research proposal on sustainability science

Research Topics & Ideas: Environment

F inding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation, thesis or research project. Here, we’ll explore a variety research ideas and topic thought-starters related to various environmental science disciplines, including ecology, oceanography, hydrology, geology, soil science, environmental chemistry, environmental economics, and environmental ethics.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas within the environmental sciences. This is the starting point though. To develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. Also be sure to also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to develop a high-quality research topic from scratch.

Overview: Environmental Topics

• Ecology /ecological science
• Atmospheric science
• Oceanography
• Soil science
• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental economics
• Environmental ethics
• Examples  of dissertations and theses

Topics & Ideas: Ecological Science

• The impact of land-use change on species diversity and ecosystem functioning in agricultural landscapes
• The role of disturbances such as fire and drought in shaping arid ecosystems
• The impact of climate change on the distribution of migratory marine species
• Investigating the role of mutualistic plant-insect relationships in maintaining ecosystem stability
• The effects of invasive plant species on ecosystem structure and function
• The impact of habitat fragmentation caused by road construction on species diversity and population dynamics in the tropics
• The role of ecosystem services in urban areas and their economic value to a developing nation
• The effectiveness of different grassland restoration techniques in degraded ecosystems
• The impact of land-use change through agriculture and urbanisation on soil microbial communities in a temperate environment
• The role of microbial diversity in ecosystem health and nutrient cycling in an African savannah

Topics & Ideas: Atmospheric Science

• The impact of climate change on atmospheric circulation patterns above tropical rainforests
• The role of atmospheric aerosols in cloud formation and precipitation above cities with high pollution levels
• The impact of agricultural land-use change on global atmospheric composition
• Investigating the role of atmospheric convection in severe weather events in the tropics
• The impact of urbanisation on regional and global atmospheric ozone levels
• The impact of sea surface temperature on atmospheric circulation and tropical cyclones
• The impact of solar flares on the Earth’s atmospheric composition
• The impact of climate change on atmospheric turbulence and air transportation safety
• The impact of stratospheric ozone depletion on atmospheric circulation and climate change
• The role of atmospheric rivers in global water supply and sea-ice formation

Topics & Ideas: Oceanography

• The impact of ocean acidification on kelp forests and biogeochemical cycles
• The role of ocean currents in distributing heat and regulating desert rain
• The impact of carbon monoxide pollution on ocean chemistry and biogeochemical cycles
• Investigating the role of ocean mixing in regulating coastal climates
• The impact of sea level rise on the resource availability of low-income coastal communities
• The impact of ocean warming on the distribution and migration patterns of marine mammals
• The impact of ocean deoxygenation on biogeochemical cycles in the arctic
• The role of ocean-atmosphere interactions in regulating rainfall in arid regions
• The impact of ocean eddies on global ocean circulation and plankton distribution
• The role of ocean-ice interactions in regulating the Earth’s climate and sea level

Tops & Ideas: Hydrology

• The impact of agricultural land-use change on water resources and hydrologic cycles in temperate regions
• The impact of agricultural groundwater availability on irrigation practices in the global south
• The impact of rising sea-surface temperatures on global precipitation patterns and water availability
• Investigating the role of wetlands in regulating water resources for riparian forests
• The impact of tropical ranches on river and stream ecosystems and water quality
• The impact of urbanisation on regional and local hydrologic cycles and water resources for agriculture
• The role of snow cover and mountain hydrology in regulating regional agricultural water resources
• The impact of drought on food security in arid and semi-arid regions
• The role of groundwater recharge in sustaining water resources in arid and semi-arid environments
• The impact of sea level rise on coastal hydrology and the quality of water resources

Topics & Ideas: Geology

• The impact of tectonic activity on the East African rift valley
• The role of mineral deposits in shaping ancient human societies
• The impact of sea-level rise on coastal geomorphology and shoreline evolution
• Investigating the role of erosion in shaping the landscape and impacting desertification
• The impact of mining on soil stability and landslide potential
• The impact of volcanic activity on incoming solar radiation and climate
• The role of geothermal energy in decarbonising the energy mix of megacities
• The impact of Earth’s magnetic field on geological processes and solar wind
• The impact of plate tectonics on the evolution of mammals
• The role of the distribution of mineral resources in shaping human societies and economies, with emphasis on sustainability

Topics & Ideas: Soil Science

• The impact of dam building on soil quality and fertility
• The role of soil organic matter in regulating nutrient cycles in agricultural land
• The impact of climate change on soil erosion and soil organic carbon storage in peatlands
• Investigating the role of above-below-ground interactions in nutrient cycling and soil health
• The impact of deforestation on soil degradation and soil fertility
• The role of soil texture and structure in regulating water and nutrient availability in boreal forests
• The impact of sustainable land management practices on soil health and soil organic matter
• The impact of wetland modification on soil structure and function
• The role of soil-atmosphere exchange and carbon sequestration in regulating regional and global climate
• The impact of salinization on soil health and crop productivity in coastal communities

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Chemistry

• The impact of cobalt mining on water quality and the fate of contaminants in the environment
• The role of atmospheric chemistry in shaping air quality and climate change
• The impact of soil chemistry on nutrient availability and plant growth in wheat monoculture
• Investigating the fate and transport of heavy metal contaminants in the environment
• The impact of climate change on biochemical cycling in tropical rainforests
• The impact of various types of land-use change on biochemical cycling
• The role of soil microbes in mediating contaminant degradation in the environment
• The impact of chemical and oil spills on freshwater and soil chemistry
• The role of atmospheric nitrogen deposition in shaping water and soil chemistry
• The impact of over-irrigation on the cycling and fate of persistent organic pollutants in the environment

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Economics

• The impact of climate change on the economies of developing nations
• The role of market-based mechanisms in promoting sustainable use of forest resources
• The impact of environmental regulations on economic growth and competitiveness
• Investigating the economic benefits and costs of ecosystem services for African countries
• The impact of renewable energy policies on regional and global energy markets
• The role of water markets in promoting sustainable water use in southern Africa
• The impact of land-use change in rural areas on regional and global economies
• The impact of environmental disasters on local and national economies
• The role of green technologies and innovation in shaping the zero-carbon transition and the knock-on effects for local economies
• The impact of environmental and natural resource policies on income distribution and poverty of rural communities

Need a helping hand?

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.

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12 Comments

research topics on climate change and environment

Researched PhD topics on environmental chemistry involving dust and water

I wish to learn things in a more advanced but simple way and with the hopes that I am in the right place.

Thank so much for the research topics. It really helped

the guides were really helpful

Research topics on environmental geology

Thanks for the research topics….I need a research topic on Geography

hi I need research questions ideas

Implications of climate variability on wildlife conservation on the west coast of Cameroon

I want the research on environmental planning and management

I want a topic on environmental sustainability

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PhD thesis proposal

You’ve successfully completed the comprehensive process and are now ready to finalize your proposal. What does that involve? The academic calendar provides important context for this process and outlines timelines and committee structure .

Normally, PhD candidates submit a dissertation proposal to the committee in time to ‘defend’ it by the end of the second year (sixth term) in the program. There is no formal defense but there is an expectation that PhD candidates will present their proposal to the advisory committee, and to revise the proposal to address all concerns and issues raised. Once the committee is satisfied with the proposal it can be approved and the milestone form completed.

Expectations regarding proposal content and structure vary. You are strongly recommended to discuss with your supervisor and committee the final content and structure of your proposal. However, there are some common proposal elements that can be used to prepare a draft and that can be modified as needed. A general proposal structure (and approximate single-space length estimates) is outlined below:

General Proposal Structure and Content

• Table of contents (provide a list of tables and figures as appropriate)
• 1.0 Introduction and problem context (1-2 pages): Outline the scholarly and practical/social relevance of your project. Explain the core sustainability challenge or problem, and indicate how your work can address this challenge (i.e., the ‘so what’).
• 2.0 Research questions/objectives or hypothesis (1 page): Outline your core research questions and/or objectives or hypothesis. Align questions/objectives/hypothesis with the core problem articulated above. Ensure subsequent sections of the proposal (literature review, methodology) refer back to and address these questions/objectives/hypothesis.
• 3.0 Literature review and conceptual framework (3-5 pages): Situate your research within the relevant scholarly literature; identify key gaps and limitations and set the foundation to justify your topic and your methodological approach. Work to develop of a clear theoretical or conceptual framework for your research.
• 4.0 Methodology and methods (i.e., research design) (3-5 pages): Establish the philosophical and epistemological foundations for your work and situate your choices about methods and tools for data collection, analysis and synthesis. Clearly outline specific methods, highlighting their strengths and limitations with regard to your research specifically. Indicate the relationship among your data collection and analysis plans and your research objectives/hypotheses, and any assumptions you are making in the process.
• 5.0 Expected outcomes and contributions (1-2 pages): Identify and discuss the expected outcomes and novel contributions you hope to make – these can be theoretical, empirical and/or focused on applied or policy contexts. If you are planning to follow a dissertation by manuscript format (see guidelines below), tentatively outline the expected focus of the three main manuscripts.
• 6.0 Schedule of activities (1 page): Provide an expected schedule of tasks and activities starting with proposal approval and ethics clearance, through to expected timelines for first drafts and proposed defense date.
• 7.0 Budget (as necessary) (1 page)
• 8.0 References (as required)
• Appendices (as necessary) : Consider including as needed such information as interview questionnaire/questions or other protocols and information as appropriate; details on methods or analytical tools that don’t need to be in the main body of the proposal, etc.

