Top contributors

Post-Doctoral Researcher, Environmental Justice Atlas, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Adjunct Research Scientist, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Collaborator, Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Cambridge

Board Chair, Global EverGreening Alliance & Distinguished Senior Fellow, World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)

Global Landscapes Forum science advisor and Senior Scientist, Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)

PhD Student in Agriscience, Stellenbosch University

Head of Monitoring, Evaluation and impact Assessment, Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)

Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Senior Research Fellow & Malawi Country Program Leader, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

CGIAR System Organization

Sustainable land management specialist, World Resources Institute

Director General, Centre for International Forestry Research

Senior Fellow, Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)

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Research: Smaller, More Precise Discounts Could Increase Your Sales

• Dinesh Gauri,
• Abhijit Guha,
• Abhijit Biswas,
• Subhash Jha

Why bigger discounts don’t necessarily attract more customers.

Retailers might think that bigger discounts attract more customers. But new research suggests that’s not always true. Sometimes, a smaller discount that looks more precise — say 6.8% as compared to 7% — can make people think the deal won’t last long, and they’ll buy more. In a series of nine experimental studies involving around 2,000 individuals considering online or retail purchases of a variety of products, the authors found precise discount depths — the difference between the original and sale price — can increase purchase intentions by up to 21%.

Discounts are an important promotional tactic retailers use to drive sales. So much so that discounts were a major factor for three out of four U.S. online shoppers in 2023 , luring consumers away from shopping at other retailers, getting them to increase their basket size, and convincing them to make purchases they otherwise wouldn’t. Discounts have a particularly strong impact on food purchases, where 90% of consumers reported stocking up on groceries when they were on sale .

• DG Dinesh Gauri is a professor and Walmart chair in the department of marketing at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. He is also the executive director of retail information at the Walton College. His research and teaching interests include retailing, pricing, marketing analytics, retail media, e-commerce and social media marketing. He advises for various companies in these areas and is a recognized leader in marketing.
• AG Abhijit Guha is an associate professor in the department of marketing at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. His research and teaching interests include retailing, pricing, and artificial intelligence.
• AB Abhijit Biswas is the Kmart endowed chair and professor of marketing, chair of the department of marketing, and distinguished faculty fellow at the Mike Ilitch School of Business, Wayne State University. His research and teaching interests include retailing, pricing and advertising. He has published over a hundred articles, majority of which are in academic journals including the Journal of Marketing , Journal of Marketing Research , etc.
• SJ Subhash Jha is an associate professor of marketing at the Fogelman College of Business & Economics at the University of Memphis. His research and teaching interests include retailing, pricing, online reviews and role of haptic cues.

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• How Americans Get News on TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram

1. TikTok users’ experiences with news

Table of contents.

• How people get news on TikTok
• Views about news on TikTok
• How people get news on X
• Views about news on X
• How people get news on Facebook
• Views about news on Facebook
• How people get news on Instagram
• Views about news on Instagram
• Acknowledgments
• The American Trends Panel survey methodology

TikTok is an increasingly popular source of news for Americans – particularly young adults. A 2023 Pew Research Center study found that 14% of all U.S. adults say they regularly get news on the video-based platform . Among TikTok users, the share regularly getting news there is growing. And the vast majority of adult TikTok news consumers are under age 50, including 44% who are 18 to 29.

But TikTok’s future in the United States is uncertain. ByteDance, the platform’s China-based owner, is facing an order from the U.S. government to either divest from TikTok or be banned in the country.

Our survey looks at U.S. TikTok users’ experiences with getting news. Among the key findings:

• Regardless of whether they turn to TikTok for news, most users see news-related content. TikTok users report seeing funny posts (84%) and people’s opinions (80%) related to current events at higher rates than news articles (57%) or breaking news information (55%).
• TikTok news consumers are equally likely to get news from influencers or celebrities as they are from news outlets or journalists. About two-thirds of those who regularly get news on TikTok (68%) say they ever get news from influencers or celebrities, and 67% get news from news outlets or journalists. An even higher share (84%) say they get news from other people they don’t know personally (beyond influencers, journalists, advocacy groups, and friends, family and acquaintances).
• TikTok news consumers are more likely than Americans who get news on Facebook and Instagram to view the news they get there as unique . Among those who regularly get news on TikTok, 35% say the news they get there is mostly news they would not have gotten elsewhere. By comparison, 14% of Facebook news consumers say the same about news they see on Facebook.

