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The Environmental Studies Student

Two scenes stand out in my mind from my visit to Brazil’s Wetland: Forests burning before seed planting and trees as hedgerows. Before the planting season, I could see the leafless remnants of burnt trees still standing. The burning of pristine forests destroys both the habitats and countless species which depend on and thrive in these habitats. The few remaining bare, scarred trees silently convey the cost to our natural resources of pursuing our economic interests. Some forests are preserved by government edict issued in response to international pressure. But most of this preservation occurs alongside major roads — not to protect the ecosystem, but to prevent disturbance to ranches and farms along the highways. The clash between economic and environmental concerns that I witnessed in Brazil fascinates me and attracts me to the Environmental Studies Program.

Two courses in my geography department increased my interest in the connection between the environment and economics: Conservation of Underdeveloped Countries and Environmental Impact Analysis. In the former, we studied the problems of natural resource management in developing countries. The balance is always tilted toward economic growth at the expense of environmental preservation. For example, because the Pantanal Wetland could become a highly productive agricultural system once it’s drained, it is drained regardless of the destruction that drainage causes to the ecosystem. Only portions of the wetland are preserved for tourist purposes.

The other course that piqued my interest is an interdisciplinary course called Environmental Impact Analysis in which we, as a group, created matrix and flow diagrams discussing the economic and environmental impact of logging and preservation of old growth forests. I was able to use tools that I acquired in my economics and environmental studies classes. In general, logging creates economic benefits at the local level. It increases employment in the timber industry and subsequently in related non-timber industries; it also benefits local government. Yet, it has great deleterious environmental effects: soil erosion, watershed destruction, and a decrease in species diversity due to loss of habitat. The logging industry represents the classic clash between economic and environmental interests.

I also took two sequential classes in the economics department that are related to Resource Management — Theories of Growth & Development and Policies for Economic Development. Because the courses were taught by a professor who is concerned chiefly with economic growth, I learned the standard economic rationalizations for development unrestrained by environmental concerns.

In addition to my interest in resource management policies, I have a specific interest in Geographical Information System (GIS), a powerful tool for natural resource management. After taking several related classes in GIS, I began interning for the National Park Service (NPS). After I learn how to use ARC/INFO, a leading GIS package, I will assist the NPS in constructing projects. Some of my duties include spatial and non-spatial data analysis, digitizing themes such as fire locations, vegetation, wildlife habitats, etc., and tabular and graphical presentation of results. I hope to use the tools I acquire during this internship in my continuing study of our environment.

I would like to study the social and economic factors that influence environmental policy formation. For example, because people worry more about pollution than endangered species, laws and regulations concerning environmental pollution are more numerous and stricter than for bio-diversity. Within the School of Environmental Studies, I have a particular interest in the emphasis: Economics, Policy, and Management. This emphasis deals with how economic factors can create negative externalities, such as pollution, and need to be regulated. This emphasis also tries to consider non-economic values, such as aesthetic pleasure and species diversity. It also discusses tools like GIS and system analysis that apply to environmental management. Because of my interest in GIS, economics, and environmental studies, this emphasis suits me perfectly. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary approach of the School of Environmental Studies attracts me since it combines social science’s strengths with a knowledge of the natural sciences necessary to protect and preserve the environment.

After completing my masters program, I would like to continue my education and obtain a Ph.D. in natural resource management. This degree would enable me to combine a teaching career with advising business and government on natural resource management issues. Teaching college students is more than a one-way channel; I would also learn from their questions like my professors have from mine. In advising business and government, I can help them strike a balance between economic and environmental concerns. GIS will be a useful tool in helping me give them crucial information.

I have enjoyed an interdisciplinary approach in my environmental studies major and become fascinated by the clash between social interests, especially economics, and environmental needs. I pursued an additional major in economics to better understand this conflict. Furthermore, my work for the NPS will train me in the latest techniques in natural resource management. I would like to continue exploring this clash and resource management in the School of Environmental Studies. Ultimately, I would like to teach and work in natural resource management. Ideally, I would like to find ways for allowing development while preventing the burning of beautiful and valuable eco-systems like the Pantanal Wetland.

Other Sample Essays

1. Climate Change

One thing is certain: We'll always have an environment. The question is whether or not it'll be an environment we can actually live in.

People researching climate change often face an uphill battle. You might be working on just one piece of the problem, such as operating remote eddy covariance towers, which measure how gases flow between the earth and sky. Or you might be tasked with a bigger problem, like getting people to agree climate change is, in fact, real.

Either way, there's plenty of opportunity in this field. That's especially true now that the U.S. has elected a science-focused presidential administration , which means there could soon be more climate change-related jobs at federal agencies.

2. Fire Ecology

Rising temperatures also means more wildfires. For decades, U.S. fire policy relied on stamping out any and all fires with minimal prescribed burns, but that's not the natural order of things, so now we're faced with a one-two punch: more dry fuels to burn, and hotter temperatures to burn them.

This is why fire ecology is such a blazing field right now. Fire ecologists work hard to understand how fires naturally burn, how they're burning currently, and how they might burn in the future. Even more importantly, these scientists are trying to understand how humans can live in harmony with fire.

3. Renewable Energy

Modern society was built on fossil fuels, and now it's coming back to haunt us through climate change. One of the biggest ways we can cope with this is by developing renewable energy technologies , such as solar, wind, and hydro energy. Although these new resources may be carbon-neutral, that doesn't mean they don't come at a cost.

For example, wind energy has a nasty tendency to whack birds out of the air, including endangered species. Hydro power equipment can block migratory fish like salmon from being able to reproduce, causing fisheries to suffer. Even solar power can block sunlight from reaching plants.

Developing a truly green future means identifying these potential threats and figuring out how to reduce or eliminate them.

4. Urban Ecology

We tend to think of distant mountains and forests when we think of the environment, but urban ecology is just as important as rural ecosystems. For example, did you know that different areas of the same city can be up to 20 degrees warmer during summer heat waves because of unequal urban planning and greenspace distribution?

As the world urbanizes, we need to study and understand the impacts of these changes to be able to live harmoniously with nature. For example, how much land should we designate as green space around streams that flow through subdivisions? How do we prevent road pollution from dumping on baby fish at the next big rainfall? Urban ecologists work to find solutions to these problems.

5. Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems

You can't physically travel to all of the places you wish to study. Even if you could, by the time you got there, the place would have already changed.

In order to study vast amounts of land, scientists are increasingly turning to tools like satellites and drones to monitor the natural world from afar. They can then put the information they gather on maps in a geographic information system (GIS) program and analyze the data. Scientists use GIS for many reasons, like tracking the greening of the Serengeti as the rainy season starts.

Currently, there's a lot of work in "ground-truthing" the data — i.e., literally going to the places the satellites and drones are looking at to see whether the scientists are correct in their estimates. GIS skills are useful in an array of fields , such as city planning and engineering .

6. Bioremediation

Another consequence of our quick industrialization over the past few hundred years is the increase in pollution and contamination. A lot of economic activity damages the environment, in some cases spreading heavy metals and even radioactive material into communities' drinking water.

It's a big job to clean all of that up. But rather than shoveling dirt, what if you could spread microbes on the ground that would eat the pollution and neutralize it? Bioremediation scientists do just that by engineering microbes to clean up some of humans' largest messes.

7. Noise and Light Pollution

You might not think of noise and light as pollutants (unless your neighbors are being rowdy when you're trying to study), but they are. In this emerging field, researchers attempt to understand how noisy and bright environments can impact the organisms living within them.

For example, how does the roar of airports affect nearby wildlife? What happens if endangered orcas can't echolocate because of the noises from freighters carrying international cargo? How do glowing city lights confuse migrating birds? These are all critical questions those studying noise and light pollution are trying to answer.

8. Limnology

Scientists who study the ocean are called oceanographers , but what about those who study fresh water? These scientists are called limnologists, and they play a big role as we work to understand and mitigate our impacts on rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

Because freshwater bodies of water are much smaller than the ocean, they can be much more sensitive to disruptions. For example, if you dump a truck full of fertilizer into the ocean, it won't have much of an impact. On the other hand, if you do the same in a lake, it could cause eutrophication, algae overgrowth which chokes every other living thing out of the water.

9. Conservation Biology

According to the World Wildlife Fund, between 200 and 2,000 species go extinct each year. This process can happen naturally, but humans have ramped up extinction rates to abnormally high levels. Our ecosystems depend on biodiversity, and to keep our environment healthy, we need to prevent animals from dying out.

It's not an easy job, and conservationists often find themselves on the losing end of the battle, but that doesn't mean we should stop. There's still a lot of opportunity to protect endangered species and understanding more about these species is the first step to saving them.

10. Environmental Justice

At last, the world is waking up to the fact that people of color and other marginalized populations lack something many take for granted: a healthy environment. Not everyone has access to clean drinking water, good soil, clean air, and green spaces. And without these things, you can't live your life to its fullest potential.

Right now, there's a lot of research being done to quantify the extent of these problems. How many people have been impacted by the Flint water crisis ? What's happening to the widows of Navajo uranium miners ? By documenting these impacts, we can work together towards an equitable solution that blends environmental science with sociology .

The Environment Needs Your Help

We face more challenges today than we ever have before in making sure Earth stays habitable for future generations. As our population grows, environmental problems will become more pressing and require more drastic solutions and changes.

The good news is that there's a lot of opportunity to lend a hand. Whether you decide to major in environmental science and tackle some of these problems or just educate yourself about the biggest issues for greater awareness, anything helps. As citizens of Earth, we're all tasked with the responsibility to keep our planet clean, healthy, and beautiful.

Feature Image: CasarsaGuru / E+ / Getty Images

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Sustainable Summer

The Common App Essay: Tips for Sustainability and Environmentally-Themed Applications

In a companion post , I reviewed the college admissions process from the perspective of a sustainability-themed applicant. I broke down the five different components of a college application in the context of admissions, both broadly speaking and for those emphasizing an environmental focus in their application. In this article, I will take a detailed look at the common app essay and supplements.

Common App Essay and Supplements

Time management.

Understandably as an English major, writing my Common App essay and supplements was one of my favorite parts. Who doesn’t love writing about oneself? However, writing your personal essay and supplements can easily become a drag if you don’t budget your time well. Completing my personal essay and supplements was incredibly time consuming and needed to be done on top of my senior year workload. Many high schools will dedicate at least part of their senior English/Writing curriculum to the personal essay, aiding the students by teaching methods and techniques to approach personal writing and then providing teacher comments and feedback on drafts. Nevertheless, writing your personal essay and supplements will be a lot of outside work and budgeting your time accordingly and setting goals for completion will avoid the possibility of procrastination. You also need to account for the time editing your writing will take. No piece of writing will be perfect on the first draft, even from a great writer. Writing multiple drafts and having your peers and teachers make comments on your writing, as well as your own self-editing ensures that you’re going along the writing process to produce your best work.

Choosing Your Topic

Choosing your topic for your personal essay is challenging and sometimes you may end up completely switching subjects midway of writing it. What you choose to write about for your personal essay is essential in making your application stand out amidst the thousands of applications the admissions counselors are reading. It’s important to note that even if your whole application’s theme centers around environmental interests and sustainability, your personal essay does not necessarily need to talk about that. Some people choose to take a more personal route, perhaps writing about a familial circumstance, personal obstacle they’ve overcome, or defining moment they’ve had. As long as you feel like your subject matter is unique to you and you’re able to produce a well-written personal essay regarding it, go for it!