Dissertation by manuscript*

SERS PhD students may in consultation with their supervisor and committee decide to follow a dissertation by manuscript format. In the manuscript option, the thesis will comprise the following:

• An introductory chapter(s) that outlines the problem context for the work, establishes its purpose and objectives, situates the work in the broader literature, and explains how the manuscripts presented in the body address the purpose and objectives. Typically, an integrated overview of the methodological approach and methods will also be included (however a standalone methods chapter or standalone literature review may be permitted to avoid excessive chapter length)
• Manuscripts (at least three for which the PhD candidate is first author; and possibly others for which the PhD candidate is not first author) that present research findings/contributions. Typically these will be manuscripts for refereed journals, but other formats, such as book chapters, may be appropriate. The manuscripts may submitted, in press, or published.
• A concluding chapter that outlines the principal findings and contributions of the total research effort.
• References cited in each manuscript, and in the introductory and concluding chapters, are normally consolidated at the end of the thesis.
• Appendixes may also be included as part of the thesis.

The entire thesis must be formatted according to the requirements of the GSPA. All chapters, including those presenting previously published work, must use a consistent format, and must be continuously paginated.

The following are other requirements for the manuscript thesis option:

• An important principle that must be followed in developing the manuscript thesis is that the entire document will comprise a conceptual "whole". Thus, the manuscripts should relate to the overall purpose of the PhD research program and its objectives. It is not acceptable for a student and his or her advisor to work on separate "projects" during, or outside of, the PhD program, and then submit manuscripts relating to these projects for the thesis. It is also not acceptable to include manuscripts completed prior to the commencement of the PhD program.
• The first-authored manuscripts must be dominated by the intellectual effort of the student, and these manuscripts must be written by the student.
• Where multiple authorship occurs, there must be a preface statement in the thesis outlining the roles of the respective authors, and clarifying the extent and nature of the contribution of the thesis author. Co-authors must sign the statement to indicate that they are in agreement with the evaluation of the roles and contributions of the various authors.
• In no case can a co-author serve as an external examiner for the thesis.
• When previously published, or in press, work is reproduced in the thesis, waivers from copyright holders are normally required. These should be included as an appendix.

* Adopted from the Waterloo-Laurier Joint Program in Geography .

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• Published: 19 May 2022

Integrating sustainability into scientific research

• Namrata Jain   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7673-1625 1  

Nature Reviews Methods Primers volume  2 , Article number:  35 ( 2022 ) Cite this article

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• Climate-change mitigation
• Environmental health

Laboratories have a large environmental impact, with high levels of resource consumption and waste generation. In this article, I discuss some of the actionable strategies that can bring real and impactful improvements, encompassing education, community engagement and the adoption of best practices by researchers. Building a global culture of sustainability in science will be crucial to reducing the carbon footprint of laboratories.

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2022 IPCC report: https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115452

Bringing Efficiency To Research (BETR) Grants: https://betrgrants.weebly.com/

Design Principles for Sustainable Green Chemistry & Engineering: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/greenchemistry/principles/design-principles-booklet.html

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International Laboratory Freezer Challenge: https://www.freezerchallenge.org/

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The environmental footprint of scientific research: proposals and actions to increase sustainability and traceability.

1. Introduction

1.1. foreword, 1.2. background: the environmental impact of scientific research (the context), 1.3. objective of this paper, 2. materials and methods, 2.1. methodological framework for assessing impacts: scientific research, 2.2. methodological framework for assessing impacts: a conference, 3.1. case studies: two scientific manuscripts recently published by the authors, 3.1.1. plant mitigation actions 1.

• Ilex aquifolium L. (var. argentea marginata ) species (called Agrifoglio), belonging to the Aquifoliaceae Family. This is an evergreen tree or shrub that grows up to 10 m tall with shiny, dark green, decorative, variegated foliage that does not renew simultaneously. The reddish-colored fruits provide a decorative contrast to the color of the leathery, spiny-margined leaves on the lower branches of young plants. It contains saponins, the xanthine theobromine, and a yellow pigment, ilexanthine [ 37 ]. Nowadays, it is rarely used in herbal medicine due to its toxicity; however, it has diuretic, febrifuge, and laxative properties [ 38 ].
• K conversion kg CO 2 eq. to the number of plants, 100:1 [ 36 ].

3.1.2. Plant Mitigation Actions 2

• Taxus baccata L. is a tree of the conifer order, widely used as an ornamental hedge or isolated plant. It is also known as the “tree of death.” The active ingredient responsible for the toxicity of branches, leaves, and seeds, where it is present in percentages varying between 0.5 and 2%, is an alkaloid taxin. It has a narcotic and paralyzing effect on humans and many domestic animals. The organs that contain the most of it are the old leaves.

3.2. Case Study: A Conference

Plant mitigation actions 3.

• Ostrya carpinifolia Scop. is a tree in the family Betulaceae. It is the only species of the genus Ostrya native to Europe. It is a medium-sized deciduous tree, which can reach up to 20–25 m tall, with a conical or irregular crown and scaly, rough bark. The wood is very heavy and hard and was historically used to fashion plane soles.

3.3. Impact of This Manuscript

3.4. new label, 4. discussion, 5. conclusions, author contributions, institutional review board statement, informed consent statement, data availability statement, acknowledgments, conflicts of interest.

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Share and Cite

Palmieri, M.; Lasserre, B.; Marino, D.; Quaranta, L.; Raffi, M.; Ranalli, G. The Environmental Footprint of Scientific Research: Proposals and Actions to Increase Sustainability and Traceability. Sustainability 2023 , 15 , 5616. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075616

Palmieri M, Lasserre B, Marino D, Quaranta L, Raffi M, Ranalli G. The Environmental Footprint of Scientific Research: Proposals and Actions to Increase Sustainability and Traceability. Sustainability . 2023; 15(7):5616. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075616

Palmieri, Margherita, Bruno Lasserre, Davide Marino, Luca Quaranta, Maxence Raffi, and Giancarlo Ranalli. 2023. "The Environmental Footprint of Scientific Research: Proposals and Actions to Increase Sustainability and Traceability" Sustainability 15, no. 7: 5616. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075616

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80 sustainability research topics for students to explore green campus issues

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

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

Sustainability research topics: Education

Some sustainability research topics on education for sustainable development :

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

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

Some sustainability research topics on community engagement and awareness:

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

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

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

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

More sustainability research topics on campus operations:

Biodiversity

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

Greenhouse-gase (GHG)

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

Procurement

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

Transportation and mobility

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

Behaviour change

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

Sustainability research topics on governance, strategy and reporting

Sustainability research topics on governance issues:

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

Monitoring and reporting

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

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

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55 Remarkable Environmental Topics for Research Proposal

Explore the collection of great environmental research topics from field experts.

Environmental Research Topics: Features, Importance & Great Ideas

Environmental investigations entail investigating the natural world’s structure and function, the association between humans and the environment, and how people’s values, beliefs, and attitudes affect that association. Environmental research topics thus cover a wide range of subjects, including climate change, biodiversity, pollution, renewable energy, and sustainability.

How to Choose Environmental Topics for Research

Environmental investigations is a very broad field that offers a wide range of areas to investigate. So how can you choose a good one for your paper? First, always pick an issue from the area you are interested in. What is environmental science direction you’d like to develop? Working on your paper will be easier since you’ll be motivated to explore something you care about. From there, sort through your environmental topics for research to determine the following:

• Relevance – does the proposal theme address an environmental issue with significant societal implications, such as pollution or climate change?
• Originality –  does the investigation subject offer a new perspective on existing knowledge?
• Feasibility – are the environmental topics to research realistic and achievable based on the scope and your available resources?
• Scope – how broad is the matter of investigation? It shouldn’t be too broad or too narrow; it should be the right size to provide a comprehensive investigation.

When choosing environmental science research paper topics, avoid those that are too complex or require more resources and time than you can provide. Remember also to consider data availability, literature, funding, time, and ethical issues involved.