Four-in-ten TikTok users say they regularly get news on the site. And when it comes to the reasons Americans use TikTok, relatively few cite news.

Read more: Reasons for using TikTok

Among TikTok users, 15% say getting news is a major reason they use the platform, with an additional 26% citing it as a minor reason. The majority of users, however, say getting news is not a reason they use TikTok (58%).

Regardless of whether they turn to TikTok for news, a majority of TikTok users report seeing news-related content on the platform.

Most users say they ever see funny posts that reference current events (84%) or people expressing opinions about current events (80%) on TikTok. Smaller majorities say they ever see news articles (57%) – whether from posts, reposts, links or screenshots – or information about a breaking news event as it’s happening (55%) on the platform.

What sources people get news from on TikTok

TikTok news consumers are equally likely to get news from influencers or celebrities as they are from news outlets or journalists.

Among U.S. adults who say they regularly get news on TikTok, around two-thirds say they ever get news on the platform from influencers or celebrities (68%) or from news outlets or journalists (67%). Other sources of information, such as advocacy or nonprofit organizations (55%) and friends, family and acquaintances (48%), are less common.

Beyond these four types of sources, the vast majority of TikTok news consumers (84%) say they get news from other people they don’t know personally . In fact, accounts in this category are the most commonly cited source of news for TikTok news consumers, who are more likely than news consumers on other major social media sites to get news from other people they don’t know personally.

Inaccurate information

About a quarter of U.S. adults who regularly get news on TikTok (23%) say they extremely or fairly often see news on the platform that seems inaccurate. Roughly half (49%) say they sometimes see information that seems inaccurate, while 28% say they rarely or never see inaccurate news.

Views by party

Among TikTok news consumers, similar shares of Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party (22%) and Democrats and Democratic leaners (23%) say they often see news that seems inaccurate on the platform.

TikTok’s influence on the news users see

As lawmakers express concerns about the potential for the Chinese government to influence content on TikTok, most U.S. TikTok news consumers say they think the platform influences which news stories they see there at least to some extent. This includes roughly one-in-five (18%) who say TikTok influences the news content they see there a lot and an additional 44% who say TikTok does this some.

About a quarter of TikTok news consumers (27%) say the site does not influence which news stories they see there much, while 11% say TikTok exerts no influence at all.

Similar shares of Republicans (59%) and Democrats (63%) say they think TikTok influences which news stories they see on the platform at least somewhat.

TikTok as a source of unique news

There is no consensus among U.S. adults who regularly get news on TikTok whether the news they get there is mostly unique or not. About a third (35%) say it’s mostly news they would not have gotten elsewhere, while 27% say it is mostly news they would have gotten elsewhere if they did not use TikTok. And 37% say the news they get on TikTok consists of both kinds of information about equally.

Democrats (33%) are more likely than Republicans (18%) to say the news they get on TikTok is mostly news they would have gotten elsewhere if they didn’t use the platform.

Feeling worn out by news on TikTok

Americans who regularly get news on TikTok are less likely to say they feel worn out by the news they see there compared with news consumers on the other sites studied.

About one-in-ten TikTok news consumers (11%) say they extremely or fairly often feel worn out by the news they see on the platform, while 36% say they sometimes do.

News consumers who see at least some political content (i.e., posts about politics or political issues) on TikTok are more likely than those who see less politics-related content to feel worn out by the news they see on the platform at least sometimes (56% vs. 33%).

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This invisible killer takes out 3.5 billion U.S. birds a year

Glass is even more deadly to birds than previously thought, according to new research. But, unlike many environmental problems, scientists say the solutions are simple.

When a bird smacks into a glass window, the force is nothing short of shocking. Panes rattle. Bones break. Brains bleed.  

However, only a small percentage of birds die upon impact, with many regaining consciousness and flying off wounded, while an unknown number of those are carried off by predators. This makes the phenomenon hard to study.

Now, new, more in-depth research shows we may be severely underestimating the annual death toll of U.S. birds crashing into glass.

Previous research had relied on counting birds found dead next to windows and other glass structures. But the researchers took that a giant step further by observing birds in real-time for five years, in addition to studying bird-rehabilitation data.

