Overview
Do a longer (5-6 page) paper on an environmental issue of their choice. At least 50% of the content must be entirely new information not presented in class or class resources. To do this, you can select a topic not covered, select a topic covered by narrow the focus and go into greater depth, or select a topic covered but present details of a specific example or case-study of that issue.
Any environmental topic is welcome! But here are several ideas, many from past students:
exotic species in New York State
combined sewer overflows
pros and cons of fish farming
ecological consequences of deforestation
modern high-tech landfills
climate change refugees
environmental pros and cons of electric vehicles
microplastics in the environment and our food
GIS as an environmental planning tool
hydrofracking and its impacts
challenges of redeveloping brownfields
pros and cons of dam removal
genetically-modified foods
noise pollution
pros and cons of recycling
climate change and wildfires
Purple loosestrife
ozone depletion
zebra mussels
acid rain
habitat fragmentation
strip mining
Love Canal superfund site
Camp LeJeune drinking water pollution
carbon credits
soil degradation
monoculture
pharmaceuticals in drinking water
hormone mimics
light pollution
population decline of bees
the 6th (modern) mass extinction
daily personal choices that impact the environment
carbon capture and sequestration
climate change impacts on water resources
groundwater pollution
“peak oil” and when we will run out
is “clean coal” really clean?
“dark money” disinformation on climate change
giant hogweed
Asian carp
potato vine exotic species
leachate from landfills
acid mine drainage
old growth forests and the spotted owl
snail darter versus the Tennessee Valley Authority
…and more!