Environmental Topics for Research Paper Are Not Created Equal

Environmental science topics are created differently depending on your discipline, purpose, scope, and methodology. Thus, the approach used to formulate them differs as they will serve different purposes. For example, some are explanatory and will try to explain how something happens or works. Others will try to seek more knowledge about a subject(exploratory). Then, you might also encounter a few that compare and contrast two phenomena or situations.

When assessing investigation issues, carefully evaluate your goals and interests before committing to a specific one. Otherwise, you might get stuck. Luckily our research proposal writing services are always here to help you help to get out of even the most challenging situation!

The Most Actual Environmental Science Topics for an Excellent Proposal

Natural and human-made systems that shape our planet and affect its inhabitants are one of the most interesting areas to write a paper about. Check out these environmental topics for research paper to produce an engaging proposal.

1. Consequences of Climate Change Human Societies.

2. Challenges of Renewable Energy Technologies.

3. Recycling Initiatives and Their Implications on Reducing Pollution.

4. Challenges of Sustainable Management of Freshwater Resources.

5. The Impact of Low Air Quality on Human Health.

6. Effectiveness of Conservational Policies in Addressing Environmental Issues.

7. Impacts of Sustainable Transportation in Reducing Urban Ecological Footprint.

8. Effect of Marine Pollution on Marine Ecosystems.

9. Challenges Facing Sustainable Farming Practices.

10. Impacts of Electricity Generation on the Environment.

11. Ecological Hazards of Electronic Waste.

12. Tourism’s Negative Effect on Ecosystems.

Environmental science research topics are often flexible and can be broadened or narrowed down depending on the scope of your study.

Interesting Environmental Justice Topics

Environmental justice involves advocating for fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in implementing environmental laws and policies. Here’re exciting environmental justice topics for a good proposal.

1. Effect of Hazardous Waste Facilities on Minority Communities.

2. The Influence of Air Pollution Exposure on the Health of Marginalized Populations.

3. Effect of Unequal Distribution of Parks and Green Spaces in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods.

4. Relationship Between Indigenous Communities and Conservation Efforts.

5. Influence of Climate Change on Vulnerable Communities.

6. Differential Impacts of Natural Disasters on Marginalized Populations.

7. The Importance of Environmental Education in Empowering Disadvantaged Communities.

8. Barriers to Equitable Access to Healthy and Sustainable Food Options in Marginalized Communities.

9. Geographical Inequalities in Accessing Clean Water.

10. The Intersection Between Food Justice and Ecological Concerns.

11. The Link Between Exposure to Pollutants Hazards and Adverse Health Outcomes in Socially Disadvantaged Groups.

12. Barriers to Equitable Distribution of Resources and Assistance During Post-disaster Recovery in Marginalized Communities.

The above can provide great options for a research proposal about environmental problems and how they affect specific populations.

Insightful Environmental Economics Research Topics

Environmental economics research topics aim to understand the human activities impacting on the natural environment and human welfare. So if you are looking for decent quantitative research ideas , consider the following offered by our experienced investigator.

1. Effectiveness of Economic Incentives in Promoting the Adoption of Renewable Energy Sources.

2. Effect of Pollution Regulations on Automobile Manufacturing Industry Competitiveness.

3. Factors Promoting Economic Growth in Green Industries and Sustainable Sectors.

4. The Economic Influence of Urban Sprawl on Environmental Quality.

5. Economic Implications of Water Scarcity.

6. Economic Incentives for Conserving Biodiversity.

7. Economic Benefits of Investing in Renewable Energy Technologies.

8. The Economic Viability of Strategies to Reduce Plastic Pollution.

9. Effectiveness of Carbon Pricing Mechanisms in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

10. Economic Consequences of Natural Disasters.

11. Economic Importance of Disaster Preparedness and Resilience.

12. Economic Benefits of Transitioning From a Linear to a Circular Economy Model Focused on Resource Efficiency and Waste Reduction.

13. Role of Green Finance & Sustainable Investments in Supporting Eco-Friendly Projects and Businesses.

14. Efficient Water Pricing Mechanisms to Encourage Conservation.

Captivating Environmental Biology Research Topics

Environmental biology research topics will often try to assess the interaction between living organisms and their natural or human-modified environments. Check out these interesting issues to investigate for your biology research proposal .

1. Ways in Which Climate Change Affects the Distribution and Habitat Suitability of Plants.

2. Relationship Between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health.

3. Role of Keystone Species in Maintaining Ecosystem Processes.

4. Human Factors Contributing to the Decline of Endangered Species.

5. Ecological Effect of Invasive Species on Local Ecosystems.

6. Factors Contributing to Pollinator Decline.

7. Ecological Consequences for Plant-Pollinator Interactions and Food Security.

8. Ecological Effects of Microplastics in Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems.

9. Shifts in the Timing of Seasonal Events in Animals in Response to Climate Change.

10. Ways in Which Changes in Land Use Impact Biodiversity.

11. Ways in Which Deforestation Impacts Ecological Communities.

12. Effects of Agricultural Pollutants on Ecosystems.

13. Challenges of Ecotoxicological Risk Assessments.

14. Ways in Which Wildlife Populations Adapt to Urban Environments.

15. Effects of Conservation on Human-Wildlife Interactions.

16. The Impact of Rising Carbon Dioxide Levels on Coral Reef Ecosystems.

17. The Influence of Marine Tourism on Marine Biodiversity.

DOWNLOAD Here More Environmental Research Proposal Ideas!

Importance of choosing the right environmental research paper topics.

Choosing the proper investigation issue is crucial for the success and impact of your paper. Topics related to environment issues tend to be complicated and demand a thorough understanding of the natural and social dimensions of the problem. But with the right choice, the writing process is much easier and gives a better chance to produce a quality paper.

Poor environmental research paper topics will waste your time, resources and even cause frustration when investigators struggle to meet the word count. So, choose your subjects of investigation wisely or request expert help if you need extra support.

While the above topics for environmental research papers might prove useful, sometimes picking a subject of investigation and working on a proposal can be daunting. But you shouldn’t worry. We have a large team of experienced writers ready to work on your paper and final paper. You only need to send your instructions, and they’ll embark on the task.

We’re here to help with your proposal. So drop us a line anytime you may need professional assistance!

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Research Areas

Learn more about the facets of research in sustainability and how you can contribute to advancing a sustainable future while at Hopkins.

Boundless Potential

The Johns Hopkins community is frequently recognized for groundbreaking research, and every day here is an opportunity for discovery. S ustainability-focused research efforts have expanded significantly in the last several years , including the establishment of the Ralph O’Connor Sustainable Energy Institute and the announcement of two new Bloomberg Distinguished Professor clusters in Climate, Resilience, and Health and Sustainable Transformations and Energy .

Read more about the diverse areas of research in sustainability to discover where your interests lie:

Affordable & Sustainable Energy

The future of sustainable energy is integral to society’s ability to combat the climate crisis. It is imperative that we develop and implement energy infrastructure and systems that make renewable, efficient energy widely accessible. Faculty, staff, and students alike are exploring the technology, policy, and infrastructure that would allow for the widespread adoption of just and sustainable energy alternatives.

Explore JHU Affordable & Sustainable Energy Researchers here . 

Clean Water & Sanitation

Water covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface and is a defining feature of our planet. Water availability and access to clean and safe drinking water are essential for human health and sustainable development beyond contributions to the atmospheric processes that allow for life on our planet. Engineering, risk assessment, epidemiology, and agriculture are samples of the subject areas impacted by water and are areas where Hopkins faculty are working to address global water challenges.

Explore JHU Clean Water & Sanitation Researchers here . 

Climate Solutions

Climate change poses one of the most — if not the most — pressing threats to this and future generations. It is a dire problem that demands immediate, collective action not just from climate scientists and policymakers, but from individuals across all disciplines. Johns Hopkins is dedicated to leveraging its world-class faculty, resources, and influence to develop and implement solutions to the climate problem.

Explore JHU Climate Solutions Researchers here . 

Healthy Communities, Workplaces & Lifestyles

The health and well-being of communities is dependent on a multitude of factors. Environmental sustainability touches many: community food systems, green space & urban tree canopy, and access to clean, drinkable water among them. Sometimes oversimplified to an issue of choice, the health status and lifestyle choices of community members are often a byproduct of the systems — political, economic, social — in which they exist. Many JHU affiliates study and implement methods to increase agency and accessibility to resources within communities across impact areas.

Explore JHU Healthy Communities, Workplaces & Lifestyles Researchers here .

Healthy Air

One of the costs of industrialization, clean and healthy air is not a guarantee and minority, impoverished, and disenfranchised communities are at an elevated risk of exposure to unhealthy, toxic, and even deadly air. The equation for healthy air, however, is much more complex than a formula of emissions from factories and automobiles; it involves the dynamic interplay between infrastructure, waste management, and public health — among other disciplines.

Explore JHU Healthy Air Researchers here .