The results, published recently in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology ,   suggest between 1.28 billion and 3.46 billion birds die in glass collisions each year. That number, which represents a 350 percent increase over the previous estimate in 2014, is just for the United States—meaning the global impact is likely many, many times higher.

“The whole bloody world is filled with glass right now,” says study leader Daniel Klem , an ornithologist at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania.

The global glass construction market reached $110 billion in 2023, and is projected to grow to $177 billion by 2032 , according to industry estimates. (Read how better glass can save hundreds of millions of birds a year.)

“Birds around the world really are taking a big hit, literally, and the consequence is that we're losing a tremendous number of the population,” he says, pointing to a recent study that estimates three billion birds have been lost in North American since 1970 , due to factors such as pesticides, habitat loss, and outdoor cats.

Through the looking glass

For the research, Klem and colleagues logged more than 1,200 hours of observation over five years. Using birdseed, they attracted birds to a forest edge in Henningsville, Pennsylvania, then watched how the animals behaved near a row of experimental framed window units placed about 30 feet away from the bird feeders.

Curiously, of the more than 1,300 birds that struck windowpanes, 50 percent of them left no mark, such as feathers, dust smudges, or blood. This alone suggests that many of the costs to birds from window strikes are going unnoticed, the authors say. (See six ways you can help birds in your own home.)

Overall, the researchers found that only 14 percent of collisions resulted in an immediate fatality. However, a subset of experiments also showed that another 14 percent of birds were left either unconscious or stunned for five minutes or longer after striking the panels, before flying off and possibly dying later.

“We don’t like that. Nobody likes that,” Klem says of the birds who died during the study.

However, he stressed that such studies are necessary to identify the risks birds face in the real world and develop products to minimize them. The Muhlenberg College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved the experimental protocol, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Pennsylvania Game Commission issued permits.

Separately, the scientists gathered data from 10 animal-rehabilitation facilities across the U.S. Northeast and Great Lakes regions. Of the nearly 9,000 birds brought to a facility because of a collision with a window, 70 percent ultimately perished . (Learn how record numbers of birds are being rescued in NYC glass collisions.)

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An invisible killer.

For the last half century, Klem has been one of the scientists leading the charge in the field of bird-on-glass collisions.

“Ninety-nine percent of all the windows in the world are reflective,” says Klem, who also wrote Solid Air: Invisible Killer—Saving Billions of Birds from Windows . “Even a perfectly clear pane covering a darkened interior space acts like a mirror on the outside.”

This leads to collisions when that surface reflects trees or the sky—the birds simply think they’re flying toward more habitat, not a solid material.

The species affected are diverse, as well: In Klem’s Pennsylvania study, more than a dozen species of birds struck the experimental windows, such as mourning doves , downy woodpeckers , red-winged blackbirds , northern cardinals , dark-eyed juncos , and Cooper’s hawks .

“It’s good to highlight how dangerous windows are,” says Luke DeGroote , who was not involved with the research, but reviewed an earlier version of the study. DeGroote also praised the study's finding that half of collisions fail to leave a mark, something he's witnessed anecdotally but never seen acknowledged about in the scientific literature.

However, DeGroote, who is the lead avian research coordinator at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s Powdermill Nature Reserve in Rector, Pennsylvania, cautions about the reliability of the study’s calculations.  

For instance, the statistics from wildlife-rehabilitation facilities have not undergone peer review, he noted. This doesn’t mean the data is incorrect, but DeGroote knows from his own research that rehabilitation success rates can vary widely.

“I know one of my rehabbers has a phenomenal success rate of 90-plus percent,” says DeGroote. “So 70 percent mortality seems high.”

How to protect birds

The good news is that people can easily prevent birds from slamming into windows.

“This is not complex stuff, right? It's not climate change. It's not multifaceted unknowns,” says Klem. “We know how to solve this problem.” (Related:   “Four ways to help your local wildlife this spring.” )

Both Klem and DeGroote run experiments that test new products—such as films, coatings, patterns, and decals —that can be placed on glass to make it more visible to birds.

And while sports stadiums and skyscrapers may require advanced treatments—and political will—there are plenty of inexpensive products bird-friendly consumers can install in their homes.

For instance, hanging cords over windows, or covering them with adhesive squares or translucent tape, can deter birds from striking windows.

“We could [save the birds] tomorrow, if people were willing,” says Klem.

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• URBAN PLANNING
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• ENDANGERED SPECIES

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