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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 Topics & Ideas: Environment

100+ Environmental Science Research Topics & Ideas

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

NB – This is just the start…

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

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

Overview: Environmental Topics

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

Topics & Ideas: Ecological Science

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

Topics & Ideas: Atmospheric Science

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

Topics & Ideas: Oceanography

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

Tops & Ideas: Hydrology

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

Topics & Ideas: Geology

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

Topics & Ideas: Soil Science

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

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Chemistry

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

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Economics

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

Topics & Ideas: Environmental Ethics

• The ethical foundations of environmentalism and the environmental movement regarding renewable energy
• The role of values and ethics in shaping environmental policy and decision-making in the mining industry
• The impact of cultural and religious beliefs on environmental attitudes and behaviours in first world countries
• Investigating the ethics of biodiversity conservation and the protection of endangered species in palm oil plantations
• The ethical implications of sea-level rise for future generations and vulnerable coastal populations
• The role of ethical considerations in shaping sustainable use of natural forest resources
• The impact of environmental justice on marginalized communities and environmental policies in Asia
• The ethical implications of environmental risks and decision-making under uncertainty
• The role of ethics in shaping the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable future for the construction industry
• The impact of environmental values on consumer behaviour and the marketplace: a case study of the ‘bring your own shopping bag’ policy

Examples: Real Dissertation & Thesis Topics

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various environmental science-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• The physiology of microorganisms in enhanced biological phosphorous removal (Saunders, 2014)
• The influence of the coastal front on heavy rainfall events along the east coast (Henson, 2019)
• Forage production and diversification for climate-smart tropical and temperate silvopastures (Dibala, 2019)
• Advancing spectral induced polarization for near surface geophysical characterization (Wang, 2021)
• Assessment of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter and Thamnocephalus platyurus as Tools to Monitor Cyanobacterial Bloom Development and Toxicity (Hipsher, 2019)
• Evaluating the Removal of Microcystin Variants with Powdered Activated Carbon (Juang, 2020)
• The effect of hydrological restoration on nutrient concentrations, macroinvertebrate communities, and amphibian populations in Lake Erie coastal wetlands (Berg, 2019)
• Utilizing hydrologic soil grouping to estimate corn nitrogen rate recommendations (Bean, 2019)
• Fungal Function in House Dust and Dust from the International Space Station (Bope, 2021)
• Assessing Vulnerability and the Potential for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Sudan’s Blue Nile Basin (Mohamed, 2022)
• A Microbial Water Quality Analysis of the Recreational Zones in the Los Angeles River of Elysian Valley, CA (Nguyen, 2019)
• Dry Season Water Quality Study on Three Recreational Sites in the San Gabriel Mountains (Vallejo, 2019)
• Wastewater Treatment Plan for Unix Packaging Adjustment of the Potential Hydrogen (PH) Evaluation of Enzymatic Activity After the Addition of Cycle Disgestase Enzyme (Miessi, 2020)
• Laying the Genetic Foundation for the Conservation of Longhorn Fairy Shrimp (Kyle, 2021).

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. To create a top-notch research topic, you will need to be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you’ll need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Need more help?

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your environmental science dissertation or research project, be sure to check out our private coaching services below, as well as our Research Topic Kickstarter .

Need a helping hand?

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We have 33 Environmental Engineering (proposal) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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Environmental Engineering (proposal) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Phd studentship - systematic investigation of pyrolysis process and products for sustainable biochar production, phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

PhD Studentship - Process Industries: Net Zero Towards Net Zero by optimising thermal energy recovery and management in the waste-water sector

Phd studentships - process industries: net zero data driven optimisation for process scale-up, phd studentship development of water-soluble and biodegradable detergent ingredients from co2 and bio-renewable sources, phd studentship - process industries: net zero optimisation of the cryogenic bulk liquid production and supply market, phd studentship - optimizing pulse-jet cleaning for sustainable energy: a cfd approach to emissions control, phd studentship - process industries: net zero systematic investigation of pyrolysis process and products for sustainable biochar production, phd studentship - algae - omics, bioprocess intensification for carbon dioxide and waste-derived feedstock conversion to bio-based products, phd in soundscapes, environmental or neighbour noise, funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

WIRe CDT PhD in Environmental Engineering: Track PFAS: PFAS inventory for risk assessment in water treatment works: sources, equilibrium and exposure routes

Co2 catalytic conversion using renewable hydrogen sources, self-funded phd students only.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Micro-Bio-Mechanical Modelling of root growth in soils

Developing drought-resilient agriculture: developing drought-resilient farming systems in the face of increasing water scarcity, a machine learning enhanced digital twin toward sustainable pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing, competition funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

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Environmental Engineering

The  Environmental Engineering  program is part of the  Environmental Engineering and Sustainability  cluster, which also includes 1) the  Nanoscale Interactions  program; and 2) the  Environmental Sustainability  program.

Environmental engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies chemical, biological, and physical scientific principles to protect human and ecological health.

The goal of the  Environmental Engineering  program is to support potentially transformative fundamental research that applies scientific and engineering principles to 1) prevent, minimize, or re-use solid, liquid, and gaseous discharges of pollution to soil, water, and air by closing resource loops or through other measures; 2) mitigate the ecological and human-health impacts of such releases by smart/adaptive/reactive amendments or manipulation of the environment, and 3) remediate polluted environments through engineered chemical, biological, and/or geo-physical processes.

Integral to achieving these goals is a fundamental understanding of the transport and biogeochemical reactivity of pollutants in the environment. Therefore, research on environmental micro/biology, environmental chemistry, and environmental geophysics may be relevant providing the research has a clear objective of protecting human and ecological health.

Full Proposal Accepted Anytime  

Proposals submitted to other program announcements and solicitations, including the Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER), must meet their respective deadlines; please refer to the deadline dates specified in the appropriate announcement or solicitation. Proposals for EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) or Rapid Response Research (RAPID) can be submitted at any time but Principal Investigators must contact the cognizant program director prior to submission. Proposals for supplements or workshops can be submitted at any time, and PIs are encouraged to contact the cognizant PD prior to submission.