Supplements DOs and DON’Ts

DO be more creative in your writing, if your supplement questions allow it. My senior year, one of the Tufts University supplements was “What makes you happy?” This was probably one of the most fun supplements to write, as I got to write about my love for The Office, which definitely isn’t the typical college supplement topic. That being said, the creative route isn’t for every supplement. Sometimes the college admissions wants a simple, well-written, more formal response to their supplemental questions.
DO vary what you write about, particularly between your Common App essay and supplements. If you’ve already written about a sustainability or environmental program, great! What’s something else unique you can write about? Perhaps a leadership role you had in an extracurricular? Or a team sport you participated or held a leadership role in?
DO be concise when you’re writing. Most supplements have a 200-300 word limit, some being as little as 100 words. Therefore, the flowery and over-worded language some of us may have a habit of writing with has no place on your college application.
DO proofread ALL of your supplements and Common App essay. I’ve heard a couple of horror stories of students sending their “Why Lehigh?” supplement along to Tufts. That’s an easy way to be thrown in rejection pile.

Talking About Sustainability and the Environment in Your Writing

Choosing to write about sustainability and environmental leadership already displays certain characteristics about you to your college admissions counselor: you have a passion that you’re motivated about and you have leadership qualities to pursue your passion.

To begin writing, think of a subject, possibly a certain instance or experience that you’re able to reflect on and clearly address the looming questions the college admissions counselors will have about you- Who are you? What are you interested in/what matters to you? How are you unique amongst all the applicants I’m going through?
Write! It doesn’t have to be polished or clearly organized, as long as you’re getting your ideas down in a somewhat coherent way that you can shift through later.
As a general rule about writing personal essays, remind yourself to show, not tell what you want to convey to the college admission counselors reading your essay. Simple statements like “I’m hard working” in your essay shows that one, you’re unable to write tactifully about ways that show that you’re hardworking and two, that these cover statements don’t actually prove that you are hard working. Rather, write about an instance that shows your work ethic and reflect on it.
Remember the word limit. On first drafts you can go a bit above or a bit below, but within reason- an 800-word essay is easier to cut down than over 1,000-word essay.
Drafts. As mentioned before, drafts are key to producing your best writing. Having a peer read over your essay and asking what their biggest takeaway about you was is good way to see where your essay may need to be strengthened.
Avoid clichès. Particularly if you’re writing about a certain experience, possibly a study abroad, do not recount the typical “This was a life-changing experience” or “I’ve seen the world, I’m so open-minded now.” Particularly in the realm of doing community service, do not write as if you’ve saved the world if you’ve done a community service trip to a developing country through a program that cost you thousands of dollars.
An easy way of avoiding clichès is being specific. If you did feel like a particular trip or program changed your perspective or the way you think, then how? If you’re truly passionate about community service, write about any particular realms you’re interested in or any goals you have on the horizon for yourself? If you’re writing about your interest in the environment, try to pinpoint what aspects of the environment you’re most passionate about: the food industry, environmental policy, renewable energy, wildlife conservation? Being specific allows the reader to get more of a sense of who you are. You aren’t just someone who’s passionate about the environment, but rather someone who is interested in food policy and is passionate about stopping the unsustainable agricultural practices that big corporations use.

Eana is an alumna of Sustainable Summer and a current undergraduate at Colby College.

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The 30 Best Colleges for Environmental Science

What’s covered:, how we made this list, 30 best environmental science schools, what are your chances of acceptance to these top environmental science schools.

Environmental science is a phenomenally important discipline that draws on fields of natural sciences to study the planet, its resources, problems associated with it, and the human impact on the environment. People who study the subject go on to have thriving careers in a number of industries. Common career paths include roles as marine biologists, researchers, consultants, conservationists, environmental engineers, ecologists, educators, meteorologists, environmental lawyers, and more.

To create our list of the best environmental science programs in the country, we examined a range of factors, including the reputation of the program, the overall quality of the school, the popularity of the major in the context of the school, and the size of the program relative to the size of the school.

1. University of California, Berkeley | UC Berkeley

Location: Berkeley, CA

Undergrad Enrollment: 30,800

Acceptance Rate: 15%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: N/A

Berkeley’s Environmental Science major is a top-rated, interdisciplinary program. Students explore concepts in biology, ecology, chemistry, toxicology, geology, hydrology, meteorology, geography, engineering, statistics, behavioral science, policy analysis, economics, and law. Students choose a Social Science, Physical Science, or Biological Science Concentration.

The program culminates in a year-long research project — the senior thesis — during which students will investigate an environmental issue and design and execute independent research.

2. Yale University

Location: New Haven, CT

Undergrad Enrollment: 5,900

Acceptance Rate: 5%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1580/33-35

Yale College Environmental Studies offers both BA and BS degrees. The interdisciplinary programs explore concepts in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, encouraging students to grapple with the most challenging environmental problems the world faces today. During their studies, students prepare for the EVST senior essay, the major’s capstone project.

3. Columbia University

Location: New York, NY

Undergrad Enrollment: 8,200

Acceptance Rate: N/A

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1570/33-35

Columbia’s Environmental Science major explores the interaction between Earth’s physical environment and the biosphere. Students study a range of relevant science fields in depth. The program includes a senior capstone experience, during which majors will complete a research project and a Senior Thesis under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

4. Bucknell University

Location: Lewisburg, PA

Undergrad Enrollment: 3,500

Acceptance Rate: 35%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1210-1410/26-32

At Bucknell, you can major in Environmental Studies or Environmental Science — each pathway leads to a BA. No matter which program you choose, you will partake in experiential learning, visiting local waterways, rural communities, and state forests. You’ll also conduct faculty-led research, traveling around the world to tackle real-world problems — from sustainability in Europe to climate change in Central Asia.

5. University of California, Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Undergrad Enrollment: 31,500

Acceptance Rate: 14%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1290-1520/29-34

Combining theory, community, and real-world practice, UCLA’s bachelor’s degree in environmental science is a diverse, immersive experience that prepares students to tackle complex environmental issues. Students complete the program by undertaking a Senior Practicum, a year-long capstone program, where they will work alongside peers and a faculty member or another environmental expert.

6. Brown University

Location: Providence, RI

Undergrad Enrollment: 7,000

Acceptance Rate: 8%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1440-1560/33-35

The Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES) offers two undergraduate degrees: an A.B. in Environmental Studies and a Sc.B. in Environmental Science. Both degree paths offer an interdisciplinary approach, immersing students in the natural and social sciences, as well as public policy. Students will also choose among five tracks of study:

Air, Climate & Energy
Conservation Science & Policy
Environment and Inequality
Land, Water & Food Security
Sustainability in Development

7. Colgate University

Location: Hamilton, NY

Undergrad Enrollment: 2,900

Acceptance Rate: 17%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1340-1500/31-34

The Colgate Environmental Studies Program takes an interdisciplinary approach, offering majors in Environmental Biology, Environmental Economics, Environmental Geography, Environmental Geology, and Environmental Studies, along with a minor in Environmental Studies.

All paths have plenty of opportunities, including extensive study abroad experiences, such as an immersive program at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia. There are also numerous research opportunities.

8. University of Pennsylvania

Location: Philadelphia

Undergrad Enrollment: 11,800

Acceptance Rate: 9%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1460-1570/33-35

The Department of Earth and Environmental Science at Penn offers undergraduate majors in Earth Science (EASC) and Environmental Studies (ENVS), as well as minors in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geology, and Sustainability and Environmental Management. Students have plenty of research opportunities through programs like Hayden Scholars, along with communities like the Penn Geology Society.

9. Washington University in St. Louis | WashU

Location: Saint Louis, MO

Undergrad Enrollment: 7,700

Acceptance Rate: 13%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1490-1570/33-35

In the Environmental Studies program at WashU, students work to understand the systems that shape the Earth’s environment. Students may major or minor in Environmental Analysis, and an Environmental Studies minor is also available. All programs prepare students to tackle real-world environmental problems through coursework and independent research. They may also participate in interdisciplinary, project-based, community-engaged learning experiences.

10. University of Southern California | USC

Location: Los Angeles

Undergrad Enrollment: 19,900

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1410-1540/32-35

The ENVS degrees at USC are built on specialized natural and social science courses and interdisciplinary courses focusing on sustainability. Students may pursue one of two concentrations toward earning a BA: Science and Management or Policy and Management. Meanwhile, four concentrations are available within the BS degree path: Sustainability and Society, Oceans and People, Climate and Environment, and Environmental Policy.

11. Northeastern University

Location: Boston, MA

Undergrad Enrollment: 13,900

Acceptance Rate: 20%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1410-1540/33-35

By earning a BS in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, Northeastern graduates gain a foundation in Earth systems, ecology, sustainable development, and required skills courses in data management and geographic information systems. Students choose among four concentrations while participating in interdisciplinary opportunities.

12. University of California, Davis | UC Davis

Location: Davis, CA

Undergrad Enrollment: 30,700

Acceptance Rate: 49%

UC Davis’ College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is home to the Environmental Science and Management major. The program includes a capstone course integrating science, policy, management, and biology aspects of the major, and students will gain practical experience through field courses and a required internship. In their junior year, students choose a specialized track from the six options.

13. University of Texas at Austin | UT Austin

Location: Austin, TX

Undergrad Enrollment: 40,800

Acceptance Rate: 32%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1210-1470/26-33

The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science takes an interdisciplinary scientific approach to environmental and sustainability issues, analysis, and management. Students perform field and laboratory work, computer analysis, and original research, toward the goals of preparing students for careers in local, state, and federal government laboratories and nonprofit agencies, environmental consulting firms, environmental education and outreach agencies, and universities and other research settings.

14. Santa Clara University

Location: Santa Clara, CA

Undergrad Enrollment: 5,500

Acceptance Rate: 54%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1290-1470/29-33

The Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences (ESS) at Santa Clara offers interdisciplinary programs of study leading to a BS in environmental science or environmental studies. Students take part in coursework in applied ecology, water resources, climate, renewable energy, and more. They are encouraged to study abroad and pursue research-oriented field programs.

15. Massachusetts Maritime Academy | MMA

Location: Buzzards Bay, MA

Undergrad Enrollment: 1,700

Acceptance Rate: 90%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1040-1190/19-25

MMA is uniquely positioned to provide a comprehensive environmental science education through the Marine Science, Safety, and Environmental Protection (MSSEP) program. First-year cadets participate in a tropical ecology field course in Bermuda.

Cadets will also engage in hands-on and offshore work, as well as participate in a six-week co-op internship and three-credit co-op, while utilizing environmental and marine science technology and developing critical skills in the field.

16. Trinity College

Location: Hartford, CT

Undergrad Enrollment: 2,100

Acceptance Rate: 38%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1333-1480/29-33

Trinity is home to a vibrant ENVS community. The program blends theory and practicing, giving students exposure to concepts and practices in the field. They have plenty of research and hands-on learning opportunities, investigating topics like soil chemistry, home ranges of urban hawk populations, and much more. All of this takes place as part of a comprehensive liberal arts education, where students participate in coursework in environmental policy, nature writing, economics, or anthropology.

17. University of Virginia

Location: Charlottesville

Undergrad Enrollment: 16,700

Acceptance Rate: 23%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1320-1510/30-34

The Department of Environmental Sciences at UVA offers both a BA and a BS. Through a flexible curriculum, students gain an understanding of the scientific processes and problems related to the environment, exploring areas like Ecology, Geoscience, Hydrology, and Atmospheric Science. Students are able to tailor their curriculum to prepare for graduate studies or careers.

18. Colorado College

Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1250-1455/29-33

Colorado College offers two integrated majors in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies. The Environmental Science major prepares students to investigate the Earth system, focusing on how humans interact with the environment. Meanwhile, the Environmental Studies major prepares students to investigate the complexity of socio-ecological relationships.