Innovation & Economic Progress

The development of novel technologies is integral to our ability to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis. From batteries for the storage of renewable energy and optimized grids for its delivery and use to carbon capture technologies, the potential for innovation is endless and promotes a diversified, strengthened circular economy in the process.

Explore JHU Innovation & Economic Progress Researchers here . 

Sustainable Ecosystems & Resource Use

Each day humans use and thus consume a multitude of products, the production and consumption of which directly impact the planet and human health. Hopkins faculty are working to understand how materials and products can be made and used so that they meet the needs of consumers without harming our fragile, diverse ecosystems.

Explore JHU Sustainable Ecosystems & Resource Use Researchers here . 

Sustainable Food Production & Diets

Land is where we spend nearly our entire lives and, as such, it provides us with a plethora of environmental services — including food and energy. Yet, current land-use practices and food systems are contributing to ecosystem degradation and chronic diseases. Hopkins faculty across disciplines are working to shape policy and ecosystem landscapes so that all people have access to nutritious, sustainable, and equitable diets.

Explore JHU Sustainable Food Production & Diet Researchers here .

Interested in an Area?

Dive into our curated directory for researchers at Hopkins championing the sustainable movement and filter by your area of choice.

Bloomberg Distinguished Professorships

Among the world’s most accomplished interdisciplinary scholars, these faculty link academic disciplines, open novel fields of inquiry, and invigorate the entire community, all in the service of tackling society’s most complex problems. BDPs are appointed in two or more schools or divisions, including academic centers reporting directly to the provost, or in two or more departments within a single school. They are grouped together as “clusters” under a common theme. In 2021, the Provost’s Office announced a new phase of BDP hires including those for clusters in Climate, Resilience, and Health and Sustainable Transformation and Energy.

Research at JHU

Researchers at our nine academic divisions and at the university’s Applied Physics Laboratory have made us the nation’s leader in federal research and development funding each year since 1979. Find additional information on funding opportunities, awards and initiatives, and ongoing projects.

Ideas for research projects

Here at the University of Leeds all students can integrate sustainability into their degree . One of the easiest and most effective ways of doing this is through your dissertation or other research projects.

The Sustainability Service has a library of case studies and potential research projects for students. We can also support you in developing your research through the Leeds Living Lab .

Why do a sustainability research project?

There are lots of reasons for incorporating sustainability into your studies.

Here are just a few:

• Increase your employability by developing new skills and demonstrating knowledge and awareness of key global challenges faced by employers and society.
• Sustainability is interdisciplinary, so most students can integrate it into their research in a way that aligns with their interests – from exploring low carbon energy in rural areas, to investigating the social impact of the arts on ethical purchasing.
•  Tailor your research project to address a sustainability challenge that can drive action, deliver change and have a positive impact on society.
•  You could showcase your work and share your learning at the annual University of Leeds Student Sustainability Research Conference or even enter the University of Leeds Annual Sustainability Awards .

How do I develop a sustainability research project?

First up, you need to decide what you want to research. You might already have a topic in mind. You might even be ready to crack on without any support from the Sustainability Service. That’s great and if so please do let us know what you are doing and email us at  [email protected] .

If you need a bit more inspiration, we have a list of research project ideas below. We can help you think about how you could research these through your degree.

You could also carry out your research as a Leeds Living Lab , using the University as your test bed and driving real sustainable change to your own place of study. We can provide support for these projects and set up collaborations with teams both within the University, such as Estates Services, or externally with partners in the city.

If you are still unsure and need some support, discuss with your supervisor or module leader before contacting us at [email protected] .

Research project ideas

Air quality.

• An analysis of air quality of specific locations on campus (i.e. car park) and recommendations for improvement.
• Air quality studies of the University campus.

Biodiversity

• Identifying the long-term social value of greenspaces in the workplace at the University of Leeds.
• Creating cultural change around campus green spaces. How to ensure staff use green spaces during work hours in a hybrid working environment.
• Estimating the amenity value of student, staff and community engagement with the Roger Stevens pond.
• Review of the City’s biodiversity strategy and what it means for the University of Leeds.
• Evaluation of the success of the Roger Stevens Pond in increasing campus biodiversity (Urban Water Living Lab)
• Natural Flood Management trials at the Brownlee Centre site.
• The unavoidable hypocrisy of the climate change researcher?
• Exploring student engagement with the University of Leeds Climate Plan.
• Building community cohesion in the LS6 postcode region of Leeds amongst rising conflict and tensions between students and permanent residents.
• Twenty years on from "studentification". Are students still impacting communities for the better and worse?
• The COVID effect. What have been and what are the main impacts on student, university and Leeds communities relationships?
• Community engagement opportunities of the Sustainable Garden and Roger Stevens Pond.
• Student's attitudes and behaviours to Changeover.

Environmental management policy

• Identification and analysis potential gaps in environmental governance after the Brexit transition period at the University of Leeds.
• Identifying applicable environmental compliance obligations for the University in a particular area.
• Assessing the knowledge and engagement of the University Environmental Management System amongst staff and developing recommendations for improvement.

Ethical consumption

• Investigating ways of galvanising University students for fair trade and trade justice.
• Understanding differences in student perceptions towards Fairtrade as a standard, and fair trade as a movement.
• Exploring the influences that determine student participation in purchasing Fairtrade products.
• Encouraging consumer behaviour change around reducing food waste in the University of Leeds restaurants and cafes.

Single use plastic

• Identification and removal of single-use plastics in packaging waste, using the University of Leeds as a study.
• Identifying alternatives to black plastic plant pots and conducting a feasibility assessment for use by University Ground and Gardens.
• Lifecycle analysis of particular single-use plastic items and/or comparisons of the lifecycle impacts of single-use plastic alternatives.
• How to achieve systematic change in an organisation to achieve a reduction in plastic production, consumption or waste management with specific recommendations for the University of Leeds.
• Achieving behaviour change around the use of single-use plastics including recommendations for the University of Leeds.
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Proposals should address the novelty and/or  potentially transformative nature  of the proposed work compared to previous work in the field.  Also, it is important to address why the proposed work is important in terms of engineering science, as well as to also project the potential impact on society and/or industry of success in the research.  The novelty or potentially transformative nature of the research should be included, as a minimum, in the Project Summary of each proposal.

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Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER)  program proposals are strongly encouraged.  Award duration is five years.  The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year. Learn more in the  CAREER program description . 

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Compliance : Proposals that are not compliant with the  Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)  will be returned without review.

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Sustainability science: the changing landscape of sustainability research

• Special Feature: Original Article
• New Directions in Sustainability Science
• Published: 06 April 2014
• Volume 9 , pages 431–438, ( 2014 )

Cite this article

• Yuya Kajikawa 1 ,
• Francisco Tacoa 2 &
• Kiyohiro Yamaguchi 2  

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Sustainability science is a rapidly expanding field, particularly given the current ecological crises facing many parts of the globe today. To generate a snapshot of the state of sustainability science, we analyzed the current status of sustainability research using citation and text analysis. By reflecting social needs on sustainability science and the increasing number of publications in this field, the landscape is expected to change during the last decade. Our results indicate that previously separated research clusters investigating discipline-focused issues are becoming integrated into those studying coupled systems. We also found the existence of hub clusters bridging different clusters like socio-ecological systems and transition management. We also observed a variety of other emerging research clusters, especially in energy issues, technologies, and systems. Overall, our analysis suggests that sustainability science is a rapidly expanding and diversifying field, which has affected many disparate scientific disciplines and has the potential to feed scientific understanding on socio-ecological systems and to drive society toward transition for sustainability.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Kensuke Fukushi and Prof. Kazuhiko Takeuchi at The University of Tokyo for their encouraging discussions. We also thank the helpful and constructive comments raised by anonymous reviewers.

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Kajikawa, Y., Tacoa, F. & Yamaguchi, K. Sustainability science: the changing landscape of sustainability research. Sustain Sci 9 , 431–438 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-014-0244-x

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Division of extension, 4 open calls for proposals for sustainable agriculture grants.

The North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) currently has four open calls for grant proposals.  Projects must seek to advance the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of Midwestern agriculture through research and/or education.  Please help spread the word about these grant opportunities, and consider applying for one yourself.  

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• Youth Educator Grants   These grants provide up to $6,000 for projects to educate youth about sustainable agriculture.  Grantees include teachers, 4H volunteers, and other individuals and organizations that work with youth.  Proposals are due on November 7 th .  
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Human Science for innovation, inclusion and sustainability (40th cycle)

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A Triple transition (ecological, social and digital) society presents new challenges to our contemporary world, particularly for the social and economic implications of these changes. The challenges pertain questions of equality, diversity and inclusion for the development and sustainability of complex global and hypertechnological societies. Identifying and addressing these rapid and radical transformations both at the institutional and at the personal and community level require an in-depth multidisciplinary training integrating differents scientific domains through an inter-, trans- as well as multidisciplinary approach.