Major areas of interest include (but are not limited to):  

• Building a future without pollution or waste : Investigation of innovative biogeochemical processes that prevent or minimize the production of waste; waste valorization and other research that will lead to new technologies to extract resources from waste streams to close the resource loop.
• Sustainable supply and protection of water : Investigation of innovative biogeochemical processes that remove, biologically or chemically transform, and/or prevent the release of contaminants in surface and groundwater; innovative processes for recovery of water, nutrients, and other resources from wastewater, saline water, or brines; innovative approaches to smart and adaptive management of surface water, groundwater, and urban watersheds and storm water to maintain/improve quality and prevent downstream impacts from nutrients and other water constituents. 
• Environmental chemistry, fate, and transport of nutrients and contaminants of emerging concern in air, water, soils, and sediments : Investigation of transport and biogeochemical reactivity in the environment; environmental forensics to identify sources and reaction pathways; field- and laboratory scale experimental research that bridges gaps between data and predictions from molecular, continuum, and field-scale modeling.
• Environmental engineering of the built environment : Research to understand the biogeochemical reactivity of the built environment with the goal of enhancing and improving human and ecological health; research that will lead to new technologies to improve outdoor and indoor air quality; research to understand how drinking water and wastewater chemical characteristics and microbial community structure impact or are affected by water quality and human health.

NOTE: Proposals with a scientific focus on chemical or physical separation processes (for example, materials or processes for reverse osmosis, membrane distillation, and hypo-filtration) should be submitted to the  Interfacial Engineering  program (CBET 1417). Proposals that seek to advance fundamental and quantitative understanding of the behaviors of nanomaterials and nanosystems should be submitted to the  Nanoscale Interactions  program (CBET 1179).  Proposals focused on  in vitro  molecular-level environmental chemistry research should be submitted to  Environmental Chemical Sciences  program (CHE-ECS 6882). Proposals focusing on industrial ecology, green engineering, and ecological/earth systems engineering should be submitted to the  Environmental Sustainability  program (CBET 7643). Proposals whose main research focus is on materials development, sensors, or environmental monitoring that do not seek to understand biogeochemical reactivity mechanisms or treatment efficiency are not encouraged and may be returned without review.

Innovative proposals outside of these specific interest areas may be considered. However, prior to submission, it is recommended that the PI contact the program director to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review.

The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The maximum annual award size is  $110,000 per year for single investigator proposals and $140,000 per year for multi-investigator collaborative proposals . Principal Investigators requesting a higher amount without first consulting with the Program Director prior to proposal submission may have the proposal returned without review.

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Environmental Engineering

Important information for proposers.

All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Supports fundamental research focused on reducing pollution and its environmental and human impacts through closing resource loops; smart amendments; environmental manipulation; or remediation with engineered processes.

The Environmental Engineering program is part of the Environmental Engineering and Sustainability cluster, which also includes 1) the Nanoscale Interactions program; and 2) the Environmental Sustainability program.

Environmental engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies chemical, biological, and physical scientific principles to protect human and ecological health.

The goal of the Environmental Engineering program is to support potentially transformative fundamental research that applies scientific and engineering principles to 1) prevent, minimize, or re-use solid, liquid, and gaseous discharges of pollution to soil, water, and air by closing resource loops or through other measures; 2) mitigate the ecological and human-health impacts of such releases by smart/adaptive/reactive amendments or manipulation of the environment, and 3) remediate polluted environments through engineered chemical, biological, and/or geo-physical processes.

Integral to achieving these goals is a fundamental understanding of the transport and biogeochemical reactivity of pollutants in the environment. Therefore, research on environmental micro/biology, environmental chemistry, and environmental geophysics may be relevant providing the research has a clear objective of protecting human and ecological health.

Major areas of interest include (but are not limited to):  

• Building a future without pollution or waste : Investigation of innovative biogeochemical processes that prevent or minimize the production of waste; waste valorization and other research that will lead to new technologies to extract resources from waste streams to close the resource loop.
• Sustainable supply and protection of water : Investigation of innovative biogeochemical processes that remove, biologically or chemically transform, and/or prevent the release of contaminants in surface and groundwater; innovative processes for recovery of water, nutrients, and other resources from wastewater, saline water, or brines; innovative approaches to smart and adaptive management of surface water, groundwater, and urban watersheds and storm water to maintain/improve quality and prevent downstream impacts from nutrients and other water constituents. 
• Environmental chemistry, fate, and transport of nutrients and contaminants of emerging concern in air, water, soils, and sediments : Investigation of transport and biogeochemical reactivity in the environment; environmental forensics to identify sources and reaction pathways; field- and laboratory scale experimental research that bridges gaps between data and predictions from molecular, continuum, and field-scale modeling.
• Environmental engineering of the built environment : Research to understand the biogeochemical reactivity of the built environment with the goal of enhancing and improving human and ecological health; research that will lead to new technologies to improve outdoor and indoor air quality; research to understand how drinking water and wastewater chemical characteristics and microbial community structure impact or are affected by water quality and human health.

NOTE: Proposals with a scientific focus on chemical or physical separation processes (for example, materials or processes for reverse osmosis, membrane distillation, and hypo-filtration) should be submitted to the Interfacial Engineering program (CBET 1417). Proposals that seek to advance fundamental and quantitative understanding of the behaviors of nanomaterials and nanosystems should be submitted to the Nanoscale Interactions program (CBET 1179).  Proposals focused on in vitro molecular-level environmental chemistry research should be submitted to Environmental Chemical Sciences program (CHE-ECS 6882). Proposals focusing on industrial ecology, green engineering, and ecological/earth systems engineering should be submitted to the Environmental Sustainability program (CBET 7643). Proposals whose main research focus is on materials development, sensors, or environmental monitoring that do not seek to understand biogeochemical reactivity mechanisms or treatment efficiency are not encouraged and may be returned without review.

Innovative proposals outside of these specific interest areas may be considered. However, prior to submission, it is recommended that the PI contact the program director to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review.

INFORMATION COMMON TO MOST CBET PROGRAMS

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.

The duration of unsolicited proposal awards in CBET is generally up to three years.  Single-investigator award budgets typically include support for one graduate student (or equivalent) and up to one month of PI time per year (awards for multiple investigator projects are typically larger). Proposal budgets that are much larger than typical should be discussed with the program director prior to submission. Proposers can view budget amounts and other information from recent awards made by this program via the “What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)” link towards the bottom of this page.

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 . 

Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements : PIs are strongly encouraged to discuss their requests with the program director before submission of the proposal.

Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID)  and  EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)  are also considered when appropriate. Please note that proposals of these types must be discussed with the program director before submission.  Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)  proposals that integrate fundamental research with translational results and are consistent with the application areas of interest to each program are also encouraged. Please note that RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI proposals can be submitted anytime during the year. Details about RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI are available in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Part 1, Chapter II, Section E: Types of Proposals .  

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

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Civil and Environmental Engineering

Ms in civil & environmental engineering - research.