19. Virginia Tech

Location: Blacksburg, VA

Undergrad Enrollment: 27,800

Acceptance Rate: 56%

This interdisciplinary, student-oriented Environmental Science program emphasizes the essential role that ecosystem processes play in sustaining Earth’s inhabitants. There are many options aimed at various areas of focus, such as resource preservation and the rehabilitation of ecosystems. Students gain a practical understanding of the biosphere through experiential learning.

20. Emory University

Location: Atlanta, GA

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1420-1540/32-34

A degree in environmental sciences from Emory has real-world impacts. Students are equipped to address the most important challenges of our world: climate change, disease ecology, food and water security, vector-borne disease, and human impacts on the environment. Students participate in coursework, problem-solving, field activities, and individual study. There are several degree paths available:

BA Environmental Sciences
BS Environmental Science Ecology & Conservation Track
BS Environmental Sciences Earth & Atmospheric Science Track
BS Environmental Sciences Environment & Health Track
BS Environmental Sciences Social Science & Policy Track

21. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities | Minnesota

Location: Minneapolis

Undergrad Enrollment: 34,400

Acceptance Rate: 73%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1310-1490/27-32

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Minnesota has existed for more than 125 years, making major contributions toward understanding the Earth and its environment. Environmental Science, Policy and Management is the university’s premier environmental major, preparing the next generation of professionals through interdisciplinary coursework, research, and enrichment experiences.

As a freshman, you will take core classes and explore other interests, before choosing a track to focus on starting sophomore year:

Conservation and Resource Management
Environmental Education and Communication
Environmental Science
Policy, Planning, Law and Society

22. Boston College | BC

Location: Chestnut Hill, MA

Undergrad Enrollment: 9,900

Acceptance Rate: 19%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1420-1530/33-34

BC’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences offers a breadth of undergraduate programs that prepare students for careers in geosciences, environmental sciences, and beyond. Students may choose between two students: Environmental Geoscience or Geological Sciences. They might also have the opportunity to further customize their studies based on their goals and interests.

Students are encouraged to study abroad through flexible foreign studies programs and paths.

23. University of Wisconsin-Madison

Location: Madison

Undergrad Enrollment: 31,700

Acceptance Rate: 57%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1260-1460/27-32

The Environmental Sciences program emphasizes critical thinking and problem solving, preparing graduates for entry-level positions in nonprofit and private sectors or graduate school. Students may pursue their degrees through either the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) or the College of Letters & Science (L&S) under the BS or BA degree programs. They may also pursue double majors with a variety of other majors.

24. University of Maryland, College Park

Location: College Park, MD

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1270-1480/29-34

The Environmental Science and Policy program produces leaders who will tackle the most pressing environmental challenges of today. The program takes an interdisciplinary approach, encouraging students to grapple with complex issues like global trends such as environmental change, global food security, the optimization of urban environments, and the development of green technologies. Students choose among several tracks.

25. University of California, Santa Barbara

Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Undergrad Enrollment: 23,300

Acceptance Rate: 37%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1230-1480/26-33 (currently test-blind)

Celebrating 50 years, the Environmental Studies Program at UC Santa Barbara offers three undergraduate degrees: BA and BS degrees in Environmental Studies and a program in Hydrological Sciences and Policy. All paths engage students in foundations in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

Students are encouraged to study abroad — currently, 45 students from Environmental Studies are studying abroad in 17 different countries.

26. Stanford University

Location: Stanford, CA

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1420-1570/31-35

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability offers several paths toward a grounding in the environmental sciences. The Earth Systems Program is an interdisciplinary environmental science major, encouraging students to grapple with complex environmental problems caused by human activities in conjunction with natural changes in the Earth system. The School also offers the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER), and the Sustainability and Science Practice Program.

27. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Location: Chapel Hill, NC

Undergrad Enrollment: 19,100

Acceptance Rate: 24%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1270-1470/27-33

UNC’s Environmental Science and Studies programs provide an interdisciplinary perspective on examining and training for work in environmental fields. There are many opportunities available for undergraduates, such as participating in an honors track, internships, study abroad, research, and experiential education. They can also join the Carolina Environmental Student Alliance (CESA), an interdisciplinary organization dedicated to uniting the environmental interests of students across campus.

28. North Carolina State University | NC State

Location: Raleigh, NC

Undergrad Enrollment: 25,100

Acceptance Rate: 47%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1270-1440/27-32

The NC State Environmental Sciences program prepares students to become these experts through an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the environment. Students explore complex, interdisciplinary environmental issues through coursework in topics like Climate Change and Sustainability, Energy and the Environment, and Analysis of Environmental Issues. Then, they customize their degree paths, designing a focal area of study or selecting a minor.

Students also have the opportunity to participate in hands-on internships and experiential learning.

29. Villanova University

Location: Villanova, PA

Undergrad Enrollment: 6,900

Acceptance Rate: 25%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1350-1490/31-34

Villanova’s BS in Environmental Science gives students a firm grounding in the technical knowledge and experience necessary for understanding the biological, chemical, and physical aspects of the environment. The program focuses on the application of principles critical for understanding the natural and physical environments of the Earth.

30. University of Delaware

Location: Newark, DE

Acceptance Rate: 70%

Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1170-1350/26-31

The Environmental Science major at UD gives students unique insight into how natural processes shape the natural environment and how humans impact the planet. The program takes a multidisciplinary approach to encourage students to grapple with issues like habitat loss, sustainable development, water quality, biodiversity, climate change, renewable energy, and more. Students choose among the following tracks, all while participating in research and experiential learning:

Climate and Society
Energy and Environment
Marine Science
Water Science

Many of the colleges and programs on this list are highly competitive. What are your chances of admission? Find out with our chancing engine . We will calculate your true odds of admission to these and other schools across the country based on your academic and extracurricular profiles, plus give you tips on how to improve your chances of acceptance.

Research Topics & Ideas: Environment

100+ Environmental Science Research Topics & Ideas

Research topics and ideas within the environmental sciences

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

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

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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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?

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

3) Complex

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

4) Debatable

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

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

10 Great Environmental Science Research Topics (With Explanations!)

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

1) Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

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

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

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

2) Renewable Energy

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

3) Conservation

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

4) Deforestation

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

Environmental Science Topics (Continued)

5) urban ecology.

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

6) Environmental Justice

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

7) Water Management

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

8) Pollution and Bioremediation

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

9) Disease Ecology

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

10) Ecosystems Ecology

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

40 More Environmental Science Research Topics

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

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

Environmental Justice and Public Policy

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

AP Environmental Science Research Topics (Continued)

Soil science.

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

Urban Ecology

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

Pollution and Bioremediation

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

Environmental Law and Ethics

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

Final Thoughts: Environmental Science Research Topics

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

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

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

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Environmental Science Essays & Papers for College Students

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Access a vast arsenal of free writing examples covering any subject or topic. Use these academic essay examples to draw inspiration or deepen your knowledge in various areas. Start exploring now!

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What Is an Environmental Science Essay

Asking for a personal definition of environmental science essay pieces expect receiving a unique angle. Depending on the article's topic, students either start with a brief term and move on or write the whole article only about the definition and main aspects. Articles on ecology often require conducting research beforehand and building strong argumentation strategies.

Authors present unique, original opinions regarding life sciences. Those get supported by credible information, facts, and numbers. Each paper of this genre is a small research work. It provides a decent level of specific info leaving space for personal thoughts or emotions. Read proposed paper samples attentively to make it easier.

Environmental Science Essay Examples That Worked

Quick hack: to create a compelling environmental essay just use free paper samples as a template. Our website offers numerous examples of academic pieces on ecology absolutely for free. Study them, pay attention to details, and extract helpful insights. Implement those insights in custom pieces for a dramatic improvement in final grades. Here’s how these samples of environmental science papers can help:

Structure improvement

Gain skill of pre-planning. Design narration, pacing, and positioning of arguments. Make transitioning more fluent, natural, and organic.

Better vocabulary

Learn new subject-specific words and appropriate ways of using them. Add morphological variability to sentences for improved readability.

Enhanced argumentation

Make reasoning and description more believable. Use dedicated sentence formatting and narration pacing to achieve an ultimate convincing effect.

Tips for Writing an Environmental Science Essay

You can’t just get a free environmental science essay in English. You have to write it yourself. It can be tedious, time-consuming, or even nerve-racking. Introduce some changes to the writing process for streamlined creation and improved quality. Look through any short environmental science paper in pdf examples. An environment protection essay will also come in handy. We’ve compiled a list of helpful tips that will assist in creating good work. Try following them closely for a full effect.

Choose trustworthy sources. Only credible data sources should be used in such academic pieces. Check correctness and relevance of materials before mentioning them.
Create an outline. Never ignore text structuring! Design articles beforehand for better transitioning, improved readability, and overall enhanced quality.
Study samples. Try reading free essay examples before writing, examining each sentence diligently. Such action will provide additional ideas and knowledge.
Ask for opinion. If possible, ask someone to read your paper before submission. Additional opinion helps find weak spots in narration and argumentation.

Environmental Science Essay & Paper Topics

Topics on environmental science leave enough space for interpretation and creative thinking. Topic selection is the first stage in the writing process. Young authors should select interesting, engaging subjects. Title must hook attention not only to readers but to authors. Writers must be eager to write about it. Only this approach yields great, high-scoring, impressive articles. Here are some general environmental essay topics for you:

Describe impacts of technology on nature and climate of the Earth.
How do plants and living organisms get harmed by humans?
Explore the effects of recycling on a personal carbon footprint. (Read our recycling essay .)
Which political and economic factors prevent us from becoming “clean”?
Explain modern measures for climate change prevention.
How does climate activism affect social perception of this issue?

Environmental Essay Related Topics

Additionally you can choose from topics related to environmental science. Such subjects leave even more options to present knowledge and highlight writing and analytical skills. Look at these paper titles:

Remote working – effects on population and ecology.
Science advancements of the 21st century that help our planet.
Name 10 countries with the cleanest air and describe each one.
What to choose: paper bags or plastic ones?
“Life will always find a way” – discuss by taking Chornobyl as an example.
Change in people’s behavior towards forests in the last decade.
Nature protection with law, effective or not?
Will there be a decrease in global water supplies?

Interesting Environmental Topics for Paper

Were all previous topics for environmental science papers not good enough? Or do you want to tease readers’ brains? Then you need specifically designed text subjects. Those will do dirty on minds taking them somewhere unexpected, unseen before. It’s better if authors create such subjects themselves. If no ideas come to your mind, here are some titles you can use:

What are the primary local reasons for climate change in Antarctica?
Describe negative effects of leaving dead bodies on Mount Everest.
What are your efforts to make tree leaves greener?
Does EU politics have any effect on ecology in Madagascar?

Would you like to get some fresh ideas? Browse other examples that are close to environmental science, such as an essay on chemistry .

FAQ About Environmental Science Essays

Every student can download countless environmental essays for free. Proposed examples demonstrate unique approaches to this topic and full compliance with regulations. Donated by students they are a perfect opportunity for anyone to improve writing skills without losing too much time. Read samples online or download them as pdf files freely.

Describing the importance of environmental science essay pieces focus on positive effects. Studying nature and ecology has numerous benefits and students must analyze them. Conduct research beforehand and gather useful information. Arrange arguments carefully. If nothing works out or you have no ideas – free paper samples are ready to assist!

Each sample paper about environmental science on this website was donated by other students. They were already submitted and graded. Any plagiarism checker will confirm that. If you are aiming at completing this task you better create unique pieces. Use paper examples as inspiration and source of ideas, arguments, and descriptions.

Each essay on environmental science starts with a definition. It can be the one from the dictionary or created by the student. After that, try hooking the reader's attention. All background information and questions must fire up readers’ interest, engaging them in reading. Use shocking facts, quotations, or even alarming statistics.

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Environmental Science Personal Statement Examples

What is an environmental science personal statement?

