Research a human induced environmental issue
- Explosive (dynamite) fishing: Tanzania (Recommended topic)
- Deforestation and logging of forests: Amazon Rainforest
- Coal seam gas mining: Santos Pilliga Forest, NSW
- Overfishing: Australia / worldwide
- Management of water resources: Murray Darling Basin Plan
- Whaling: Japan and Iceland
Start your research journey
Prepare for your research:
1. Once you have chosen your focus for this task, understand what you already know. Write a list of known facts.
2. Work out what you need to know. Pose some relevant questions for yourself to help guide your research.
3. Create your online research strategy - develop a range of KEYWORDS to help you get the best results from a Google search or an academic search using online databases (suggestions are below). Create KEYWORD strings using Boollean search operators (AND, NOT, *, OR etc)
4. If you are new to the topic, you might like to consult Wikipedia for an overview of the environmental issue you are researching.
Use Wikipedia to:
5. If you are still unsure of your strategies or would like some extra help, book a Research Consultation with one of the SSCL Teacher Librarians (details below)
6. Don't forget to curate your resources throughout your research and maintain a current bibliography. This will save time at the end for this requirement of your task.
1. Once you have chosen your focus for this task, understand what you already know. Write a list of known facts.
2. Work out what you need to know. Pose some relevant questions for yourself to help guide your research.
3. Create your online research strategy - develop a range of KEYWORDS to help you get the best results from a Google search or an academic search using online databases (suggestions are below). Create KEYWORD strings using Boollean search operators (AND, NOT, *, OR etc)
4. If you are new to the topic, you might like to consult Wikipedia for an overview of the environmental issue you are researching.
Use Wikipedia to:
- Develop your KEYWORD search strategy.
- Organise your ideas and thoughts on your chosen topic - think about who the stakeholders are, and articulate the major issues. Write questions for yourself for further research.
- Find links to other references and resources. (Scroll to the bottom of the Wikipedia page to access links to further resources)
5. If you are still unsure of your strategies or would like some extra help, book a Research Consultation with one of the SSCL Teacher Librarians (details below)
6. Don't forget to curate your resources throughout your research and maintain a current bibliography. This will save time at the end for this requirement of your task.
Online resources to get you started on each topic
Use these as a guide to kick starting your research into your environmental issue. For each environmental problem we have curated 4 great websites to get you thinking about the issues. Dive in here first before you find more academic sources.
Clickview Playlist. Environmental Management
Log into Clickview using your DoE account details. This playlist highlights documentaries and news reports on many of the issues from the above list. While viewing, take dot point notes, sketch note your ideas and main points and pose questions for follow up research.
All video resources should be included in a bibliography.
All video resources should be included in a bibliography.
Processes
Here are some clips to help you understand some of the relevant processes for your topics.
- The carbon cycle process
- The Carbon Cycle Image from the above clip
- Carbon emissions from deforestation
- Climate Change: What are the problems and the solution
- Food webs
- Will the ocean run out of fish? - Explanation of overfishing
- How whales change climate - Explanation of the contribution of whales (and the effects of whaling)
- Salinity and the Murry River
Deeper Dive: Sourcing academic information
Use KEYWORDS you have formulated through your early research to search other more academic sources:
State Library of NSW has access to several journal databases that will prove useful for this topic. If you are not yet a SLNSW member, you can join here.
Searching tips for simple searches on the State Library of NSW Catalogue
Searching for articles from journals, newspapers and magazines. You can search the Library catalogue for full-text articles from journals, newspapers and magazines.
To do this:
ACCESS TO ACADEMIC ARTICLES ON JSTOR:
All students have access to 6 articles for free every 30 days using the JSTOR repository.
To find out more about this free service read this page: How to access articles for free
How to create an individual account on JSTOR. Go to: How to register for a free account
Google Scholar. Some journal articles and academic articles are available through the results of a Google Scholar search.
State Library of NSW has access to several journal databases that will prove useful for this topic. If you are not yet a SLNSW member, you can join here.
Searching tips for simple searches on the State Library of NSW Catalogue
Searching for articles from journals, newspapers and magazines. You can search the Library catalogue for full-text articles from journals, newspapers and magazines.
To do this:
- enter your search term(s) in the search box
- click on Everything except articles from the dropdown menu on the right and then click Articles to select
- click the Search icon (magnifying glass) or press Enter key to search.
ACCESS TO ACADEMIC ARTICLES ON JSTOR:
All students have access to 6 articles for free every 30 days using the JSTOR repository.
To find out more about this free service read this page: How to access articles for free
How to create an individual account on JSTOR. Go to: How to register for a free account
Google Scholar. Some journal articles and academic articles are available through the results of a Google Scholar search.
Research Consultations
A Library Team member can be booked to talk through your individual research needs. See or email Ms Fede (Mon - Thurs) to make a suitable time.
Research consultations can help you develop good research strategies. We work with individuals or groups to find the very best resources for assessment tasks and projects.
Research consultations can help you develop good research strategies. We work with individuals or groups to find the very best resources for assessment tasks and projects.