Our Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a Research Focus program is tailored for aspiring researchers, emphasizing research skills development alongside disciplinary knowledge. Through this program, you'll acquire competencies in critical analysis, literature review, research question formulation, validation planning, and effective communication. It's a pathway for those considering careers in academia or research-driven industries.

Academic Outcomes

In the MS Research program, students embark on a dynamic academic and professional growth journey.

Beyond mastering the core concepts of your chosen concentration, you'll develop a keen ability to engage with civil and environmental engineering and science literature critically. Hands-on experience teaches you to conduct comprehensive literature reviews, formulate precise research questions, and design robust validation plans. This program equips you with the skills to craft compelling research reports, proposals, and manuscripts and confidently communicate your findings through oral and written formats.

It's an immersive experience that prepares you to excel in your field and thrive in research-oriented careers.

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If you prefer to send an email: Graduate Admissions Office -  [email protected] .

MS Research Projects

Listed below are examples of some of the research projects currently open for students applying for the Fall 2024 academic term. 

Integrating Physic-based Modeling and Sequential Learning Systems for Dynamic Systems

Many engineering systems can be modeled as dynamic systems, where some (possibly hidden) state variables evolved depending on some inputs. The state variable can be partially observed and inferred via probabilistic data analysis. This analysis is challenging when the evolution model is non-linear, as the classical framework of the Kalman Filter cannot be applied to those settings. This thesis project focuses on alternative approaches for sequential inference, such as particle filters and unscented Kalman Filter, and explores how to optimize these approaches in applications related to the sequential management of wind turbines, including bolt inspections and fixing.

Faculty: Matteo Pozzi

Incorporating Equity into Transportation Resilience Modeling

This project aims to assess how heavy rainfall affects the reliability of the transportation system across low, middle, and high-income communities. This study will also consider hazard mitigation measures' performance benefits and economic costs (e.g., drainage upgrades or roadway retrofits). We are seeking a student to assist with data collection, data analysis, and development of equity-focused modeling tools that could help policymakers and infrastructure owners and operators make more informed resilience infrastructure investment decisions. 

Faculty: Corey Harper

Equity-Focused Assessment of Shared Automated Vehicle Deployment

Shared automated vehicles (AVs) promise to improve transportation access in urban centers (due to improved operational efficiency) while drastically reducing transportation-related energy consumption and air pollution. This project develops a replicable, open, deployable model that can (1) identify areas with high concentrations of low-income or minority populations or both within a region and (2) conduct a scenario analysis to help public agencies assess how regulatory requirements for shared AV services (e.g., number of handicap accessible vehicles and fleet size) could impact energy use, travel demand (i.e., vehicle miles traveled), average wait times across different population groups, and AV operator profit.  

Global Glacier Projections

Global glacier mass loss considerably impacts sea-level rise, water resources, natural hazards, and culture that will affect communities worldwide. Improving projections of glaciers' response to climate change is thus critical for informing adaptation and mitigation strategies. This project will use the Python Glacier Evolution Model (PyGEM) to refine glacier mass change and runoff projections and quantify the resulting impacts. Project objectives may include a focus on model development (e.g., the application of data assimilation or machine learning algorithms to incorporate remote sensing data to refine projections) or quantifying impacts (e.g., using projections to quantify changes in runoff).

Faculty: David Rounce

Improving System-level Mobility and Accessibility Through Data-driven Network Flow Modeling

Network traffic flow modeling and simulation are central to transportation system analysis. Existing research has been primarily focused on cars as a single mode, while other modes of transportation, such as trucks, shared mobility, micro-transit, micro-mobility, for-hire vehicle trips, and parking, are overlooked or modeled separately from typical car trips. Unfortunately, characteristics of multi-modals of transportation, such as when and how passenger or freight travel and how that multi-modal flow impacts the mobility and accessibility of regional networks, particularly to essential resources, are unclear. This becomes the main hurdle for setting policies for improving mobility and accessibility.

This research aims to develop a holistic framework for mesoscopic traffic simulation that mixes multi-modal transportation of all modes, for passengers and freight, by considering their interrelations simultaneously. The result includes predicting travel time, travel delay, vehicle-mile-traveled, energy use, and emissions for each mode at each road segment and intersection by time of day. More importantly, system-level metrics on accessibility, such as Mobility Energy Productivity, and accessibility measures on essential resources accessible by any community of interest, can be quantified and modeled under this general framework. Thus, potential management strategies and policies for passenger cars and freight transportation can be evaluated and deployed.

Faculty: Sean Qian

Computational Modeling of Environmental Systems

Professor Dayal's research group collaborates with faculty in the department (Fakhreddine, Pozzi, Rounce) on the computational modeling of environmental systems in which chemical reactions and phase changes play an essential role. Specific topics include reactive transport modeling of contaminants, mechanics of glaciers accounting for melt and crevasse propagation, and CO2 sequestration and H2 storage in geological formations. Other topics of interest include applying similar computational techniques to advanced manufacturing, nuclear and H2 energy generation, and robotic materials.

Faculty: Kaushik Dayal

Situationally-Aware Autonomously Controllable Streetlights

Many cities are converting their existing streetlights to LED-source luminaires due to anticipated energy and maintenance savings. Addressable electronic lighting controls and sensors are now available that can transform basic streetlights into intelligent, smart city devices with numerous public safety and community benefits. However, several issues persist. For example, glare remains a serious problem not addressed in cost-competitive devices on the market. Additionally, while progress has been made in providing color temperature choices, the uniform installation of a single color temperature for all occasions is contextually limited. The inability to provide high color rendition decreases the quality of walkability for pedestrians and renders colors inconsistent with how a person perceives color during daylight hours. Selecting and specifying street lighting also remains an educated guess, requiring weighing multiple variables that are not fully understood. The objective of this project is to create a universal streetlight sensing system that can autonomously adjust its light source and light quality (e.g., temperature, color, acuity) to meet optimal location and operating conditions for drivers and pedestrians without the need for operator management.

This interdisciplinary and integrated research project will design an LED streetlight sensing system to control lighting in response to continuously monitored atmospheric, environmental, and roadway surface conditions. The sensing system will be capable of communicating with adjacent streetlights to maintain lighting compatibility within a localized setting. In situ, continuous self-monitoring will accommodate uneven luminaire spacing, mounting height, fixture head location, road surface widths, and surface reflective qualities, including deterioration, tree canopy interference, and ambient lighting. Localized preferences, whether for psychological, safety, or health concerns, can be considered by engaging the public in the municipal decision-making process.