Writing a personal statement for environmental science is a chance to sell yourself to the admissions tutors and show them why you would make a great candidate.

It’s a place to describe your skills and strengths, as well as your career plans.

You are allowed up to 4000 characters to explain why you are applying for an environmental science degree, so you need to make sure your statement is as polished as possible to stand out from the crowd.

How do I write a successful environmental science personal statement?

Good environment science personal statements always use evidence to support their claims. You need to convince admissions tutors that you’re a good match for the course, so if you claim to be committed or inquisitive, then use examples from your life to back it up.

To write a great environmenal science personal statement you need to start early, brainstorm some ideas, and then begin your first draft during the summer holidays.

This will then need to be carefully revised and edited before asking family and friends for feedback. Incorporate their comments and suggestions, and see how it is improved before asking them to look at it again.

Read through our environmental science personal statement examples above to get an idea of what a good statement looks like.

Make sure you proofread your statement for grammar and spelling before sending it off, and if you feel you need a little extra help, take a look at our personal statement editing services .

What should I include in my environmental science personal statement?

Many students choose to start their statement by picking a specific aspect of environmental science and explaining why they enjoy it, e.g. ecology, conservation, earth structure, hydrology, etc.

Admissions tutors want candidates that are as passionate about the subject as they are.

As well as your motivations for studying environmental science, think about your hobbies and extracurricular activities too. What skills have you learned from these and how will these help you in your environmental science degree?

Talk about any work experience placements you have completed, e.g. shadowing an environmental worker or research technician. What did you take away from this experience? Do you feel you have all the necessary personal traits and qualities that make a good environmental science student?

Your wider reading is also important, so it's worth mentioning anything you've read recently that you found interesting and why. Generally, admissions tutors like students who express their views and opinions, and can back them up with evidence.

For more help and advice on what to write in your environmental science personal statement, please see:

Personal Statement Editing Services
Personal Statement Tips From A Teacher
Analysis Of A Personal Statement
The 15th January UCAS Deadline: 4 Ways To Avoid Missing It
Personal Statement FAQs
Personal Statement Timeline
10 Top Personal Statement Writing Tips
What To Do If You Miss The 15th January UCAS Deadline.

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1 Introduction to Environmental Science

Caralyn Zehnder, Kalina Manoylov, Samuel Mutiti, Christine Mutiti, Allison VandeVoort, Donna Bennett

Environment and environmental science

Viewed from space, Earth (Figure 1.1) offers no clues about the diversity of lifeforms that reside there. The first forms of life on Earth are thought to have been microorganisms that existed for billions of years in the ocean before plants and animals appeared. The mammals, birds, and plants so familiar to us are all relatively recent, originating 130 to 200 million years ago. Humans have inhabited this planet for only the last 2.5 million years, and only in the last 200,000 years have humans started looking like we do today. There are around 7.35 billion people today ( https://www.census.gov/popclock / ).

Figure 1.1 This NASA image is a composite of several satellite-based views of Earth. To make the whole-Earth image, NASA scientists combine observations of different parts of the planet. (credit: NASA/GSFC/NOAA/USGS)

The word environment describes living and nonliving surroundings relevant to organisms. It incorporates physical, chemical and biological factors and processes that determine the growth and survival of organisms, populations, and communities. All these components fit within the ecosystem concept as a way to organize all of the factors and processes that make up the environment. The ecosystem includes organisms and their environment within a specific area. Review the previous section for in-depth information regarding the Earth’s ecosystems. Today, human activities influence all of the Earth’s ecosystems.

Environmental science studies all aspects of the environment in an interdisciplinary way. This means that it requires the knowledge of various other subjects including biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, microbiology, biochemistry, geology, economics, law, sociology, etc. It is a relatively new field of study that has evolved from integrated use of many disciplines. Environmental engineering is one of the fastest growing and most complex disciplines of engineering. Environmental engineers solve problems and design systems using knowledge of environmental concepts and ecology, thereby providing solutions to various environmental problems. Environmentalism, in contrast, is a social movement through which citizens are involved in activism to further the protection of environmental landmarks and natural resources. This is not a field of science, but incorporates some aspects of environmental knowledge to advance conservation and sustainability efforts.

The Process of Science

The process of science

Environmental science is a science, but what exactly is science? Science (from the Latin scientia, meaning “knowledge”) can be defined as all of the fields of study that attempt to comprehend the nature of the universe and all its parts. The scientific method is a method of research with defined steps that include experiments and careful observation. One of the most important aspects of this method is the testing of hypotheses by means of repeatable experiments. A hypothesis is a suggested explanation for an event, which can be tested. A theory is a tested and confirmed explanation for observations or phenomena that is supported by many repeated experiences and observations.

The scientific methodThe scientific process typically starts with an observation (often a problem to be solved) that leads to a question. The scientific method consists of a series of well-defined steps. If a hypothesis is not supported by experimental data, a new hypothesis can be proposed. Let’s think about a simple problem that starts with an observation and apply the scientific method to solve the problem. One Monday morning, a student arrives in class and quickly discovers that the classroom is too warm. That is an observation that also describes a problem: the classroom is too warm. The student then asks a question: “Why is the classroom so warm?”

Proposing a Hypothesis Recall that a hypothesis is a suggested explanation that can be tested. To solve a problem, several hypotheses may be proposed. For example, one hypothesis might be, “The classroom is warm because no one turned on the air conditioning.” But there could be other responses to the question, and therefore other hypotheses may be proposed. A second hypothesis might be, “The classroom is warm because there is a power failure, and so the air conditioning doesn’t work.” Once a hypothesis has been selected, the student can make a prediction. A prediction is similar to a hypothesis but it typically has the format “If … then … .” For example, the prediction for the first hypothesis might be, “If the student turns on the air conditioning, then the classroom will no longer be too warm.”

Testing a Hypothesis A valid hypothesis must be testable. It should also be falsifiable, meaning that it can be disproven by experimental results. Importantly, science does not claim to “prove” anything because scientific understandings are always subject to modification with further information. This step — openness to disproving ideas — is what distinguishes sciences from non-sciences. The presence of the supernatural, for instance, is neither testable nor falsifiable.

To test a hypothesis, a researcher will conduct one or more experiments designed to eliminate, or disprove, the hypotheses. Each experiment will have one or more variables and one or more controls. A variable is any part of the experiment that can vary or change during the experiment. The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated throughout the course of the experiment. The dependent variable, or response variable is the variable by which we measure change in response to the independent variable. Ideally, all changes that we measure in the dependent variable are because of the manipulations we made to the independent variable. In most experiments, we will maintain one group that has had no experimental change made to it. This is the control group. It contains every feature of the experimental group except it is not given any manipulation. Therefore, if the results of the experimental group differ from the control group, the difference must be due to the hypothesized manipulation, rather than some outside factor. Look for the variables and controls in the examples that follow.

To test the hypothesis “The classroom is warm because no one turned on the air conditioning,” the student would find out if the air conditioning is on. If the air conditioning is turned on but does not work, there should be another reason, and this hypothesis should be rejected. To test the second hypothesis, the student could check if the lights in the classroom are functional. If so, there is no power failure and this hypothesis should be rejected. Each hypothesis should be tested by carrying out appropriate experiments. Be aware that rejecting one hypothesis does not determine whether or not the other hypotheses can be accepted; it simply eliminates one hypothesis that is not valid (Figure 1.2). Using the scientific method, the hypotheses that are inconsistent with experimental data are rejected.

The scientific method may seem too rigid and structured. It is important to keep in mind that, although scientists often follow this sequence, there is flexibility. Sometimes an experiment leads to conclusions that favor a change in approach; often, an experiment brings entirely new scientific questions to the puzzle. Many times, science does not operate in a linear fashion; instead, scientists continually draw inferences and make generalizations, finding patterns as their research proceeds. Scientific reasoning is more complex than the scientific method alone suggests. Notice, too, that the scientific method can be applied to solving problems that aren’t necessarily scientific in nature.

Figure 1.2 The scientific method consists of a series of well-defined steps. If a hypothesis is not supported by experimental data, a new hypothesis can be proposed.

Sustainability and sustainable development

In 1983 the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that established the Special Commission on the Environmental Perspective to the Year 2000 and Beyond ( http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/38/a38r161.htm ). Their charge was:

a. To propose long-term environmental strategies for achieving sustainable development to the year 2000 and beyond;

b. To recommend ways in which concern for the environment may be translated into greater co-operation among developing countries and between countries at different stages of economic and social development and lead to the achievement of common and mutually supportive objectives which take account of the interrelationships between people, resources, environment and development;

c. To consider ways and means by which the international community can deal more effectively with environmental concerns, in light of the other recommendations in its report;

d. To help define shared perceptions of long-term environmental issues and of the appropriate efforts needed to deal successfully with the problems of protecting and enhancing the environment, a long-term agenda for action during the coming decades, and aspirational goals for the world community, taking into account the relevant resolutions of the session of a special character of the Governing Council in 1982.

Although the report did not technically invent the term sustainability, it was the first credible and widely disseminated study that used this term in the context of the global impacts of humans on the environment. Its main and often quoted definition refers to sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The report uses the terms ‘sustainable development’, ‘sustainable’, and ‘sustainability’ interchangeably, emphasizing the connections among social equity, economic productivity, and environmental quality (Figure 1.3). This three-pronged approach to sustainability is now commonly referred to as the triple bottom-line. Preserving the environment for humans today and in the future is a responsibility of every generation and a long-term global goal. Sustainability and the triple bottom-line (meeting environmental, economic, and social goals simultaneously) require that we limit our environmental impact, while promoting economic well-being and social equity.

Figure 1.3. A depiction of the sustainability paradigm in terms of its three main components, showing various intersections among them. Source: International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Examples of sustainable development include sustainable agriculture, which is agriculture that does not deplete soils faster than they form and does not destroy the biodiversity of the area. Sustainable farming and ranching do not reduce the amount of healthy soil, clean water, genetic diversity of crop plants and animals. Maintaining as much ecological biodiversity as possible in the agro-ecosystem is essential to long-term crop and livestock production.

What is the environment worth to you?

The environment, and its benefits to individuals or groups, can be viewed and justified from multiple perspectives. A utilitarian justification for environmental conservation means that we should protect the environment because doing so provides a direct economic benefit to people. For example, someone might propose not developing Georgia’s coastal salt marshes because the young of many commercial fishes live in salt marshes and the fishers will collapse without this habitat. An ecological justification for environmental conservation means that we should protect the environmental because doing so will protect both species that are beneficial to other as well as other species and an ecological justification for conservation acknowledges the many ecosystem services that we derive from healthy ecosystems. For example, we should protect Georgia’s coastal salt marshes because salt marshes purify water, salt marshes are vital to the survival of many marine fishes and salt marshes protect our coasts from storm surges. An aesthetic justification for conservation acknowledges that many people enjoy the outdoors and do not want to live in a world without wilderness. One could also think of this as recreational, inspirational, or spiritual justification for conservation. For example, salt marshes are beautiful places and I always feel relaxed and calm when I am visiting one, therefore we should protect salt marches. And finally a moral justification represents the belief that various aspects of the environment have a right to exist and that it is our moral obligation to allow them to continue or help them persist. Someone who was arguing for conservation using a moral justification would say that it is wrong to destroy the coastal salt marshes.

The solution to most environmental problems requires a global perspective. Human population size has now reached a scale where the environmental impacts are global in scale and will require multilateral solutions. You will notice this theme continue as you move through this text. As you do so, keep in mind that the set of environmental, regulatory, and economic circumstances common in the United States are not constant throughout the world.