The Human Sciences for Innovation, Inclusion and Sustainability Ph.D. program aims to train scholars capable of analysing, interpreting and managing social, ecological and digital transitions, assessing their consequences in their multifaceted manifestations of marginalization and diversity issues —particularly in crisis situations— with the goal of elaborating specific responses and planning innovative practices. A rigorous theoretical-methodological as well as practical training can provide interpretative frameworks and tools to comprehend the complexity of the changes impacting the contemporary world, especially at the systemic and subjective level.

The Human Sciences for Innovation, Inclusion and Sustainability Ph.D. program aims to train highly qualified professionals that can liaise between the academic world on one hand and the cultural and industrial sectors on the other one, making them agents of change in line with the 2030 sustainable development agenda.

Among the pillars of the Horizon Europe 2021-2027 program for research and innovation the research paths structuring the Ph.D. program privilege Pillar 1-Excellent Science and Pillar 2-Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness.

The two curricula, “Human and Social Sciences, Media and Performance Studies” and “Organisation Sciences” share a theoretical-methodological common ground providing professionals with the apt strategic competences to reserach and analyse the socio-economic dimensions of current transformations, and to evaluate and regulate their effects.

CURRICULUM STRUCTURE

The “Human and Social Sciences, Media and Performance Studies” curriculum privileges the competences necessary to identify, manage, and intervene in the social and cultural consequences of the current transitions.

The “Organisational Sciences” curriculum privileges the administrative competences of the triple (social, digital and ecological) transition in its impact on social, political and economic organisations, combining a historical and juridical perspective with a training in statistics to analyse the quantitative level these phenomena.

Common to both curricula is a methodological foundation providing both in-depth analytical tools and the mastery of available research and planning tools. A multidisciplinary and mixed methods approach intends to integrate in the curriculum innovative technologies and techniques to gather and analyse data with traditional tools and techniques deriving from qualitative, quantitative and experimental research, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, random-control trials, standardised measurements, analysis of historical sources and legislation, statistical analysis, big data, visual methods, machine learning, psychologiacl reserach. At the same time, the training will specifically address the techniques of scientific and academic writing, the ethical component in research, innovative modalities of communicating research results in different contexts (scientific, corporate, political, cultural, etc.), as well as forms of disseminating and transfering the acquired competences. In order to internationalise the traininig and the dissemination of the research results the English-language Ph.D. program includes, starting preferably with the second year, a research stay abroad of at least 6 months. It promotes agreements with foreign institutions to enable co-tutorship by foreign scholars who shall also be present as visiting professors throughout the lessons and seminars of the Ph.D program.

The Human Sciences for Innovation, Inclusion and Sustainability Ph.D. program aims to provide students with the scientific and methodological tools to conduct innovative base and field research, in the academic, corporate, public and private contexts. The highly qualifying program prepares for both the academic careers and the new professions to manage the complexity of the transition in the many sectors affected by it.

Among the knowledges and competences imparted are:

• Interdisciplinary competences meant to comprehend and interpret the complexity of the current transitions, as well as to study their dynamics and possible developments;
• Critical analysis of the current transitions and the institutional and non-institutional forms of discipline, so as to align a full development of the ecological, digital and social transitions with sustainability and inclusive goals;
• Capability to envision, plan and implement change both at the macro and at the micro level to support the ecological, social and digital transition;
• Transdisciplinary theoretical-methodological competences to research and anlyse transitions, to manage their scial, economic, cultural, institutional and organisational impacts;
• Capability to envision, conduct and evaluate field research;
• Capability to communicate and disseminate research results at national and international conferences, winter and summer schools, through proposed publications and outreach initiatives;
• Capability to plan actions aiming to innovate, improve and accompany the changes induced by the triple transition;
• Writing, reserach, critical analysis and problem solving skills;
• Soft skills related to the ecological, technological and digital transitions, the forms of regulations, the empowerement of individuals, organisationa and communities.

CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Ph.Ds in Human Sciences for Innovation, Inclusion and Sustainability shall be able to navigate various contexts (cultural, social and corporate) within public, private and tertiary sector entities, both in Italy and abroad. The combination of the two curricula shall enable graduate students to build the most fitting professional path to respon to their personal inclinations and ambitions choosing between:

• Intellectual professions in scientific research, at universities, national and international research centres, libraries and archives, private and/or public institutions of the audiovisual and performative sector, in private companies, consortia, production cycles and scientific parks.
• Managerial and CEO roles in local, national, international and superntional institutions; in non-governmental national and international organisations, in the humanitarian or cultural fields, in private and public enterprises.
• Consulting and managing roles in diversified and interconnected sectors such as sports, health-care, training institutions, technological transfer intitutions, the culture industry,  to promote sustainable growth and the climate and digital transitions; financial consulting and its ethical implications; organisational and managing consulting.
• Managerial and coordination profiles in the ecologic and digital transition: consulting for private and public institutions to plan, implement and apply digital technologies and services, arts management, media industries (cinema and television) and live performance.
• J uridical profiles ranging from digitalisation and sustainable growth, cybersecurity, implications related to the use of AI, human health and environmental safety, the European Green Deal.

CONSISTENCY WITH PNRR OBJECTIVES

The Ph.D. program intercepts three European-wide strategic goals: innovation and digitalisation, ecologic transition and social inclusion. The cultural and scientific vision behinid the doctorate in Human Sciences for Innovation, Inclusion and Sustainability aims to train qualified professionals who can respond to the technological, social and environmental challenges at the core of the Europen and national planning strategies for the years to come. For this reason, a multidisciplinary perspective applied to base research is preferred, resulting in building planning, management, communication and leadership competences to shape inclusive, sustainable and human-centered research, innovation and growth processes. With these premises the degree takes as stepping stones the following Misions identified by the PNRR:

Misison 1: digitalisation, innovation, competitiveness, culture and tourism Mission 2: Green revolutions and ecologic transition Misison 3: Reserach and Education

COORDINATOR

Stefania Capogna

ACADEMIC STAFF

ANGELINI Marco BARTOLINI Francesca BENINI Romano BOGGIO Luca CAPOGNA Stefania CAPRI' Tindara CARDI Mavie CERVELLATI Enrico Maria COSTA Gianluca COVIELLO Massimiliano DAL BIANCO Silvia DE GREGORIO Eugenio DONATELLI Samuele FAELLA Gianluca FEDELE Valentina FERRIGNI Nicola FILONI Marco FORNI Dalila GALLOTTA Maria Chiara GIORDANO Filippo GRAZIANO Elvira Anna GRECO Emilio GRIMALDI Giorgio LAVACCA Francesco Giacinto LUBRANO LAVADERA Giuseppe MANCINI Riccardo MANTUANO Elisabetta MASTROGIUSEPPE Marco MIGLIACCIO Silvia MORELLI Maria Teresa MUSELLA Flaminia NICOLOSI Marco NOVIELLO Daniela PARISI Lorenza PIGLIUCCI Michele PROTO Massimo SABATINI Desiree SCAROINA Elisa SCAROZZA Danila SCIARRETTA Eliseo SIGILLO' MASSARA Giuseppe SPALLETTA Marica VALLONE Cinzia VISONE Tommaso ZAMPOGNARO Francesco ZORZI GIUSTINIANI Flavia

INTERNATIONAL PROFESSORS

ARCIDIACONO Francesco  - UNIVERSITY OF TEACHER EDUCATION BEJUNE FERRAZ Ricardo - UNIVERSITY OF BEIRA INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS SCIENCES; RESEARCH CENTER ON SPORTS SCIENCES, HEALTH SCIENCES AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (CIDESD), COVILHÃ, PORTUGAL MONTEIRO Diogo - ESECS - POLYTECHNIC OF LEIRIA

CURRICULA AND RESEARCH LINES

“Human and Social Sciences, Media and Performance Studies” Curriculum

The curriculum aims to provide graduate students with competences to manage the impact of the triple transition on education, media, and the arts, through a sociological, psychological and pedagogical perspective. The curriculum is articulated in three research areas:

Area 1. Diversity, Inclusion and Participation across Generations

This research path addresses the social and cultural consequences of the triple transition, in terms of partricipation, inclusion and diversity management in the national and supernational context. An interdisciplinary, in-depth perspective shall privilege an intersectional approach, in relation to the genders-generations nexus, particularly in reference to the impact of new technologies. Special attention shall be given to the processes of influence and representation in the media through contemporary forms of communication (social, political and cultural), with a focus on the social construction of reality through the media and the discursive media practices shaping processes and events, in terms of content, stucturing rhetoric and inner dynamnics. Against this backdrop  shall the study of artificial Intelligence and new languages be articulated, as well as the social, cultural and poliical consequences of Language Models (LM). This approach shall include studies on sports and fitness, the correlation between sports and general health in recreational sport activity, active aging, and the culture of well-being addressing disabilties. Further topics of research are the representation of sports and physical activity, the transformations induced by digital media, e-sports, sports and inclusion. At the same time, the organisational and economic dimensions will be considered in relation to the processes affecting and transforming sports, but also in reference to institutions and the culture industries, international relations and integration processes, as well as nation-building and supernational formations and deconstruction processes. New inequalities and processes of inclusion represent another field of research, privileging intersectional approaches factoring gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, religious, class, disability, and generational identities. The aim is to comprehend new forms of conflict and of social hierarchisation, at the local and global levels, in order to promote new interpretative frameworks on economic, siocio-cultural and educational rights, as well as on forms of participation, national, supernational and transnational identity formations. Understanding the social effects of the triple transition (social, digital and ecological) will provide insights into trends and vertical sectors such as health-care and telemedicine, the impact of telemedicine and new technologies—particularly AI—on the inclusion opportunities and the exclusion risks, the related ethical implications, but also those relating to security, in the narrations, rhetorical and medial discursive practices udnerpinning the representation of diversity.