Faculty: Katherine Flanigan

The Impact of Generative AI Tools in Civil and Environmental Engineering Classrooms on Student Learning and Equity

The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the development of generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, can potentially revolutionize various aspects of education within civil and environmental engineering. Our curriculum strongly emphasizes problem-solving in complex, real-life scenarios, encouraging students to cultivate innovative solutions. Integrating generative AI tools can potentially influence student learning outcomes and foster equity in education significantly. This research is dedicated to examining the impact of these generative AI tools on student learning and equity within specific teaching contexts and learning objectives by employing a combination of experimental studies, surveys, and interviews to provide valuable insights and recommendations for the effective integration of AI in civil and environmental engineering classrooms.

Faculty: Fethiye Ozis

Plant Nanobiotechnolgy for Sustainable Agriculture

Society cannot be sustainable without a tractable path towards sustainable agriculture. This environmental chemistry project will transform agriculture by developing novel nano-enabled delivery vehicles for the highly efficient delivery of nutrients and other active ingredients into plants. This precision delivery method minimizes crop inputs while maximizing crop yields, simultaneously mitigating the environmental impacts of agrochemical runoff. The student working on this interdisciplinary and multi-institution project will conduct hands-on laboratory-based experiments with PhD students and postdocs to synthesize nanocarriers for testing, assess their uptake into plants using state-of-the-art characterization tools, develop novel plant digital twins to enable the design of efficient nanocarriers and assess the overall benefits of this approach over the status quo.

Faculty: Greg Lowry

Reactive Sorbents for In Situ Degradation of Per- and Polyfluorinated (PFAS) Contaminants in Groundwater

Per- and polyfluorinated (PFAS) compounds are ubiquitous groundwater contaminants. There is a great need to find tractable and sustainable solutions to control the migration of PFAS in groundwater aquifers. In situ sorption barriers with carbon are a leading approach to manage PFAS-contaminated groundwater, but over time, they become a long-term PFAS source. The student working on this project will work with PhD students to develop and test novel sorbent materials that are injectable into an aquifer but that can also degrade adsorbed PFAS compounds with an added amendment. The student will identify novel materials with the required properties, synthesize them, and test their efficacy under various groundwater chemical conditions.

This project is laboratory-based with a strong environmental chemistry focus. As a result, the student will learn how to use a number of different analytical techniques used for PFAS and fluoride analysis, as well as methods for synthesizing materials with controllable surface properties.

Robotics and AI for Autonomous Characterization and Remediation of Contaminated Sites

Contaminated industrial and brownfield sites can cover vast areas. One of the most dangerous and expensive phases of remediation projects is site characterization to determine the extent of contamination. In this project, advances in robotic mobility platforms (e.g. legged robots), sensors, and AI/ML are leveraged to develop robots that can autonomously navigate to desired sampling locations, collect and prepare samples for analysis, accurately measure and analyze with an onboard sensor, and then use that information to decide where to sample next to reduce uncertainty in the contaminant distribution at the site.

Students will work with an interdisciplinary team of students and postdocs from environmental chemistry and robotics backgrounds to engineer autonomy into selected sensing platforms and adaptive sampling algorithms and field test those platforms to quantify performance.

Automated 3D and 2D Image-Based Interpretation of Fire Patterns with Spatial Relationship Analyses

Fire pattern investigation is systemic to determining the cause and origin of fire. However, fire is a highly three-dimensional, time-variant process with variant boundary conditions. A fire investigator must know the physics and variables that influence a fire’s development. Reliable fire scene investigation depends on human inspectors. If investigators cannot interpret fire-pattern data correctly, their analyses may lead to errors and legal consequences. Interpretation is implicit and subject to perception bias, with the assignment of interpretation to patterns largely dependent on the investigator’s knowledge, experience, training, and skill, without the benefit of a structured framework to help guide the investigator through the process.

This problem could be solved by developing data-driven tools to analyze fire patterns automatically. Image-based techniques are emerging to support field judgments. Many fire patterns are spatially distributed, and their causal relationship to fire dynamics usually cannot be identified purely through their attributes; e.g., the spatial relationships of openings with fire patterns are necessary to identify whether fire patterns are ventilation-generated. This paper proposes an automated image-based interpretation system of fire patterns with spatial relationships based on 2D and 3D image analysis to understand the spatial relationships on fire scenes to help the investigator quantitatively interpret.

Faculty: Pingbo Tang

Human and Drone Interaction Through Process Mining and Reinforcement and Imitation Learning during Bridge Inspections

Bridge inspection is a labor-intensive, time-consuming, and sometimes dangerous process that needs the bridge engineer to visually inspect and analyze the observed bridge with the help of mechanical equipment. The bridge inspection industry has adopted unmanned aerial vehicles (or drones) to improve safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Due to the complexity of the on-site environments, such as the illumination, traffic, weather conditions, and different structural types of bridges, it is critical to keep the inspector in the control loop.

The drone-based inspection strategies about how experienced inspectors control the drone to find the defects could explain their knowledge and understanding of the structure. Capturing the inspection strategies is critical for transferring inspectors’ experiences to the autonomous drone for more efficient defect detection. This study examines a framework for capturing the inspectors’ inspection strategies for identifying cracks on the bridge by controlling drones in a simulated bridge inspection in Unity.

The comparison of different human-machine interactions: (1) the inspector controls a drone manually; (2) the autonomous drone learns to find the cracks by reinforcement learning; (3) the autonomous drone learns from the inspectors’ inspection strategies by imitation learning. The framework has built a platform for exploring advanced solutions to the human–drone cooperative inspection of the bridge.

Self-diagnosis and Predictive Control of Human-in-the-Loop Water Treatment Processes with Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

Operating water treatment plants in an open and uncertain environment (changing demands and changing water properties) is challenging for humans and machine-learning-based control algorithms. Anomaly handling in such operation processes needs collaboration between humans and control algorithms to reduce safety, health, and efficiency concerns. This project aims to create self-evolving intelligent control systems that can continuously learn from control system sensor logs and operators’ actions while handling off-nominal scenarios.

The goal is to create a computational framework that can keep learning from operators to handle new configurations or scenarios and keep operators informed about emerging risks.   Such a framework will be adaptive to different water treatment plants and systems. More specifically, the primary goal of this study is to enable "proactive" computer systems to learn from operational histories and conduct self-diagnosis of real-time human-in-the-loop processes to suggest improved control strategies, which include 1) improving the mechanical system safety to ensure sustained water production without interruptions of water service; 2) enable high efficient performances of water treatments by achieving sufficient filtering and identifying possible ways of improving the filtering process designs; 3) make tradeoffs between the operating costs, downtime, performances, and water quality risks of the water system.