Introduction to Environmental Science Copyright © by Caralyn Zehnder, Kalina Manoylov, Samuel Mutiti, Christine Mutiti, Allison VandeVoort, Donna Bennett is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Home / News / What Is Environmental Science? 5 Reasons Why To Study It

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What Is Environmental Science? 5 Reasons Why To Study It

Do you want to solve environmental problems or help build a more sustainable future? If so, a career in one of many environmental sustainability studies might be the perfect path for you, but first, what is environmental science?

Even if you are not entirely set on a major yet, keep reading to learn more about how environmental sciences are being developed and applied to practices across industries to conserve resources, reduce carbon emissions, and foster a healthier planet. We start with the definition of environmental science and then explain why it’s such a valuable field of study.

What Is Environmental Science?

Why is environmental science important, why study environmental science.

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What is environmental science about? Explore our bachelor’s degree in environmental science to find out.

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field of study encompassing aspects of physics, chemistry, biology, geography, and other disciplines. It aims to understand the environment and how humans impact it. It’s not just a study of the environment but also of possible solutions to environmental issues such as deforestation, global warming, and pollution.

What Do You Learn In Environmental Science?

Let’s dive deeper into the question of what is the study of environmental science. A degree in environmental science covers topics such as ecology, conservation, and environmental law and policy. When you study environmental science, you will develop skills including but not limited to:

Evaluating alternative energy sources
Ecosystem analysis
Environmental impact assessment
GIS technology
Implementing sustainable development principles

Environmental scientists do a lot of “behind the scenes” work in laboratories and on field sites. It’s not always a glamorous job, but this important work often informs policy decisions, business practices, and public awareness. The importance of environmental science has never been greater as the entire natural world is experiencing the negative effects of climate change . It is key to finding new solutions and ways to adapt to a changing planet.

Understanding The Interconnectedness Of Ecosystems

Environmental science is the study of relationships within and between ecosystems. It helps us understand the complex interactions that occur in ecosystems and the impacts humans have on them. It’s easy for people in the modern world to forget how interconnected we are with nature, but everything we do has cascading effects on the environment around us. Scientists help us understand these effects and how to minimize them.

Addressing Climate Change And Global Warming

We’re already seeing alarming trends from climate change that are predicted to worsen over the coming years, including rising sea levels, more extreme storms, droughts in some areas, and increased wildfires. Some of these impacts may be reversible, while others can only be mitigated at this point. To do anything impactful, we need professionals who fully understand the extent of the problem and have the skills to create new, innovative solutions. A B.S. in Environmental Science and Climate Change can provide the skills and knowledge necessary to combat global warming.

Promoting Sustainable Resource Management

Environmental science guides sustainable resource management by helping us understand and preserve biodiversity as well as maintain soil and water quality. Scientists encourage companies, governmental agencies, and individuals to consume natural resources in responsible and sustainable ways. Depending on their specialization, environmental scientists may work as consultants for businesses or in parks, fisheries, or forests.

Driving Policy And Environmental Legislation

Environmental science also influences and shapes environmental policies and legislation. Not only has scientific research led to the creation of laws and regulations aimed at protecting the environment, but environmental scientists are often responsible for conducting field site surveys and other tests to ensure compliance with those laws and regulations. If you are particularly interested in legislation and public policy, you may find a B.S. in Environmental Studies more suitable than environmental science for your career goals.

Ready To Learn More About Unity Environmental University?

an environmental scientist holding a square of grass

Learn more about the differences between environmental studies vs environmental science .

Students who graduate with an environmental science degree have numerous career opportunities. You can work in research, consulting, education, or legislation. No matter which path you choose, studying environmental science can empower you to positively impact the planet.

Why should I learn about environmental science? Below are the top five reasons:

A career with a purpose: When you work in an environmental science job, you get to have a positive impact on the planet every day. You can directly impact environmental policies, conservation efforts, and people’s individual choices.
Job security: Many environmental science jobs are in high demand and will continue to be over the next decade as you enter the workforce. Qualified professionals will be needed to address the continued effects of climate change. In fact, current employment reports show a widening gap between supply and demand for workers with at least one green skill.
Good earning potential: While the average salaries for environmental scientists vary greatly by position, there are many green jobs that pay well .
Social and emotional well-being : Earning a college degree increases your earning potential and gives you access to new opportunities, but did you know it can also make you a happier and healthier person? People with degrees have a longer lifespan on average and report being happier overall than people without degrees.
Connection with nature: Many environmental scientists spend a lot of time outside in nature, and research shows that being in nature has physical, emotional, and cognitive health benefits for humans, all of which can help increase your overall quality of life.

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Start A Career In Environmental Science At Unity Environmental University

Pursuing a career in environmental science is a smart choice for you as an individual and for the planet as a whole. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the field, there are many different career paths to choose from. Environmentally-focused degrees cover many areas including agroforestry, sustainable business practices, resource conservation practices, regenerative hospitality and much more.

Unity Environmental University offers a hybrid B.S. in Environmental Science program that is the ideal combination of flexibility and hands-on experience for students. If you want 100% online degrees, check out Unity’s B.S. in environmental science and climate change .

B.S. in Environmental Science

B.S. in Environmental Science and Climate Change

B.s. in environmental studies.

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Environmental Science Scholarships

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Choosing a Scholarship in Environmental Science

You have decided to major in Environmental Science, and now you need to pay for it! There are generally very different opportunities for graduate school and undergraduate school funding.

Money you won't need to pay back to cover the costs of your Environmental Science education comes in the form of grants and scholarships. Grants are “gifted” monies, often for low-income students, whereas scholarships may be earned. These can come from local to federal governments, private business or not-for-profit groups, or the school of your choice. Fellowships are similar to scholarships, but are generally very specific, and used for graduate education in science.

Be sure to explore the numerous possibilities for scholarships, and look for ones specific to your own interests, you may have a better chance of obtaining them.

A scholarship is funding used for an activity (such as college) which probably was awarded on merit, rather than need. It should not need to be repaid, as that would instead make it a loan. Qualifying for a scholarship depends largely on the type of scholarship being sought; it may be based on academic achievements, gender, location, physical abilities, religion, and race, among other factors. Finding a scholarship that you are eligible to receive is only a small part of the battle, since it usually requires an application and has a deadline. Other funding sources may be more forgiving of tardiness, but not scholarships.

What Are Other Funding Sources?

Funding for school generally comes from four places; 1) your own pocket (or those of your parents), 2) loans, 3) grants, and 4) scholarships. Of course it would be wonderful to reverse those numbers, with the bulk of the money coming from scholarships and grants, so you don't have to (re)pay for school. These different categories have been covered already; just remember grants and scholarships do not require repayment, while loans do, but the grants and scholarships are generally harder to obtain.

What Are the Typical Places to Find Scholarships?

Local community groups such as churches, chambers of commerce, business organizations, and foundations offer scholarships to students from their home region. Unions may promote scholarships for dependents of its members. Groups that you may have been a member of such as Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts may have funding opportunities. Many government agencies offer scholarships to students in the Environmental Sciences. The college which you select to attend probably has scholarships of its own available, though oftentimes these are reserved for juniors and seniors. Select special interest groups may have specific funding opportunities available to them as well, especially in the sciences.

If nothing else seems to work, you may try to contact the company or law firm you envision yourself working for after graduation and inquire as to whether or not they would help fund your schooling. Business owners can be inspired by motivated, dedicated hard-workers. These categories will be broken down further below.

Where Should I Start to Look for Funding?

If you are still a high school student, you can begin with your guidance counselor. More than likely, they will tell you that your starting point for funding information is with The United States Department of Education (USDOE). Grants are based on your need for funding. You may be surprised by how much you are eligible to receive before even applying for specialty funding. If you do receive additional outside funds (a scholarship or two!) though, keep in mind your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA � ) may have to be amended.

If you are already a college student you have probably done one of these last year. More than likely, there is a financial aid office at your school, with someone that can also help you find and complete it, as well as look for other funding.

You are now onto finding the real thing, Environmental Science Scholarships. These are most likely based on your merit; what have you done to prove you deserve an education in Environmental Science already? It will probably help you to be as specific as possible.

Is It Worth Going to a College Financial Planner?

Financial Planning for college is an interesting field. Depending on the situation of the parents, it may begin as soon as a child is born, by putting as much money as possible into a college fund. For the majority of students, this is not the case. Often you are in your later years of high school and beginning to realize the huge fiscal undertaking you will have when you head to college. You may not even know your planned field of study yet.

Before you decide to meet with a financial planner, find out the following information;

Do you have friends or acquaintances you can ask for a reference for this person/office?
Are they selling you specific products?
Are they going to just fill out your FAFSA or do they know of additional funding sources, whether locally or nationally?
Do you pay to meet with them or is the initial consultation free?
Do they locate scholarships and help submit the applications?

Depending on your situation and personality, it may be worth paying someone else to fill out and submit applications. If they are really college savvy and know how to seek additional scholarship monies, they may be just what you need. Be wary of someone just trying to sell specific loan products, as the college funding industry has some of the best rates available, and you will likely already qualify for those products with the completion of your FAFSA, or similar ones through your local bank.

How Do I Know If I Qualify for Environmental Science Scholarships? Be Mindful of Deadlines!

Scholarship applications can be very intimidating. Generally, though, the terms you need to meet are well spelled out. The most common qualifiers include a certain grade point average, intended college major, perhaps a certain PSAT score, home location, school location, etc. If it states you need to meet all requirements, and you don't, stop looking and find the next one. If everything seems applicable, check the deadline! You don't need to waste your time or that of the reviewers by submitting past the deadline, because you won't be qualified to receive it. With so many people seeking funding, late applications are the easiest to discard.

Scholarships for Environmental Science

American Geophysical Union (AGU) is an international non-profit scientific community. Their mission is to advance the understanding of Earth sciences. They have over 62,000 members and are governed by a board. Apply for AGU grants and scholarships to support students and early-career scientists in completing research and advancing their education and careers.

With the mission of cultivating a happier and healthier world by spreading goodness through nourishing foods, honest words and conduct that is considerate and forever kind to the planet, Annie's Homegrown offer Sustainable Agriculture Scholarships to a handful of undergraduate and graduate students each year.

National Garden Clubs provides education and resources to promote the love of gardening and conservation in a well networked environment, one which also promotes civil and environmental responsibility. They offer a number of scholarships to students in their junior or senior year of undergraduate school or pursuing their master's degree in horticulture. Learn more about National Garden Clubs Scholarship Program .

The Environmental Defense Fund 's mission is to preserve the natural systems on which life depends, through sound science and economics. They offer a few fellowships to students , including many Climate Core graduate positions.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is tasked with understanding weather, and changes to the ocean and earth, as well as protecting marine resources. NOAA has opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Scholarship types include:

Undergraduate scholarships
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program
Sea Grant Scholarships
EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship Program

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency dedicated to promoting the progress of science while protecting the country. NSF offers wonderful opportunities and scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM) .

If you intend to major in a geological environmental science, a huge resource is from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists . The SEG Scholarships aim to promote the pursuit of geophysics and related geosciences at universities globally.

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is tasked with ensuring a prosperous future for the country while utilizing transformative science and technology in meeting our energy needs. Their funding is mostly for graduate students and teachers to enhance scientific education. Find more information about the DOE's scholarships, internships, and fellowships .

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is involved in both human health and natural aspects of Environmental Science and offers listings for:

Research Fellowships and Scholarships
Fellowships, Scholarships and Post-Doctoral Opportunities
Specific EPA Grant Programs and Other Funding Opportunities
Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE ) list opportunities as well including:

Undergraduate Scholarships
STEM Internships and Fellowship
DOE Scholars Program
Graduate Internships and Fellowships
STEM Internships and Fellowships for Recent Graduates
Postdoctoral Fellowships

The United States Geological Service (USGS) has sites across the country dedicated to studying the Earth, minimizing loss and damage to life by natural disasters, and managing our natural resources. They have a number of resources for scholarships and fellowships across numerous programs.