Area 2. Pedagogy, Education Technologies and Psychology at a Time of Transition. This research path is centered on the aquisition by graduate students of an articulated framework detailing the necessary competences intrinsic to the techniques and methodologies of empirical research both at the many levels of the traditional education sector and in reference to emerging modalities of instruction, privileging the emerging scenarios of new technologies and the questions of knoweldge management. The range of educational models, their evolution and the convergence between theory and research, as well as the various applications in different educational contexts (school levels and various corporate sectors) are all topics of research. The production and testing of technological environments and tools for web-based interaction and their impact on relationhips and identity dynamics shall intersect with the theoretical-empirical research interests listed above and the study of semiotic models and conceptual artefacts enabling to interact with/between media. Special attention shall be given to the analysis and the implementation of tools to manage information and the organisation of knowledge, to educational technologies and the modeling of educational devices, considering also the innovations and evolutions introduced by artificial intelligence and its ethical implications. Area 2 will entail pursuing on one hand theoretical goals (understanding the impact of digital, ecological and social transitions on the psychological, social and educational developement, with a special focus on sustainability, resilience, adaptability and mental well-being), on the other one operational ones (developing educational models and innovative psychological, pedagocical and didactic schemes fulfilling the needs of different groups), and also methodological ones (adopting a multidisciplinary and mixed-methods apprach integrating innovative techniques and technologies of data gathering with more traditional tools and techniques, such as surveys, interveiws, focus groups).

Area 3. Communication, Arts and Digital Cultures

This research path revolves around an in-depth study of the impact of digital innovations on communication processes, as well as on perfomative and audiovisual aesthetics and practices. Graduate students shall examine the broadest implications of generative and non-generative artificial intelligence, human-computer interacion (HCI) in reference to the conceptualisation and use of digital media and communications, the possibilities offered by metaverse to create immersive experiences capable of integrating the real and the virtual, the evolutions of the wide array of social media, the inclusion oportunities enabled by digital services in terms of accessibility, sustainability and active citizenship, security issues and issues relating to the proper modality of processing and analysing digital communication (for instance cybercrime and fake news). The impact of digital technologies and cultures on audiovsiual media and the performative arts shall be examined within experiential environments enabling the interaction between performer and machine in multimedial spectacles, as well as in technologies employing sensors, virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence to create immersive and interactive experiences, exploring also the generation of multimedia content by means of algorythms and artifical intelligence, and immersive and experiential architectures; furthermore, new audiovisual formats and languages shall be topics of research, as well as the distribution and consumption of audiovisual content through streaming platforms—taking into account reccomendations and personalisation systems—, and also interface design, editorial and curatorial strategies in art catalogues. Of equal interest for scholarly enquiry are cultural policies supporting access to the audovisual and performative cultural heritage, specifically digital archives and catalogues, cultural policies and technological tools meant for accessibility and inclusion, media literacy and education.

SH1 Social Sciences and Humanities. Individuals, institutions and markets: economics, finance and managements

SH2 Institutions, Governance and Legal Systems Political science, international relations, law

SH3 The Social World and Its Interactions Sociology, social psychology, education sciences, communication studies

SH4_1 Cognitive basis of human development and education, developmental disorders; comparative cognition

SH4_2 Personality and social cognition; emotion

SH4_5 Attention, perception, action, consciousness

SH4_7 Reasoning, decision-making; intelligence

SH4_8 Language learning and processing (first and second languages)

SH8_8 Visual and performing arts, film, design

SH7_4 Social aspects of health, ageing and society

PE6 Computer Science and Informatics: informatics and information system, computer science. scientific computing, intelligent systems

LS7 Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Human Diseases

“Organization Science” Curriculum

The curriculum aims to provide graduate students with the necessary competences to manage the triple transition (social, digital and ecological) and its impact on juridical, economic and political organisations and institutions, also through a historical, mathematical and statistical perspective. The curriculum is articulated in three areas:

Area 1 Multilevel Regulation of the Climate and Digital Transitions in Response to  New Ecomomic and Social Challenges

This research path intends to investigate through the lens of critical thinking the various challenges contemporary reality poses to the legislative, the regulation and control authorities, privileging a multilevel perspective: on the vertical axis, in order to examine the national legislative sources, as well as the local and supernational (specificallly European) ones; on the horizontal axis, in order to understand practeces, models, and guidelines emanating from agents differently involved in disciplining, regulating and controlling the phenomena object of study. It shall combine a hard law perspective with the ever more widespread and fitting soft law one. The digital transition, as well as climate change, and, more in general, the related economic and social phenomena prompt a reflection on the content as well as the modes of legislating: the speed of these transformations, profoundly impacting the rights of individuals, workers and social agents demand, on one hand, a prompt intervention; on the other one, a juridical reflection that can connect different disciplines. This reserach path addresses interlinked dimensions: the public and the private one, the procedural and the substantial one. The reserach agenda stems from an awareness of the contemporary complexity of law-making confronting different realities: this enables graduate students to productively distance themselves from the specialized area of provenance, by means of a methodology that values, together with a rigourous analysis, a necessary openness to interdisciplinary exchanges in a constantly shifting scenario.

Area 2 Sustainable Innovation in Economics and Management (SIEM)

This research path takes into account the challenges that sustainability faces in business, the ecomomy and the financial markets, as wll as, from the consumer’s perspective, the relation between products/services and sustainabile processes. More specifically, a sustainable organisation shall reach three goals simultaneosly: contribute to the growth of corporate profit, to the well-being of people, collectivities and the planet guided by a sustainable logic. Such an approach entails a shift based on technological and technical competences aiming to optimise the environmental impact of the production processes and the resulting products/services through a life cycle assessment, not focusing solely on the corporate but also the environmental and social impact in a circular rather than linear trajectory. Sustainable management must adopt a social perspective: the corporation is no longer an isolated “monad”, a production unit per se but an entity integrated in and in dialogue with the territory. When applied to the inner workings of organisations this means having to rethink the models of labor managing to facilitate flexibility, a balanced organisation of life and work time, and the organisation’s well-being, as well as to balance the corporate objectives with various stake-holders and market expectations, but also having to rethink the employee journey, i.e. their whole life-cycle, from when initially hired to their time of retirement, benefiting form the immense opportunities provided by digital new technologies. The proposed reserach area examines in depth models, measuremens and tools for the sustainability of organisations: enterprise social liability, impacts on brand equity, family businesses and human enterpreneurship, hybrid models in management and labor practices, also by means of artifical intelligence; corporate and social well-being, business models with tools to manage circular production chains; quantitative and statistical methods applied to corporate and financial markets with the goal of sustainability; accountability, fintech and sustainable finance; promotion and implementation of sustainable safety standars on the workplace; stake-holder engagement/empowerment models, coproduction of services.

Area 3 The Challenges of the Triple Transition at the Institutional, Political and Gender Level

This reserach path focuses on the impact of digital and ecological transitions on national and supernational insitutions, with a special attention dedicated to ethical and political issues inherent to the governance of these transitions. We will stress the need to reform the system of multilevel governance in Europe and the rest of the world, the related debate relating to the challenges posed by the climate crisis and the digital revolution underway, governance of technological and digital innovation, and the global governance of climate change. Additional focus shall be directed to the presence and the role of women in representative bodies, in decision-making at several levels and throughout the cycles of public policies by national and supernational institutions. Gender questions shall be examined in relation to women participation, involvement and leadership in the fields outlined above. Further topics of reserach shall be the impact of technological and climate change on a redrawing of the external relations of multilevel organisation and the main continental agents from a geopolitical, qualitative and institutional perspective. Specifically, the interactions between big powers, regional organisations and private agents (multinational corporations, media empires, etc.) shall be topics of research, as well as growth policies by regional and global entities. Furthermore, the social impact of the triple transition shall be examined in relation to the participation/discrimination of particular groups such as the younger generations, women, migrants and undeprivileged grroups in society to trace their changing status within a political-economic framework, in reference to inclusion, participation, diversity and sutainability issues.