Robust Framework for Joint Ventilation System Component Production and Maintenance Scheduling in Dynamic Manufacturing Environments

This project will study a robust joint production and maintenance scheduling framework that ensures desired production performance in uncertain manufacturing environments. The project will involve investigating various factors that influence production performance, creating discrete event simulations to predict the impacts of these factors on production variations, and developing robust reinforcement learning-based methods that guarantee desired production performance despite uncertainties.

The proposed project will involve 1) investigating the factors that influence production performance through expert interviews and production records; 2) building discrete event simulations to predict the impacts of influential factors on production variations; 3) developing robust reinforcement learning-based methods that guarantee desired production performance considering the potential impacts of these factors.

Proactive Performance Deterioration Assessment in Heavy-Duty Vehicles for Safety and Efficiency of Commercial Fleets

Many truck accidents and crashes are highly influenced by defective truck equipment. The practical problem of conducting safety inspection programs while minimizing the impact on fleet mobility for commercial vehicles is ensuring fleet safety and effectiveness. Both safety and energy efficiency belong to a broader category called fleet performance. Efficiency is related to fuel or electricity consumption considered by an electric vehicle. They are analyzing the historical data related to safety and efficiency results in detecting the factors and vehicle attributes that mostly contribute to crashes.

Consequently, by knowing the types of those vehicles, we can derive their problems and predict which vehicles are more likely to be involved in crashes and consume more energy. This will help the drivers and fleet managers avoid repetitive inspection violations and improve fleet operational strategies. The project consists of connecting to large historical datasets, data cleaning, and applying natural language processing to text documents to make them understandable for the machine.

State-of-the-Art Review and Investigation of Workflow Stability in Modular Construction

This project aims to review and investigate the factors influencing workflow stability in modular construction. Modular housing, a type of off-site construction, provides opportunities for massive housing production with lower costs, a safer work environment, and higher productivity than on-site construction. Modular housing takes advantage of production in manufacturing, which uses assembly lines to provide large quantities of standardized products.   However, the current manufacturing approach adopted in modular housing constrains the diversity of house designs. Increasing demand for customized house design challenges the risk management of costs and schedules in modular housing. A lack of systematic investigation of the relationship between different factors and manufacturing workflow stability impedes the development of flexible modular housing.

This research first investigates the relationship between the attributes of modular housing design, work packages, and manufacturing productivity, including the elements, workflow, and uncertainties in production. Then, this research constructs an agent-based simulation to identify the relationship between multiple design components and workflow stability in modular construction using the attributes specified in the investigation. The outcome of the research will contribute to relieving the workload of the modular housing designer and support the factory manager in assisting with flexible modular housing designs.

Investigating water quality changes in coastal aquifers due to sea-level rise

Sea-level rise combined with over-exploitation of groundwater resources threatens the water quality of coastal aquifers. Degradation of groundwater quality can include contamination ranging from increased salinity to more complex geochemical perturbations impacting the fate and transport of a variety of contaminants.

This project seeks to decipher geochemical shifts occurring in coastal aquifers due to sea-level rise by applying data analytics to large datasets for groundwater levels, water quality and observed sea-level rise. Results will be used to inform potential future shifts in coastal groundwater quality and the development of effective strategies to protect freshwater resources for human and ecosystem health.

Faculty: Sarah Fakhreddine  and  David Rounce

Evaluating opportunities and constraints on future freshwater management

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is increasingly used to enhance local water supplies and build freshwater resilience. MAR involves capturing excess water supplies in wet periods for subsurface storage in depleted aquifers. Water can then be recovered for later use in dry periods or times of high demand. While MAR adoption is rapidly increasing, current planning for MAR heavily relies on historic data of hydrologic conditions rather than future projections that account for population growth and climate change. This projects involves a comprehensive evaluation of future opportunities and limitations of MAR, including quantifying excess water availability, identifying potential locations for subsurface storage, and simulating downstream impacts to community water rights, environmental flows, and water quality. This study uses hydrologic models coupled with water accounting tools to better understand and inform the viability of future freshwater management strategies.

Faculty: Sarah Fakhreddine  

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Environmental Engineering Dissertation Topics

Published by Alvin Nicolas at January 6th, 2023 , Revised On August 11, 2023

Introduction

A dissertation is a lengthy and formal document that provides arguments to defend a thesis. Essentially, the dissertation aims to show original contributions whilst addressing the research topic/topic. Starting with the hypothesis and/or research questions , the author then performs the research they must base their dissertation on to collect evidence to support his arguments.

Another key objective of dissertation writing is to provide new concepts and ideas that will help further research and development in the chosen area. However, selecting the most appropriate dissertation topic can prove a real challenge for undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students.

This post suggests up-to-date and most relevant environmental engineering dissertation topics to kickstart your dissertation. These topics have been developed by PhD-qualified writers of our team , so you can trust to use these topics for drafting your dissertation.

Without further delay, please see below our selection of topics, even though you can choose any from the complete list.

Topic 1: The Role of Environmental Engineering in Urban Flood Management in Karachi, Pakistan

Topic 2: the role of information technology (it) in environmental engineering- a study to find efficacy of internet of things (iot) devices in catalytic conversion in the uk, topic 3: environmental engineering management and artificial intelligence (ai)- an assessment of the present machine learning (ml) and deep learning models for environmental management, topic 4: environmental engineering and industrial waste- a review of novel methods for reducing industrial waste to save human lives in india, topic 5: impact of enhanced anaerobic baffle cum filter reactor on household wastewater treatment in china.

These topics have been developed by PhD-qualified writers of our team , so you can trust to use these topics for drafting your dissertation.

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting  a brief research proposal  from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an  introduction  to the topic,  research question ,  aim and objectives ,  literature review  along with the proposed  methodology  of research to be conducted.  Let us know  if you need any help in getting started.

Check our  dissertation examples  to get an idea of  how to structure your dissertation .

Review the full list of  dissertation topics for 2022 here.

2022 Environmental Engineering Research Topics

Research Aim: This research intends to find the role of environmental engineering in urban flood management in Karachi, Pakistan. Firstly, it will review the environmental engineering process for urban governance and its relationship with urban flood control. Secondly, it will show how it is used to manage urban flooding worldwide and practiced in Karachi, Pakistan. Thirdly, it will show its efficacy in Karachi, Pakistan, and identify the possible room for improvement. Lastly, it will recommend improving these areas to enhance environmental engineering to control flooding in the future.

Research Aim: This study aims to find the role of Information Technology (IT) in environmental engineering. It will show how advancements in IT improved environmental engineering management methods in the UK. It will use the case of testing the efficacy of internet of things (IoT) devices in catalytic conversion in the UK. It will find the impact of IoT-based catalytic convertors on the concentration of harmful gases in the atmosphere in the UK.