Scholarships in Environmental Studies, including Policy and Management

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is a group dedicated to inspiring and catalyzing higher education to lead the global sustainability movement in an equitable and ecologically healthy manner. Various scholarships are available to students looking to help lead the way in these fields including AASHE Conference and Expo .

Brower Youth Awards is named after an important former leader of the Sierra Club. Six awards are given annually to young environmentalists (ages 13-22) attempting to make a difference in the world through sustainable projects and innovative ideas. The awards help raise awareness of the youth and project locally and beyond. These are not limited to college students but may help with funding, as well as the chances of receiving additional awards. They also offer an annual Earth Island Fellowship aimed at local university students passionate about program management, research, and generating tangible outcomes for a client organization.

The Sierra Club boosts 2.4 million members and supporters as well as 64 chapters. They believe in exploring and preserving the outdoors and have helped pass the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act. David Brower also founded the Earth Island Institute and Friends of the Earth . Find more information about the 2024 Brower Youth Awards .

Brown and Caldwell is an engineering firm specializing in environmental consulting which offers a variety of scholarships to exceptional science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students .

Ford Motor Company is a well known automobile company which encourages the education of youth. A variety of scholarships are available through Ford , and in conjunction with other agencies.

National Environmental Health Association and the American Academy of Sanitarians Scholarship awards are available through these paired organizations for undergraduate and graduate students in the field of Environmental Health. NEHA/AAS Environmental Health Scholarships are available for eligible undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a career in environmental health.

The National Park Service (NPS) works to preserve history and maintain National Parks for the public. NPS has a compilation of a variety of scholarships and fellowships that may be appropriate to students intending to work for them at a later date. These include:

Grants for Cultural Resources, Consultation, and Repatriation
Save America's Treasures Grants
State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants Division
Apply for and Manage a Grant

The S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a private non-profit organization, comprised of tens of thousands of member organizations, chapters, and student volunteers, that promotes sustainability in the design, construction and operation of buildings. Every year need-based scholarships are available to attend the annual Greenbuild convention . Other opportunities may be available as well.

Unlocking Opportunities: Navigating Funding in Environmental Science and Studies

As the fields of Environmental Science and Studies grow more popular, there will be increasing numbers of students applying for funding, but also, hopefully, increasing numbers of awards. Remember to begin with your FAFSA to determine your aid eligibility, and look from there. If you do use a counselor, it may help lower your costs with them, as well as make you less intimidated by the funding process if you complete that step on your own. Make the most of the financial aid office of your chosen school; they have opportunities they may not offer unless you ask, especially in your junior year and above. Feel free to use this list and check back often for any updates. Good luck!

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Double Major: Public & Community Health and Environmental Sciences

Double major: public and community health & environmental sciences.

The Department of Health Sciences and Public Health invites you to explore pursuing a double major in Public and Community Health and Environmental Sciences. By combining these two fields of study, you will have the opportunity to explore the intricate relationship between human well-being and environmental sustainability. This unique approach will provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to address urgent global issues such as disease prevention, environmental issues, and health equity. For more information, contact Dr. Kari Brossard Stoos ( [email protected] ).

10 Best Colleges for Environmental Science Majors

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Environmental science is a growing area of study, and hundreds of colleges and universities have bachelor's degree programs in the field. Because of the subject's interdisciplinary nature, colleges may offer the major under different names or with specific areas of specialization. Environmental studies, environmental biology, environmental chemistry, environmental engineering, ecology, sustainability studies, and conservation biology are some of the many options. It's also possible that environmental science courses are housed entirely within a college's biology or geology department.

Regardless of the disciplinary structure of a college, the best schools for environmental science share many characteristics. All will have strong programs in natural sciences such as chemistry and biology. All will have excellent lab facilities on campus. All have readily available opportunities for students to conduct independent research and fieldwork both during the semester and over breaks. In addition, all strong environmental studies programs will have faculty members who truly specialize in the subject. This latter point is significant, for although many schools offer environmental programs to meet student demand, not all of them devote significant resources to the programs. Look for schools that are investing in creating strong environmental programs with dedicated faculty experts, rather than a patchwork of existing courses in other disciplines.

All of the colleges and universities below (listed in alphabetical order) offer highly regarded environmental science programs. While there are many other excellent programs available, the schools on this list are a good place to start your search thanks to their excellent campus resources, dedicated faculty members, and impressive placement of graduates into jobs or graduate schools.

Colorado College

Jeffrey Beall / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado College 's location in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains combined with its proximity to the deserts, forests, and canyons of the Southwest, make it an ideal place for conducting fieldwork. Students can choose from majors in Environmental Science or the more interdisciplinary field of Environmental Studies. The college also offers an Environmental Chemistry track, a minor in Environmental Issues, and popular biology programs including Organismal Biology and Ecology.

Because the Environmental Studies program has an entirely undergraduate focus, students will find it easy to work side-by-side with faculty members and gain access to the laboratory resources in the Tutt Science Building.

Cornell University

Cornell University 's 2,300-acre campus in Ithaca, New York, overlooks Lake Cayuga in the beautiful Finger Lakes region. The university has some of the world's best programs related to the environment, natural resources, and sustainability. At the undergraduate level, the Environment and Sustainability major is offered through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

A member of the Ivy League , Cornell is a research powerhouse. Students can take courses or conduct independent research that takes advantage of university facilities including the Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, Little Moose Field Station in the Adirondacks, Cornell Biological Field Station on Oneida Lake, Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, and the numerous forest, field, and water resources on and near campus. The university offers 10-week undergraduate research internships at some of these facilities in the summer.

Duke University

Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is part of the Research Triangle with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University . The university is the most prestigious and selective research university in the Southeast, and its Nicholas School of the Environment has a strong international reputation. The school offers three undergraduate majors: Earth & Ocean Sciences, Environmental Sciences & Policy, and Marine Science & Conservation. The school also offers certificates (much like a minor) in Marine Science & Conservation Leadership, Energy & Environment, and Sustainability Engagement.

Unique opportunities at Duke include the ability to live and study at the Duke Marine Lab on Pivers Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks. The facility has state-of-the-art labs for studying marine organisms as well as three research vessels available for charter. Duke also owns the 7,000-acre Duke Forest where students can study the stewardship of natural resources. On the co-curricular side of a Duke education, students can choose from a broad range of clubs, societies, and organizations including the Duke Society of American Foresters, Duke Sustainability Board, Duke Conservation Society, and Sustainable Oceans Alliance.

Harvard University

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Students interested in environmental issues have multiple options at Harvard University . In 2018, the school launched its Environmental Science and Engineering concentration (the equivalent of a major) offered through the Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Through this STEM-heavy program, students examine issues including global warming, air and water pollution, and ozone depletion. Students gain a broad foundation in physics, chemistry, oceanography, hydrology, ecology, and other disciplines to gain a broad multi-disciplinary perspective from which to tackle environmental challenges.

For students who are interested in the social and political side of environmental issues, Harvard offers a concentration in Environmental Science and Public Policy. Students will still take a range of science courses, but they will also study some of the political, economic, historical, and ethical issues interwoven with our efforts to solve environmental challenges.

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a member of the Ivy League, and it often ranks as the most selective university in the nation with an acceptance rate of around 5%.

Stanford University

The Stanford School of Earth, Energy, & Environmental Sciences—simply called Stanford Earth—is home to the departments of Geophysics, Geological Sciences, Energy Resources Engineering, and Earth System Science. Undergraduates have the opportunity to do field research on all seven continents, and the university has many opportunities for students to conduct research with faculty members throughout the year. The school emphasizes skills in the data sciences, and students can take courses including earth imaging, global positioning systems, remote sensing, data for sustainable development, and data for geoscience.

With an endowment nearing $30 billion, Stanford has the resources to support a wealth of undergraduate research. The Undergraduate Advising and Research (UAR) program offers grants ranging from $1,500 to $7,000 to support independent research projects. The Beagle II Award offers up to $12,000 to support student research that depends on travel, and SESUR, the Stanford Earth Summer Undergraduate Research Program, provides students with the opportunity to work with faculty members in the summer on projects related to the environment.

Located in California's Bay Area, Stanford University is similar to Harvard for selectivity. Only about 5% of applicants are admitted.

University of California, Berkeley

Geri Lavrov / Stockbyte / Getty Images

The University of California, Berkeley is home to the Rausser College of Natural Resources where undergraduate can choose from five majors within the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management: Conservation and Resource Studies, Environmental Sciences, Forestry and Natural Resources, Molecular Environmental Biology, and Society and Environment. All Environmental Studies majors conclude their degree with a your-long senior research project.

Opportunities for engagement outside of the classroom include the Cal Energy Corps, an undergraduate internship program focused on sustainable energy and climate solutions. Students work for 12 weeks in the summer with a partner organization. Berkeley's facilities also include the Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station on Moorea Island in French Polynesia where students can conduct field research and training.

UC Berkeley is one of the nation's top public universities , and it is also one of the most selective, with an acceptance rate of around 15%.

University of California, Davis

The University of California, Davis has impressive depth in fields related to the environment. The university's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences offers majors in Environmental Science and Management, Environmental Toxicology, Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry, Hydrology, Marine and Coastal Science, Sustainable Environmental Design, and others. The College of Engineering offers a degree in Environmental Engineering.

Students majoring in Environmental Science and Management study the environment from physical, biological, and social perspectives. Within the major, students can choose from six tracks: Climate Change & Air Quality; Ecology, Biodiversity, & Conservation; Geospatial Information Science; Natural Resource Management; Soils & Biogeochemistry; and Watershed Science. All majors gain hands-on experience through an internship, and the program also has many study abroad opportunities.

University of Minnesota—Twin Cities

Michael Hicks / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

The Universiity of Minnesota—Twin Cities is home to several programs related to the study of the environment. Through the College of Liberal Arts, students can earn a BA in Biology, Society, and Environment, a BS in Environmental Geosciences, and a BA or BS in Earth Sciences. The College of Science and Engineering offers a bachelor's in Environmental Engineering, and the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences has three bachelor of science options: Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management; Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology; and Forest and Natural Resource Management.

Within the Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management (ESPM) major, students can choose one of four tracks to match their interests and career goals: Conservation and Resource Management, Environmental Education and Communication, Environmental Science, and Policy, Planning, Law and Society.

Related student groups include the ESPM Student Association, Voices for Environmental Justice, Outdoor Club, and Energy and Environmental Policy Club. Students can also get involved in research through the university's many centers including the Institute on the Environment, Water Resources Center, and centers for the study invasive plants and aquatic species. Research centers are located throughout Minnesota.

University of Washington

Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Located in Seattle, the University of Washington's College of the Environment offers a wealth of options for undergraduate and research focused on the environment. The university has three research vessels and numerous smaller boats for exploring the local coastline, Puget Sound, and the Pacific Ocean. The school's Friday Harbor Laboratories give students access to the San Juan Islands and the outer coast. Other centers and programs include the Alaska Salmon Program in Bristol Bay, UW Botanic Gardens with over 10,000 specimens, and the Olympic Natural Resources Center that brings together the study of forestry and marine sciences.

University of Washington undergraduates can choose from eight majors offered by the College of the Environment: Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Bioresources and Engineering, Earth and Space Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Terrestrial Resource Management, Environmental Studies, Oceanography, and Marine Biology. The college also offers nine minors and 16 graduate degrees. In all, the college has about 1,500 students and 1,000 faculty and staff members conducting research on all of the world's continents and oceans.