SH1 Individuals, Markets and Organizations: Economics, finance and management;

PE1 Mathematics: All areas of mathematics, pure and applied, plus mathematical foundations of computer science, mathematical physics and statistics.

SH2_4 Legal studies, comparative law, law and economics

SH2_5 Constitutions, human rights, international law

SH2_6 International relations, global and transnational governance

SH2_8 Political and legal philosophy

SH2_9 Digital approaches to political science and law

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New D2R Funding Opportunities | Core Platform Sustainability & Centres and Institutes Support

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D2R | DNA to RNA, the research initiative at McGill University that is taking an inclusive Canadian approach to genomic-based RNA therapeutics is offering two new funding opportunities:

Core Platform Sustainability:

State-of-the-art Core Platforms play a key role in supporting research and development, and seamless technology uptake and transfer. They provide academic researchers and industry collaborators with the latest technologies and resources, while also enriching the quality of research and accelerate the pace of discovery. Given that genomics, RNA chemistry, data science, biomanufacturing, and clinical research are technology-driven and rapidly evolving, supporting Core Platforms are crucial.

The Core Platform Sustainability program offers operational support to existing or newly formed McGill Core Platforms, for technical personnel, data managers, extended warranties, and equipment repair and services.

• Eligibility: This funding opportunity is available to Core Platforms that are recognized by the lead Faculty as described in McGill's Policy on Research Entities and Procedure for Core Facilities.
• Awards: Up to $250,000 annually for a maximum of three years, totaling up to $750,000.
• Application Deadline: September 30, 2024 at 5 PM Eastern time.

Centres and Institutes Support:

Research Centres and Institutes are crucial for advancing research and fostering a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to research and training.

The Centres and Institutes Support program is designed to enhance their impact and research by supporting their activities that are aligned with D2R overarching goals.

• Eligibility: This funding opportunity is available to Centres or Institutes approved by McGill's Policy on Research Entities, or to an academic institute approved by the Board of Governors.
• Awards:  up to $100,000 annually for a maximum of three years, totaling up to $300,000.

Contact Information

• Research Funding Opportunities

Department and University Information

D2r | dna to rna.

Call for proposals: Adopting a behavioural science lens to improve the impact of FCDO’s technology and innovation investments: a portfolio review

On behalf of the FCDO Research Commissioning Centre, 3ie invites proposals from organisations or consortia to conduct a review of FCDO’s technology and innovation portfolio and its current use of behavioural science. The research aims to explore the current use of behavioural science designs, examine their potential applications and barriers in FCDO’s investments, and understand how to further embed these approaches across FCDO’s portfolio. 

The deadline for sending proposals for this call is 23:59 GMT, 2 October 2024 .

At a glance

The FCDO’s Technology and Innovation Unit (TIU) intends to commission a portfolio review of its current use of behavioural science, barriers to implementation, and recommendations for effectively embedding it across its investments.  Full title : Adopting a behavioural science lens to improve the impact of FCDO’s technology and innovation investments: a portfolio review  Funding type : Accountable grant Award size : up to GBP 150,000

Launched on : 2 September 2024 FAQs posted : 20 September 2024 Submission deadline : 2 October 2024

Note: In case there are any changes to these dates, the revisions will be reflected here.

Eligibility

• Only legally registered organisations and consortia of registered organisations, not individuals, may apply.
• The TIU delivery partners will not be considered eligible for this call for proposals. Funding recipients will not be restricted from future work with the TIU.
• Please review the call for proposal document carefully for additional details.

How to apply

Funding recipients should review the full call for proposals, complete the application form and budget template.

• Call for proposals
• RCC Application Template 
• RCC Indicative Budget Template 

Please submit the completed documents by email to [email protected] . The subject line should include the opportunity title: RCC TIU BSci Portfolio Review

Supporting information

If shortlisted, funding recipients will be required to adhere to several 3ie and FCDO policies mentioned below. We strongly recommend reviewing these before applying.

• Accountable Grant Agreement
• FCDO Programme Operating Framework (PrOF)
• FCDO Risk Register Template*
• 3ie Safeguarding Policy
• 3ie Fraud & Anti-Corruption Policy
• 3ie Transparent, Reproducible, and Ethical Evidence (TREE) Policy
• 3ie Direct Cost Policy (also included in the budget template)
• 3ie Indirect Cost Policy (also included in the budget template)

Note: In case of any discrepancies between FCDO’s PrOF guidance and 3ie’s policies, the PrOF guidance will prevail. * Funding recipients are not required to fill in the risk register template at the Calls for Proposals stage. This resource is included for information only.

If you have any questions related to this opportunity, please submit these to the [email protected] mailbox including " RCC TIU BSci Portfolio Review Request for Clarification " in the subject line.

The University of Chicago The Law School

Abrams environmental law clinic—significant achievements for 2023-24, protecting our great lakes, rivers, and shorelines.

The Abrams Clinic represents Friends of the Chicago River and the Sierra Club in their efforts to hold Trump Tower in downtown Chicago accountable for withdrawing water illegally from the Chicago River. To cool the building, Trump Tower draws water at high volumes, similar to industrial factories or power plants, but Trump Tower operated for more than a decade without ever conducting the legally required studies to determine the impact of those operations on aquatic life or without installing sufficient equipment to protect aquatic life consistent with federal regulations. After the Clinic sent a notice of intent to sue Trump Tower, the State of Illinois filed its own case in the summer of 2018, and the Clinic moved successfully to intervene in that case. In 2023-24, motions practice and discovery continued. Working with co-counsel at Northwestern University’s Pritzker Law School’s Environmental Advocacy Center, the Clinic moved to amend its complaint to include Trump Tower’s systematic underreporting each month of the volume of water that it intakes from and discharges to the Chicago River. The Clinic and co-counsel addressed Trump Tower’s motion to dismiss some of our clients’ claims, and we filed a motion for summary judgment on our claim that Trump Tower has committed a public nuisance. We also worked closely with our expert, Dr. Peter Henderson, on a supplemental disclosure and on defending an additional deposition of him. In summer 2024, the Clinic is defending its motion for summary judgment and challenging Trump Tower’s own motion for summary judgment. The Clinic is also preparing for trial, which could take place as early as fall 2024.

Since 2016, the Abrams Clinic has worked with the Chicago chapter of the Surfrider Foundation to protect water quality along the Lake Michigan shoreline in northwest Indiana, where its members surf. In April 2017, the U. S. Steel plant in Portage, Indiana, spilled approximately 300 pounds of hexavalent chromium into Lake Michigan. In January 2018, the Abrams Clinic filed a suit on behalf of Surfrider against U. S. Steel, alleging multiple violations of U. S. Steel’s discharge permits; the City of Chicago filed suit shortly after. When the US government and the State of Indiana filed their own, separate case, the Clinic filed extensive comments on the proposed consent decree. In August 2021, the court entered a revised consent decree which included provisions advocated for by Surfrider and the City of Chicago, namely a water sampling project that alerts beachgoers as to Lake Michigan’s water quality conditions, better notifications in case of future spills, and improvements to U. S. Steel’s operations and maintenance plans. In the 2023-24 academic year, the Clinic successfully litigated its claims for attorneys’ fees as a substantially prevailing party. Significantly, the court’s order adopted the “Fitzpatrick matrix,” used by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia to determine appropriate hourly rates for civil litigants, endorsed Chicago legal market rates as the appropriate rates for complex environmental litigation in Northwest Indiana, and allowed for partially reconstructed time records. The Clinic’s work, which has received significant media attention, helped to spawn other litigation to address pollution by other industrial facilities in Northwest Indiana and other enforcement against U. S. Steel by the State of Indiana.

In Winter Quarter 2024, Clinic students worked closely with Dr. John Ikerd, an agricultural economist and emeritus professor at the University of Missouri, to file an amicus brief in Food & Water Watch v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency . In that case pending before the Ninth Circuit, Food & Water Watch argues that US EPA is illegally allowing Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, more commonly known as factory farms, to pollute waterways significantly more than is allowable under the Clean Water Act. In the brief for Dr. Ikerd and co-amici Austin Frerick, Crawford Stewardship Project, Family Farm Defenders, Farm Aid, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, National Family Farm Coalition, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and Western Organization of Resource Councils, we argued that EPA’s refusal to regulate CAFOs effectively is an unwarranted application of “agricultural exceptionalism” to industrial agriculture and that EPA effectively distorts the animal production market by allowing CAFOs to externalize their pollution costs and diminishing the ability of family farms to compete. Attorneys for the litigants will argue the case in September 2024.