Research Aim: This research analyzes the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in environmental engineering management. It will assess the present Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning models for environmental management. It will compare and contrast these models to identify maximum efficiency and efficacy models. Moreover, it will show various administrations use these models across the globe to solve multiple environmental problems that come under the umbrella of environmental engineering. Lastly, it will recommend the best models to solve maximum ecological issues in the least developed and developing countries.

Research Aim: The study presents a review of novel methods for reducing industrial waste to save human lives in India. It will show how these methods are developed over time to solve the increasing industrial waste problem in developing countries like India. Moreover, it will compare these methods to find the best ones that can be incorporated into the Indian industries to balance production and environmental waste.

Research Aim: This research finds the impact of enhanced anaerobic baffle cum filter reactor on household wastewater treatment in China. It will show how the introduction of an anaerobic baffle cum filter affected the treated household wastewater quality. Moreover, it will analyze the current practices in China. It will compare them with other major countries such as the US, UK, Japan, etc., to differentiate between different methods with the same technology. Lastly, it will propose changes in the current practices to improve the efficacy of an enhanced anaerobic baffle cum filter reactor.

Covid-19 Environmental Engineering Research Topics

The impacts of covid-19 on environmental engineering.

Research Aim: This study will focus on the impacts of COVID-19 on Environmental Engineering.

The role of Environmental engineers during COVID-19

Research Aim: This study will focus on environmental engineers’ role in identifying the factors that affect COVID-19 transmission.

List of Environmental Engineering Dissertation Topics

The following environment engineering dissertation topics may interest the researchers who intend to undertake projects to reduce carbon emissions. It should be noted that the area of environmental engineering has grown tremendously in Europe over the last few years, thanks to the growing need to control the carbon footprint.

• Reconstruction of vehicle trajectories with dynamic macroscopic data
• Design and development of a system for measuring the carbon index of an energy-intensive company
• The water footprint of sugar and sugar-based ethanol
• Process improvement techniques to identify and remove waste in an automotive industry
• The positive and negative impacts of car mobility
• Fresh Water and Bioenergy
• Designing of carbon measurement standards
• How organisations in the fogging industry achieve improved energy efficiency by changing burners within furnaces
• To study the characteristics of industrial effluents, sewage, and water of river Yamuna at Agra.
• A Survey of Heavy Metals Concentration In Biosolids of Sewage Treatment Plant
• Improving processes to reduce electricity usage and reduce the system inefficiencies
• Study and Comparative Analysis of Ecofriendly Wastewater Recycling Plants
• To study the Ash generation and Its Utilization.
• Study of Air Pollution Control and Its monitoring at Thermal Power Plant
• Bio-Medical Waste Management: A Case Study
• Determining water quality with the help of water conductivity probes
• Study of energy usage in a machining factory with the help of efficient control using the Information Technology
• Plastic Waste Quantification, characterization, and its management in the UK
• Treatment of Coloured Effluent through HRTS System in Integrated pulp and paper industry
• Physico Chemical Analysis and assessment of drinking water supplied.
• Industrial wastewater recycling
• Third World and First World Environmental Issues
• Hazardous Waste Management: A case study
• Environmental Impact of Cement Industry: A case study
• An Analytical Study of Physico Chemical Study of Characteristics of Groundwater
• Development of Regression Model for Water Quality Assessment in the Delhi stretch of River Yamuna

In addition to the dissertation topics listed above, our dissertation writers can suggest even more environmental engineering dissertation topics to precisely suit the needs of your subject and area of research and help you achieve the grade you need.

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results , and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service !

Important Notes:

As a student of environmental engineering looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment on existing environmental engineering theories – i.e., to add value and interest to your research topic.

The field of environmental engineering is vast and interrelated with so many other academic disciplines. That is why creating an environmental engineering dissertation topic that is specific, sound, and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field is imperative.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic based on your entire research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your topic wrong; your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, and there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in writing your dissertation , as you may end up in the cycle of rejection at the initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

While developing a research topic, keeping our advice in mind will allow you to pick one of the best environmental engineering dissertation topics that fulfil your requirement of writing a research paper and add to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalizing your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and be practically implemented. Please look at some of our sample environmental engineering dissertation topics to get an idea for your own dissertation.

How to Structure your Environmental Engineering Dissertation

A well-structured dissertation can help students to achieve a high overall academic grade.

• A Title Page
• Acknowledgements
• Declaration
• Abstract: A summary of the research completed
• Table of Contents
• Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems. An outline of the structure of a dissertation can also be added to this chapter.
• Literature Review : This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analysing published and unpublished literature on the chosen research topic to address research questions . The purpose is to highlight and discuss the selected research area’s relative weaknesses and strengths whilst identifying any research gaps. Break down the topic and key terms that can positively impact your dissertation and your tutor.
• Methodology : The data collection and analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter, which usually includes research design , research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods, and data analysis strategy .
• Findings and Analysis : Findings of the research are analysed in detail under the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include graphs, charts, and tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
• Discussion and Conclusion : The researcher presents his interpretation of the results in this chapter and states whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section of the paper is to link the results and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regards to implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
• References : This should be completed following your University’s requirements
• Bibliography
• Appendices : Any additional information, diagrams, and graphs used to complete the dissertation but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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List of Research Topics in Environmental Engineering

Environmental Engineering is a discipline of engineering that deals with the prevention & control of water, air, and soil pollution. In this article list of Research Topics in Environmental Engineering is listed.

The active research areas in the field of environmental engineering are water and wastewater treatment and disposal; environmental chemistry; environmental microbiology; environmental impact assessment; membrane technology; advanced oxidation process; catalysis; air pollution, prevention, and control; solid and hazardous waste management.