Yale University

Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs through its School for the Environment. At the undergraduate level, the Environmental Studies major brings together perspectives from the sciences, social sciences, and humanities to give students the broad tools they need to solve the world's complex environmental issues. Both BA and BS programs are offered. All undergraduates also have the option of a five-year program that culminates in a master's degree in either Environmental Management or Environmental Science.

With an endowment of over $30 billion, Yale has the resources to be a leader in research. The school is home to numerous centers and programs including the Carbon Containment Lab, Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering, Tropical Resource Institute, and the SEARCH Center (Solutions for Energy Air, Climate, and Health).

EcoLeague Colleges

Courtesy of Northland College

Lists such as this one nearly always favor larger, highly selective, nationally ranked research universities. Such schools, however, are certainly not the best or most realistic choice for many applicants.

For students who are looking for smaller and often more accessible colleges committed to studying and protecting the environment, the EcoLeague is worth careful consideration. The EcoLeague is a consortium of six small liberal arts colleges from across the United States. All member schools share a mission focused on sustainability and the study of ecosystems.

The six EcoLeague schools span the country from Maine to Alaska, and students have exchange opportunities with member schools.

Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage is home to about 340 undergraduates and a few hundred graduate students. The school offers bachelor's degree offerings include Marine & Environmental Science, Outdoor Studies, and Environmental Public Health.
College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, is home to 360 students who all study human ecology. Areas of specialization include climate change, environmental law, and marine science. The school has an enviable Mt. Desert Island location right on Frenchman Bay
Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is the largest of the EcoLeague members with over 2,100 undergraduates. The school offers both a B.S. in environmental science and a B.A. in environmental studies.
New College of Florida is located in Sarasota, and the campus sits on the edge of a bay on the Gulf of Mexico. Home to about 700 undergraduates, the school is the designated Honors College of Florida's public university system. New College has a marine science research center located on the main campus.
Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, sits next to Lake Superior and over a million acres of National Forest. Home to about 600 students, the school's majors reflect its location. Options include environmental studies, natural resources, sustainable agriculture, water science, ecological restoration, and wildlife ecology.
Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona, is home to roughly 500 undergraduates and an equal number of graduate students. The school's location – surrounded by Granite Mountain, Prescott National Forest, and Thumb Butte – makes it a great place for conducting fieldwork, including opportunities at Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies.
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Best Environment Essay Examples

Environmental science overview.

492 words | 2 page(s)

Explain the bubble concept as applied to air quality permitting. The bubble concept applies to a manner of air pollution control. It assumes the atmosphere is a bubble and a certain amount of emissions can be released into the bubble. If one company emits more pollutants, then another company has to emit less pollutants to keep from becoming excessive. What is “cap and trade” and how does this differ from the bubble concept? Cap and trade is a program designed to encourage policies that are environmentally safer by legislating emissions. The amount of emissions allowed must be strictly adhered to and can’t exceed the cap amount, which is set beforehand. This is in contrast to the bubble concept, in which businesses have to remain under the cap amount. The permits are exchangeable to other capped businesses if they decide they will not use all the allotted caps (Washington State, 1991).

What are mobile and stationary sources? They represent two of the four main sources of air pollution. Mobile sources are methods of transportation such as cars, trucks, buses and airplanes. Stationary sources are buildings such as factories, oil refineries and power plants (National Park Service, 2013). Compare and contrast the regulatory requirements for stationary and mobile sources of air pollution. Under the Clean Air Act of 1990, the EPA set air quality standards for six common ‘criteria pollutants’: particles, sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, lead and carbon monoxide (Environmental Protection Agency, 2013). Implementation for these regulations falls under the individual states, and they may employ cap and trade for stationary sources like factories. The buildings have permits, and they must remain within limits set under such permits. New plants can’t be built unless they emissions will be offset by reductions from another facility, or shutting down an old one (EPA, 2013). State emissions programs and maintenance requirements exist for cars and other mobile pollution sources. For stationary sources, those are emissions inventories and projections, limits and compliance schedules. Mobile sources have to meet maintenance requirements.

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What are the basic requirements of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Program? According to the EPA (2013) website, PSD Programs have four requirements: installation of the BACT (Best Available Control Technology), an air quality analysis, an additional impacts analysis and public involvement. What is considered “major” under this program? The program applies to all major sources or major modifications to existing sources. The EPA issues new source performance standards (NSPS) to which all major sources and major implementations have to comply. ‘Major’ in this context is a source that emits more of a certain pollutant than is allowable under NSPS.

Environmental Protection Agency. (2013). Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Basic Information [Data file]. Retrieved from www.epa.gov/NSR/psd.html.
National Park Service. (2013). Sources of Air Pollution [Data file]. Retrieved from www.nature.nps.gov/air/AQBasics/sorces/cfm.
Washington State Legislature. (1991). Control of emissions- bubble concept- schedules of Compliance. RCW 70.94.155. Retrieved from www.apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw.

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Top 118 Environmental Science Scholarships in March 2024

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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The field of environmental science becomes more and more important to the future of our world with every passing day. With the mounting environmental problems around the world, it’s only natural that organizations would begin to offer more and more environmental science scholarships to encourage a generation of climate scientists to create solutions for our world.

Whether you are majoring in environmental science or an adjacent field such as biology or ecology, you’ll find some great opportunities on this list. Each opportunity has been hand-vetted by our scholarship team and we’ve included scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students. Let’s get into it!

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The Scholarships360 Research Team reviews all scholarships individually and strives to exclude any scholarship where any of the below applies:

The scholarship requires a fee to apply
The scholarship provider’s privacy policy allows for the misuse of student data
The scholarship requires paid membership in an organization (with certain exceptions for reputable trade organizations and others)
Student are required to sign up for a site or service to apply*
The scholarship seems primarily used for lead generation** or idea harvesting purposes***
The scholarship website has many grammatical errors and/or advertisements
The scholarship or scholarship providing organization seem untrustworthy
There is no evidence the scholarship was previously awarded
The scholarship has not been awarded in the past 12 months
There is no available contact information

If you believe a scholarship has been published in error, please reach out to [email protected] and we’ll take a look!

* There are certain exceptions to this, for example if the sponsoring organization is a major corporation or nonprofit with its own scholarship application system. ** Lead generation scholarships will require students to sign up for an app or website and require minimal (if any) application requirements. ***Idea harvesting scholarships will require students to submit blog posts or other materials that companies may use for marketing purposes.

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Offered by GeneTex

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Are you a STEM major in college or university looking for help to pay off your degree? If so, consider applying for the GeneTex Scholarship! The scholarship is open to all STEM majors enrolled at an accredited postsecondary institution in good academic standing, including international students. Offered by GeneTex, the scholarship supports young scientists pursuing a postsecondary education to increase scientific advancement and future discoveries. GeneTex is a Texas-based life science, biotechnology company that develops and sells research reagents in the biomedical field. The GeneTex scholarship awards one student $2,000 biannually for use toward their education or other expenses. Typically, the deadlines for each year will fall in July and December or January of each year. If you are a STEM major looking for some help with tuition and fees, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

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Allegheny Mountain Section Air & Waste Management Association Undergraduate Scholarship

Offered by Air & Waste Management Association: Allegheny Mountain Section

Are you a current or incoming undergraduate student attending a Pennsylvania university to pursue an environmental-related field of study? If so, the Allegheny Mountain Section… Show More

Are you a current or incoming undergraduate student attending a Pennsylvania university to pursue an environmental-related field of study? If so, the Allegheny Mountain Section Air & Waste Management Association Undergraduate Scholarship may be a good opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship awards $2,000 to two undergraduate students at Pennsylvania universities to help them fund their education in environmental science, environmental engineering, or another environmentally related field. If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Eckenfelder Scholarship

Offered by Brown and Caldwell

Are you a student interested in pursuing a career in the environmental profession? If so, consider applying for the Eckenfelder Scholarship! The scholarship is open… Show More

Are you a student interested in pursuing a career in the environmental profession? If so, consider applying for the Eckenfelder Scholarship! The scholarship is open to undergraduate upperclassmen and graduate students majoring in engineering or environmental sciences with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. The scholarship is funded by Brown and Caldwell, an engineering consulting firm focused on the U.S. environmental sector. Brown and Caldwell care about delivering safe water sources, infrastructure, and habitats to maintain a healthy community. They offer this scholarship to honor Dr. Wesley Eckenfelder, Jr., an environmental leader in industrial wastewater treatment. Each year, the scholarship awards $5,000 to a few qualifying applicants to help with their education costs. If you are passionate about the environment and are pursuing a career in that field, we encourage you to apply! Show Less

$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by CollegeXpress

Annual $10k scholarship from CollegeXpress open to all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Minority Scholarship Program

Are you a college upperclassman or graduate student who is part of a racial/ethnic minority group and is pursuing a career in an engineering field… Show More

Are you a college upperclassman or graduate student who is part of a racial/ethnic minority group and is pursuing a career in an engineering field or environmental science? If so, the Minority Scholarship Program may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship awards $5,000 to support African American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, or Alaska Native students who are interested in pursuing a career in the environmental profession. Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents enrolled at an accredited college/university, with a declared major in civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, or environmental engineering or one of the environmental sciences (e.g. geology, hydrogeology, ecology). If you’re a college upperclassman or graduate student who is part of a racial/ethnic minority group and is pursuing a career in an engineering field or environmental science, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Women in Leadership Scholarship

Are you a female, college upperclassman or graduate student who is pursuing a career in an engineering field or environmental science? If so, the Women… Show More

Are you a female, college upperclassman or graduate student who is pursuing a career in an engineering field or environmental science? If so, the Women in Leadership Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship awards $5,000 to support female students enrolled at an accredited college/university, with a declared major in civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical, or environmental engineering or one of the environmental sciences (e.g. geology, hydrogeology, ecology). Applicants must also be United States citizens or permanent residents. If you’re a female, college upperclassman or graduate student who demonstrates leadership and is pursuing a career in an engineering field or environmental science, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

$1,000 Appily Easy College Money Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Appily

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be… Show More

This easy scholarship from Appily is open to U.S. high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, 2027) and college transfer students. One scholarship will be awarded each month. Show Less

LGBTQIA+ Scholarship

Are you a college upperclassman or graduate student who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community and is pursuing a career in an engineering field or… Show More

Are you a college upperclassman or graduate student who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community and is pursuing a career in an engineering field or environmental science? If so, the LGBTQIA+ Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship awards $5,000 to support students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning, who are interested in pursuing a career in the environmental profession. Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents enrolled at an accredited college/university, with a declared major in civil, chemical, mechanical, electrical or environmental engineering or one of the environmental sciences (e.g. geology, hydrogeology, ecology). If you're a college upperclassman or graduate student who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community and is pursuing a career in an engineering field or environmental science, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more. Show Less

Friends of Volo Bog Environmental Studies/Natural Science Scholarship Program This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Friends of Volo Bog

The Friends of Volo Bog Environmental Studies/Natural Science Scholarship Program is open to academically impressive college students and high school seniors interested in pursuing an… Show More

The Friends of Volo Bog Environmental Studies/Natural Science Scholarship Program is open to academically impressive college students and high school seniors interested in pursuing an environmental career. Applicants must have a permanent residence in Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kendall, or Will County (Illinois), have attended a high school in one of these counties, and have a minimum B average. If you're from one of these Illinois counties and planning to pursue an environmental career, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more, and keep on keeping the world green. Show Less

$5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship This scholarship has been verified by the scholarship providing organization.

Offered by Christian Connector

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian…

Students applying to the $5,000 Christian Connector Scholarship must be current high school students (Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027) interested in attending a Christian university or college.