Energy and Climate

Energy justice.

The Abrams Clinic supported grassroots organizations advocating for energy justice in low-income communities and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in Michigan. With the Clinic’s representation, these organizations intervened in cases before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), which regulates investor-owned utilities. Students conducted discovery, drafted written testimony, cross-examined utility executives, participated in settlement discussions, and filed briefs for these projects. The Clinic’s representation has elevated the concerns of these community organizations and forced both the utilities and regulators to consider issues of equity to an unprecedented degree. This year, on behalf of Soulardarity (Highland Park, MI), We Want Green, Too (Detroit, MI), and Urban Core Collective (Grand Rapids, MI), Clinic students engaged in eight contested cases before the MPSC against DTE Electric, DTE Gas, and Consumers Energy, as well as provided support for our clients’ advocacy in other non-contested MPSC proceedings.

The Clinic started this past fall with wins in three cases. First, the Clinic’s clients settled with DTE Electric in its Integrated Resource Plan case. The settlement included an agreement to close the second dirtiest coal power plant in Michigan three years early, $30 million from DTE’s shareholders to assist low-income customers in paying their bills, and $8 million from DTE’s shareholders toward a community fund that assists low-income customers with installing energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy, and battery technology. Second, in DTE Electric’s 2023 request for a rate hike (a “rate case”), the Commission required DTE Electric to develop a more robust environmental justice analysis and rejected the Company’s second attempt to waive consumer protections through a proposed electric utility prepayment program with a questionable history of success during its pilot run. The final Commission order and the administrative law judge’s proposal for final decision cited the Clinic’s testimony and briefs. Third, in Consumers Electric’s 2023 rate case, the Commission rejected the Company’s request for a higher ratepayer-funded return on its investments and required the Company to create a process that will enable intervenors to obtain accurate GIS data. The Clinic intends to use this data to map the disparate impact of infrastructure investment in low-income and BIPOC communities.

In the winter, the Clinic filed public comments regarding DTE Electric and Consumers Energy’s “distribution grid plans” (DGP) as well as supported interventions in two additional cases: Consumers Energy’s voluntary green pricing (VGP) case and the Clinic’s first case against the gas utility DTE Gas. Beginning with the DGP comments, the Clinic first addressed Consumers’s 2023 Electric Distribution Infrastructure Investment Plan (EDIIP), which detailed current distribution system health and the utility’s approximately $7 billion capital project planning ($2 billion of which went unaccounted for in the EDIIP) over 2023–2028. The Clinic then commented on DTE Electric’s 2023 DGP, which outlined the utility’s opaque project prioritization and planned more than $9 billion in capital investments and associated maintenance over 2024–2028. The comments targeted four areas of deficiencies in both the EDIIP and DGP: (1) inadequate consideration of distributed energy resources (DERs) as providing grid reliability, resiliency, and energy transition benefits; (2) flawed environmental justice analysis, particularly with respect to the collection of performance metrics and the narrow implementation of the Michigan Environmental Justice Screen Tool; (3) inequitable investment patterns across census tracts, with emphasis on DTE Electric’s skewed prioritization for retaining its old circuits rather than upgrading those circuits; and (4) failing to engage with community feedback.

For the VGP case against Consumers, the Clinic supported the filing of both an initial brief and reply brief requesting that the Commission reject the Company’s flawed proposal for a “community solar” program. In a prior case, the Clinic advocated for the development of a community solar program that would provide low-income, BIPOC communities with access to clean energy. As a result of our efforts, the Commission approved a settlement agreement requiring the Company “to evaluate and provide a strawman recommendation on community solar in its Voluntary Green Pricing Program.” However, the Company’s subsequent proposal in its VGP case violated the Commission’s order because it (1) was not consistent with the applicable law, MCL 460.1061; (2) was not a true community solar program; (3) lacked essential details; (4) failed to compensate subscribers sufficiently; (5) included overpriced and inflexible subscriptions; (6) excessively limited capacity; and (7) failed to provide a clear pathway for certain participants to transition into other VGP programs. For these reasons, the Clinic argued that the Commission should reject the Company’s proposal.

In DTE Gas’s current rate case, the Clinic worked with four witnesses to develop testimony that would rebut DTE Gas’s request for a rate hike on its customers. The testimony advocated for a pathway to a just energy transition that avoids dumping the costs of stranded gas assets on the low-income and BIPOC communities that are likely to be the last to electrify. Instead, the testimony proposed that the gas and electric utilities undertake integrated planning that would prioritize electric infrastructure over gas infrastructure investment to ensure that DTE Gas does not over-invest in gas infrastructure that will be rendered obsolete in the coming decades. The Clinic also worked with one expert witness to develop an analysis of DTE Gas’s unaffordable bills and inequitable shutoff, deposit, and collections practices. Lastly, the Clinic offered testimony on behalf of and from community members who would be directly impacted by the Company’s rate hike and lack of affordable and quality service. Clinic students have spent the summer drafting an approximately one-hundred-page brief making these arguments formally. We expect the Commission’s decision this fall.

Finally, both DTE Electric and Consumers Energy have filed additional requests for rate increases after the conclusion of their respective rate cases filed in 2023. On behalf of our Clients, the Clinic has intervened in these cases, and clinic students have already reviewed thousands of pages of documents and started to develop arguments and strategies to protect low-income and BIPOC communities from the utility’s ceaseless efforts to increase the cost of energy.

Corporate Climate Greenwashing

The Abrams Environmental Law Clinic worked with a leading international nonprofit dedicated to using the law to protect the environment to research corporate climate greenwashing, focusing on consumer protection, green financing, and securities liability. Clinic students spent the year examining an innovative state law, drafted a fifty-page guide to the statute and relevant cases, and examined how the law would apply to a variety of potential cases. Students then presented their findings in a case study and oral presentation to members of ClientEarth, including the organization’s North American head and members of its European team. The project helped identify the strengths and weaknesses of potential new strategies for increasing corporate accountability in the fight against climate change.

Land Contamination, Lead, and Hazardous Waste

The Abrams Clinic continues to represent East Chicago, Indiana, residents who live or lived on or adjacent to the USS Lead Superfund site. This year, the Clinic worked closely with the East Chicago/Calumet Coalition Community Advisory Group (CAG) to advance the CAG’s advocacy beyond the Superfund site and the adjacent Dupont RCRA site. Through multiple forms of advocacy, the clinics challenged the poor performance and permit modification and renewal attempts of Tradebe Treatment and Recycling, LLC (Tradebe), a hazardous waste storage and recycling facility in the community. Clinic students sent letters to US EPA and Indiana Department of Environmental Management officials about how IDEM has failed to assess meaningful penalties against Tradebe for repeated violations of the law and how IDEM has allowed Tradebe to continue to threaten public and worker health and safety by not improving its operations. Students also drafted substantial comments for the CAG on the US EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule improvements, the Suppliers’ Park proposed cleanup, and Sims Metal’s proposed air permit revisions. The Clinic has also continued working with the CAG, environmental experts, and regulators since US EPA awarded $200,000 to the CAG for community air monitoring. The Clinic and its clients also joined comments drafted by other environmental organizations about poor operations and loose regulatory oversight of several industrial facilities in the area.

Endangered Species

The Abrams Clinic represented the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) in litigation regarding the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) failure to list the Kirtland’s snake as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The Kirtland’s snake is a small, secretive, non-venomous snake historically located across the Midwest and the Ohio River Valley. Development and climate change have undermined large portions of the snake’s habitat, and populations are declining. Accordingly, the Clinic sued the Service in the US District Court for the District of Columbia last summer over the Service’s denial of CBD’s request to have the Kirtland’s snake protected. This spring, the Clinic was able to reach a settlement with the Service that requires the Service to reconsider its listing decision for the Kirtland’s snake and to pay attorney fees.

The Clinic also represented CBD in preparation for litigation regarding the Service’s failure to list another species as threatened or endangered. Threats from land development and climate change have devastated this species as well, and the species has already been extirpated from two of the sixteen US states in its range. As such, the Clinic worked this winter and spring to prepare a notice of intent (NOI) to sue the Service. The Team poured over hundreds of FOIA documents and dug into the Service’s supporting documentation to create strong arguments against the Service in the imminent litigation. The Clinic will send the NOI and file a complaint in the next few months.

Students and Faculty

Twenty-four law school students from the classes of 2024 and 2025 participated in the Clinic, performing complex legal research, reviewing documents obtained through discovery, drafting legal research memos and briefs, conferring with clients, conducting cross-examination, participating in settlement conferences, and arguing motions. Students secured nine clerkships, five were heading to private practice after graduation, and two are pursuing public interest work. Sam Heppell joined the Clinic from civil rights private practice, bringing the Clinic to its full complement of three attorneys.