Water and wastewater treatment and reuse

• Performance evaluation of improved biological treatment technologies for the treatment of sewage followed by UV disinfection for reuse
• A study of co-treatment of fecal sludge and sewage in the sewage treatment plant
• Performance evaluation of treatment and reuse of greywater by wetland system
• A comprehensive study on polluted river stretches on the Ganga River in India
• Development of treatment process for water treatment using ceramic membrane filtration to produce potable water
• Performance evaluation of microbial fuel cells for the treatment of industrial wastewaters
• Disinfection of secondary treated sewage using a novel UVC-LED reactor system for reuse
• A study on emerging contaminants in Indian waters and their treatment technologies
• Performance evaluation of improved anaerobic baffle filter reactor in treating domestic wastewater
• A study on the impact of perfluorinated compounds on human health

Advanced oxidation technologies

• A study on secondary treated domestic wastewater using an advanced oxidation process
• Development of novel photocatalytic reactors for treatment of industrial wastewaters
• Treatment of textile wastewater by using zero-valent iron nanoparticles
• Development of photocatalytic reactors for hydrogen production by water splitting technique
• Treatment of industrial wastewater by wet air oxidation processes
• Development of a novel photocatalytic reactor system for degradation of persistent organic pollutants from pharmaceutical wastewater
• Decolourization of textile dye wastewaters using ozone-based technologies
• Degradation of industrial wastewaters using TiO 2 -based nanocomposites
• Development of photocatalytic membrane reactor for the treatment of industrial and domestic wastewaters
• Photocatalytic hydrogen production from sulfide wastewater using nanocomposites
• Development of photocatalytic reactor for removal of endocrine-disrupting compounds from water and wastewaters
• Photocatalytic degradation of SO x and NO x using nanocomposites

Air pollution and control

• A study on endocrine-disrupting compounds in the atmosphere – effects on human and wildlife
• A study on vehicular movements in India – Effect of CO on human and wildlife
• A study on vertical profiling of air pollution in urban and metro cities
• Performance evaluation of alternative fuel technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in industries
• Design, development, and performance evaluation of slotted slack-petal pot chimney over a conventional chimney
• Effect of fine particulate matter and NOx on human and wildlife
• A study on the reuse of air conditioner condensate
• A study on sulfur reduction in coal-based thermal power plants

Soil pollution and remediation

• Degradation of persistent organic pollutants from contaminated soil using photocatalytic processes
• Treatment of textile wastewater contaminated soil by using iron nanoparticles
• Removal of petroleum hydrocarbon compounds from contaminated soil using natural-based products
• Leachability and physical stability of solidified and stabilized sludge from textile effluent
• Assessment of heavy metal toxicity in soil and their remedial measures
• Alkali pre-treatment for bio mechanization of solid waste

Solid and hazardous waste treatment and disposal

• Converting inert wastes into bio-amendments / bio-fertilizers – pilot projects at legacy waste dumping sites in India
• Hydrothermal carbonization of crude oil sludge for recovery of solid fuel
• Encapsulation and solidification of salt-based evaporation residues
• Use of textile and tannery sludge as fine aggregates in concrete mix
• Development of novel methods for the treatment of E-waste
• A study on the treatment of nuclear waste

CO 2 sequestration, separation, and utilization

• CO 2 gas separation from fuel and flue gas using composite membranes
• Recovery of useful products from industrial flue gases
• Development of novel composite membranes for separation of CO 2 from flue gas
• Carbonation of coal fly ash for CO 2 sequestration
• Conversion of CO 2 to useful products by novel methods
• Performance evaluation of biomedical waste facility in India

Bioremediation

• Occurrence, fate, and risk-based remediation of antibiotics in agricultural environments
• Bio-degradation of persistent organic compounds using bacterial species  
• Bioremediation of oily sludge
• Biochar and compost-based bioremediation of crude oil contaminated soil

Top 60 Scopus-indexed Journals in Environmental Engineering

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I wanted to choose the topic of my PhD thesis in the field of environmental engineering with topics related to water or wastewater. My bachelor’s and master’s degrees were applied chemistry and the subject of my master’s thesis (the effect of magnetic nanoparticles on the removal of chromium from leather industry wastewater). Please guide me and if you have a chance, help me as a second guide or consultant. I would like to have a free study opportunity in your university if possible. I am also Azeri and I expect you to help me to present a high level thesis thanks again

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• Yale Engineering Magazine

Yale's Environmental Engineering Program Named Among Top 10 in the U.S.

Research from the environmental engineering program has significantly influenced public discourse on crucial environmental issues today. These include water desalination and wastewater reuse, the impact of energy production and use on air quality and climate change, the environmental implications of engineered nanomaterials, sources of human exposure to bacteria and fungi in built environments, and the chemical reactions in flavored e-cigarette liquids that can irritate users' airways.

Several faculty members have close ties and appointments across the campus, including Yale’s School of the Environment and School of Public Health. They also collaborate with national laboratories like Brookhaven and Pacific Northwest and lead major research centers and initiatives such as NWAI , NEWT , and SEARCH . Additionally, many serve as editors for many of the field’s leading journals and publications.

Despite having a relatively small faculty size of seven full-time members, the program’s impact is considerable. Lea Winter, assistant professor of chemical & environmental engineering, attributes the program’s success to its collaborative and supportive environment.

“It's been exciting to join this community of scientists working to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society and the planet,” she said. “I am continually inspired by the new fundamental knowledge and technological innovations being developed every day by our students and faculty.”

Winter – a Yale Engineering alum and the program’s most recent faculty hire – has already found success as a recent winner of the Beckman Young Investigator Award . She appreciates the progress and impact the program has already made at a time when critical solutions are needed.

“Witnessing the growth of our department over the last decade – first as an undergraduate student becoming inspired by the urgent engineering challenges of providing access to clean water, then returning as a postdoc to a larger department with an established ecosystem supporting the pursuit of fundamentally new and practical technologies, and now as a faculty member working on building our strengths around areas like climate change solutions – I couldn't imagine a better place to train the next generation of environmental engineers,” she said.

In addition to Environmental Engineering's Top 10 ranking, Yale Engineering's overall school ranking jumped 11 places, marking the largest increase of any Top 50 program.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

http://www.howard.edu/ceacs/departments/civil/Default.htm

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Howard University is a vibrant department offering the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Areas of specialization include Geotechnical, Environmental, Structural, Transportation and Water Resources. These are exciting times to study civil and environmental engineering. As our Nation's infrastructure is eroding, civil engineers are being called to address the grand challenges of restoring, protecting, and improving our Nation's infrastructure with a keen eye on sustainable, green design. At Howard University, faculty and students are involved in interdisciplinary research involving collaborations with departments both within Howard and external to Howard, and have made distinct inroads in research and education within our field.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering educates leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, researchers and professionals with an international awareness. Over the years, our alumni have continued to make strong impacts on our profession and society. Howard University's location in Washington, DC affords students with unique opportunities to interact with government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), local contractors, companies and industrial affiliates.

About Civil & Environmental Engineering

The Civil Engineering profession is concerned with the built environment. Civil engineers plan, design, and construct major facilities, including highways, transit systems, airports, dams, water and wastewater treatment systems, tunnels, energy facilities, harbors, canals, buildings, and bridges. Civil engineers manage our air, water, and energy resources and protect society from natural catastrophes, such as earthquakes, and the hazards society itself generates in the form of toxic wastes.