New England ISA Undergrad/Grad Scholarship

Offered by New England ISA

Are you a full-time undergraduate student from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont who’s attending school elsewhere? Alternatively, are you a full-time undergraduate student in one of those states? If either fits, and you’re majoring in a plant-oriented field of study, we recommend that you apply for the New England ISA Undergrad/Grad scholarship! Each year, the scholarship awards $2,500 to two lucky students who best describe their dedication to their chosen field and why they are deserving of the scholarship. If you fit the criteria and want to put your writing skills to the test, we encourage you to apply. Make that green thumb a writing one! Show Less

Russell W. Myers Scholarship

Offered by The Land Conservancy of New Jersey

The Russell W. Myers Scholarship is calling all New Jersey residents who are passionate about environmental science or related fields! If you're an undergraduate or… Show More

The Russell W. Myers Scholarship is calling all New Jersey residents who are passionate about environmental science or related fields! If you're an undergraduate or graduate student from New Jersey who is currently enrolled in an accredited college or university, you're eligible to apply. Eligible fields of study include, but are not limited to, environmental science, natural resource management, conservation, park administration, and more. If you're a post-secondary student with a passion for the environment, we encourage you to apply. Don't miss out on this opportunity to pursue your dreams and make a positive impact on the environment! Show Less

Jump ahead to…

How to win environmental science scholarships

Resources for environmental science students.

Frequently asked questions

Additional scholarship categories to explore

Now that you’ve got some great opportunities to apply to, it’s time to begin thinking about your applications. As each scholarship will likely receive many applicants, you’ll have to put in some effort in order to stand out from the crowd. One of the best ways to do this is to sit down and do some reflection before you even look at the prompts. Try asking yourself the following questions, and write down the first things that come to your mind in response. Don’t worry about formatting or succinct wording – just get all your thoughts out on the page:

What inspired you to study environmental science?
What have you accomplished that speaks to your potential in the field of environmental science?
How do you hope to change the world with your environmental science degree?
What environmental scientists do you look up to, and why? How do you hope to use the lessons you learned from them to shape your career?
Have you been personally impacted by environmental changes? How has this impacted your worldview?

Once you’ve finished answering these questions yourself, try asking your friends and family for input. Oftentimes, they will remember achievements that you may have forgotten about yourself. Write all of this down and have it on-hand when you begin your essays.

Tips for writing a scholarship essay

Now that you’ve got some good material to use in your essays, it’s time to begin laying out your information in a compelling and succinct manner. Luckily, we have some guides to help you through the process! Check out our guides on how to start a scholarship essay (with examples!) and how to write an essay about yourself . Here are a few more guides that can help you out as you fill out applications:

How to write a winning scholarship essay
How to write a scholarship resume
Tailoring your writing to a 250 or 500 word limit

National Association of Environmental Professionals

The NAEP is an interdisciplinary national organization for professionals working with the environment. Its membership includes professionals from a wide variety of fields, all tackling the problems of environmental change. This is a great organization to help you contextualize your environmental work in the larger frame of what’s being done to combat climate change, and can offer some valuable networking opportunities.

Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences

The AESS is a national organization that helps improve environmental education across the country. It encourages collaboration between campuses and shared goals in the curriculums for environmental education. You can check out this organization’s efforts to see how you may expand your studies beyond the frame of your campus.

The Ecological Society of America

Environmental science students focusing on ecology should be sure to check out this organization. They offer a wide variety of resources, including national conferences, research journals, and access to databases of ecological studies. This is a great way to plug into a national network of like-minded professionals. You might be able to use this network to find a job, internship, mentor, or scholarship. You may even find the trajectory of your studies and career focus to shift based on what you learn about in their events!

Frequently asked questions about environmental science

Can environmental science majors apply for biology scholarships.

Many biology scholarships are open to environmental science majors, but this varies by individual opportunity. Your best bet is to check each scholarship individually to see who is eligible to apply.

Are environmental science majors considered STEM?

Environmental science is generally considered a STEM discipline! The National Science Foundation considers it to fall under the STEM category. Though individual definitions of STEM may vary, you’ll find that it usually includes environmental science.

What is the difference between environmental studies and environmental science?

Although these two fields address a similar subject matter, they take slightly different approaches. Environmental studies takes a more holistic approach to environmental change. The field addresses societal causes of environmental phenomena. Oftentimes, it will address how policy and political factors have shaped an environmental situation. Environmental science, on the other hand, takes a more technical approach. The field studies how natural systems work and then how different modifications can affect their dynamics.

So, you can think of the two fields as being very complementary. Environmental science studies how an ecosystem works and how different changes may affect it. Environmental studies addresses what has to go on in society to cause human interference, and how environmental changes affect human lives.

That being said, the two are by no means mutually exclusive. Environmental science students will get some education on how societal factors shape environmental change. And environmental studies students will learn about ecology and biology and the inner workings of natural systems.

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College of Arts and Sciences

March 2024 CAS Staff Spotlight: Lauri Miller

Each month of the academic year, the Appalachian State University College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) randomly selects one staff member to be featured in a staff spotlight on our website and social media accounts and to receive a small gift in recognition of their service to the College. To view the past recipients, visit cas.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/staff-spotlights .

Lauri Miller Administrative Support Specialist Department of Geological & Environmental Sciences

Lauri Miller joined the Appalachian State University Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences (GES) in 2005.

Miller serves as the Administrative Support Specialist for GES. "My responsibilities in the department are wide ranging, including managing and reconciling budgets, contracts for guest speakers, Chrome River travel for faculty and students, onboarding student employees, purchasing and p-card reconciliations, and assisting faculty and students in whatever their needs may be," explained Miller.

When asked about her favorite part of the position, Miller shared, "My favorite part of this position is interacting with and helping our amazing students! Having been in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences for nearly 19 years, it goes without saying that I enjoy the people I get to work with every day!"

Miller is the recipient of the college's 2018-19 Outstanding Staff Award recognizing staff members who have demonstrated concern for the well-being of students and faculty, enthusiasm for their service, exemplary work and regularly surpasses job expectations. A colleague wrote, "The wellbeing of students is of paramount importance to Ms. Miller. Students receive her undivided attention, whether they are one of our majors needing help with timesheets, a potential future student on a college tour, or a non-major needing an override for one of our General Education Science Inquiry courses. That is the key for Ms. Miller - she always has the students' welfare in mind."

In her free time, Miller enjoys cross-stitching, reading, cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family.

About the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences Located in Western North Carolina, Appalachian State University provides the perfect setting to study geological and environmental sciences. The Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences provides students with a solid foundation on which to prepare for graduate school or build successful careers as scientists, consultants and secondary education teachers. The department offers six degree options in geology and two degree options in environmental science. Learn more at https://earth.appstate.edu .

About the College of Arts and Sciences The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and unique location. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,400 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu .

Lauri Miller serves as the Administrative Support Specialist in the Appalachian State University Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences.

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Guest Essay

How the SAT Changed My Life

An illustration of a man lying underneath a giant SAT prep book. The book makes a tent over him. He is smiling.

By Emi Nietfeld

Ms. Nietfeld is the author of the memoir “Acceptance.”

This month, the University of Texas, Austin, joined the wave of selective schools reversing Covid-era test-optional admissions policies, once again requiring applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores.

Many colleges have embraced the test-optional rule under the assumption that it bolsters equity and diversity, since higher scores are correlated with privilege. But it turns out that these policies harmed the teenagers they were supposed to help. Many low-income and minority applicants withheld scores that could have gotten them in, wrongly assuming that their scores were too low, according to an analysis by Dartmouth. More top universities are sure to join the reversal. This is a good thing.

I was one of the disadvantaged youths who are often failed by test-optional policies, striving to get into college while in foster care and homeless. We hear a lot about the efforts of these elite schools to attract diverse student bodies and about debates around the best way to assemble a class. What these conversations overlook is the hope these tests offer students who are in difficult situations.

For many of us, standardized tests provided our one shot to prove our potential, despite the obstacles in our lives or the untidy pasts we had. We found solace in the objectivity of a hard number and a process that — unlike many things in our lives — we could control. I will always feel tenderness toward the Scantron sheets that unlocked higher education and a better life.

Growing up, I fantasized about escaping the chaos of my family for the peace of a grassy quad. Both my parents had mental health issues. My adolescence was its own mess. Over two years I took a dozen psychiatric drugs while attending four different high school programs. At 14, I was sent to a locked facility where my education consisted of work sheets and reading aloud in an on-site classroom. In a life skills class, we learned how to get our G.E.D.s. My college dreams began to seem like delusions.

Then one afternoon a staff member handed me a library copy of “Barron’s Guide to the ACT .” I leafed through the onionskin pages and felt a thunderclap of possibility. I couldn’t go to the bathroom without permission, let alone take Advanced Placement Latin or play water polo or do something else that would impress elite colleges. But I could teach myself the years of math I’d missed while switching schools and improve my life in this one specific way.

After nine months in the institution, I entered foster care. I started my sophomore year at yet another high school, only to have my foster parents shuffle my course load at midyear, when they decided Advanced Placement classes were bad for me. In part because of academic instability like this, only 3 percent to 4 percent of former foster youth get a four-year college degree.

Later I bounced between friends’ sofas and the back seat of my rusty Corolla, using my new-to-me SAT prep book as a pillow. I had no idea when I’d next shower, but I could crack open practice problems and dip into a meditative trance. For those moments, everything was still, the terror of my daily life softened by the fantasy that my efforts might land me in a dorm room of my own, with endless hot water and an extra-long twin bed.

Standardized tests allowed me to look forward, even as every other part of college applications focused on the past. The song and dance of personal statements required me to demonstrate all the obstacles I’d overcome while I was still in the middle of them. When shilling my trauma left me gutted and raw, researching answer elimination strategies was a balm. I could focus on equations and readings, like the scholar I wanted to be, rather than the desperate teenager that I was.

Test-optional policies would have confounded me, but in the 2009-10 admissions cycle, I had to submit my scores; my fellow hopefuls and I were all in this together, slogging through multiple-choice questions until our backs ached and our eyes crossed.

The hope these exams instilled in me wasn’t abstract: It manifested in hundreds of glossy brochures. After I took the PSAT in my junior year, universities that had received my score flooded me with letters urging me to apply. For once, I felt wanted. These marketing materials informed me that the top universities offered generous financial aid that would allow me to attend free. I set my sights higher, despite my guidance counselor’s lack of faith.

When I took the actual SAT, I was ashamed of my score. Had submitting it been optional, I most likely wouldn’t have done it, because I suspected my score was lower than the prep-school applicants I was up against (exactly what Dartmouth found in the analysis that led it to reinstate testing requirements). When you grow up the way I did, it’s difficult to believe that you are ever good enough.

When I got into Harvard, it felt like a miracle splitting my life into a before and after. My exam preparation paid off on campus — it was the only reason I knew geometry or grammar — and it motivated me to tackle new, difficult topics. I majored in computer science, having never written a line of code. Though a career as a software engineer seemed far-fetched, I used my SAT study strategies to prepare for technical interviews (in which you’re given one or more problems to solve) that landed me the stable, lucrative Google job that catapulted me out of financial insecurity.

I’m not the only one who feels affection for these tests. At Harvard, I met other students who saw these exams as the one door they could unlock that opened into a new future. I was lucky that the tests offered me hope all along, that I could cling to the promise that one day I could bubble in a test form and find myself transported into a better life — the one I lead today.

Emi Nietfeld is the author of the memoir “ Acceptance .” Previously, she was a software engineer at Google and Facebook.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

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March 2024 CAS Staff Spotlight: Lauri Miller
The department offers six degree options in geology and two degree options in environmental science. Learn more at https://earth.appstate.edu. About the College of Arts and Sciences The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college.
Opinion
This month, the University of Texas, Austin, joined the wave of selective schools reversing Covid-era test-optional admissions policies, once again requiring applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores.
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