Because these functions are often crucial to the day-to-day lives of most people and the facilities involved are physically substantial, civil engineers bear an important responsibility to the public. Their role is often more than just technical, requiring also a high degree of communicative skills and an ability to deal with people.

Civil engineers can be found in industry, consulting firms, and government. This is one of the few areas of engineering in which the engineer often deals directly with the public and public agencies in every phase of major infrastructural projects.

The Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering Department offers specialization in environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources engineering.

Environmental Engineering  involves sustainable design for the control and protection of the environment and its resources. Environmental engineers design systems for water quality and treatment, wastewater treatment, hazardous waste management and treatment and control of air pollutants.

Geotechnical Engineering  encompasses the areas of soil mechanics and foundation engineering. It is concerned with design and construction of structures built on or below the ground surface and the physical characteristics of soil and rocks or composite material. Geotechnical engineering includes the design of foundations of bridges and buildings, design of tunnels and dams, and the geological factors affecting all structures.

Structural Engineering  includes the design of all types of structures including buildings, dams, bridges and tunnels and the monitoring of their construction. A primary concern of structural engineers is predicting the loads that a structure will have to resist during its life and ensuring that it will be both safe and useful.

Transportation Engineering  deals with the planning, design, construction and operation of highways, railways, air transportation systems, and their terminals.  Transportation engineers are involved in the total transportation system, including the planning, design, implementation, administration, management, and performance evaluation. Highway engineering and traffic engineering are subfields of transportation engineering that involve highway design, traffic operations, and highway safety.

Water Resources Engineering  involves flood control, harbor and river development and water quantity management. It also includes hydrology, which encompasses the occurrence, distribution, movement and properties of the waters of the Earth and their environmental relationships.

PROGRAM EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Three to five years after graduating from our civil engineering program, successful graduates will:

• Analyze and design contemporary civil engineering systems independently and as members or leaders of multidisciplinary teams.
• Pursue graduate and professional studies and/or professional development opportunities, including those required to pursue and maintain professional registration.
• Utilize their knowledge, problem-solving, and communication skills in professional careers in government agencies and the private sector.

The program offers instruction and research opportunities in  environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources engineering  and has adopted the student outcomes established by ABET requirements in Criterion 3. Achieving these outcomes establishes the foundation for achieving the program educational objectives. The civil engineering undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET,  http://www.abet.org .

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

To meet the requirements for graduation, a student must successfully complete the required 120 credits of course work with a minimum overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 and a minimum GPA of 2.0 in civil and environmental engineering courses.

	6
	38
	9
	3
	2
	66
	3
	127

Student Outcomes

a)	an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
b)	an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
c)	an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
d)	an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
e)	an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
f)	an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
g)	an ability to communicate effectively
h)	the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
i)	a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
j)	a knowledge of contemporary issues
k)	an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Environmental Pollution in the Moscow Region According to Long-term Roshydromet Monitoring Data

• Published: 02 November 2020
• Volume 45 , pages 523–532, ( 2020 )

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• G. M. Chernogaeva 1 , 2 ,
• L. R. Zhuravleva 1 ,
• Yu. A. Malevanov 1 ,
• N. A. Fursov 3 ,
• G. V. Pleshakova 3 &
• T. B. Trifilenkova 3  

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Long-term Roshydromet monitoring data (2009–2018) on the pollution of the atmosphere, soil, and surface water are considered for the Moscow region (Moscow city within its new boundaries and the Moscow oblast). The air quality in the megacity (Moscow) and in background conditions (Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve) is compared.

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Izrael Institute of Global Climate and Ecology, 107258, Moscow, Russia

G. M. Chernogaeva, L. R. Zhuravleva & Yu. A. Malevanov

Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia

G. M. Chernogaeva

Central Administration for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, 127055, Moscow, Russia

N. A. Fursov, G. V. Pleshakova & T. B. Trifilenkova

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Russian Text ©The Author(s), 2020, published in Meteorologiya i Gidrologiya, 2020, No. 8, pp. 9-21.

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Chernogaeva, G.M., Zhuravleva, L.R., Malevanov, Y.A. et al. Environmental Pollution in the Moscow Region According to Long-term Roshydromet Monitoring Data . Russ. Meteorol. Hydrol. 45 , 523–532 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068373920080014

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Received : 06 February 2020

Revised : 06 February 2020

Accepted : 06 February 2020

Published : 02 November 2020

Issue Date : August 2020

DOI : https://doi.org/10.3103/S1068373920080014

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A project proposal involving the utilization of soya bean powder for coastal protection is among those being considered for funding.

Professor Chu Jian from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) proposes an alternative approach to protecting Singapore's coastlines from rising sea levels. Instead of traditional concrete barriers, his vision involves reshaping and reinforcing flat beaches using natural materials like plant fibers, sand, and soya bean powder. Tube-like beams made from these materials would be used to shield the shoreline from strong waves. Over time, this method aims to allow sand and soil to accumulate, gradually elevating the beaches and creating a natural sea wall capable of adapting to higher sea levels.

Professor Chu Jian's proposal is part of the second series of research projects chosen by Singapore's Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute (CFI) to receive government support and funding. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu announced these new projects on June 20, 2024 during the inaugural Coastal and Flood Resilience Leaders Summit. This summit is integrated into the Singapore International Water Week conference, currently ongoing until June 22, 2024 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. Funding for these research initiatives under CFI is sourced from PUB's $125 million Coastal Protection and Flood Management Research Programme.

Professor Chu Jian, Chair of NTU's School of Civil and Environmental Engineering , advocates for nature-based beams as a coastal protection solution suitable for fragile ecosystems like mangroves and seagrass habitats. He highlights that traditional hard sea walls can harm coastal environments and hinder nesting creatures such as turtles from reaching parts of the beach.

His approach aims to elevate sandy beaches and soil levels, fostering the growth of coastal trees and mangroves whose roots can mitigate wave impact and retain sediment against rising sea levels.

“Once the barrier (beams) is there, the waves will bring in soil to the back of the barrier and accumulate there to form an elevated land,” said Prof Chu .

Through miniature wave lab simulations, Prof Chu predicts that a single layer of these beams along a coastline can eventually raise the shore by one meter.

Each beam, resembling a sandbag, features a thick outer layer made from plant fiber and is filled with a mixture of sand, soya bean powder, and calcium ions, forming an erosion-resistant "rock". Prof Chu has developed a prototype of this artificial rock. When seawater interacts with the beams, the natural fibres will decompose but ions from the water will reacts with it, in which strengthens it over a few years .

Within two years, Prof Chu plans to field-test prototype beams along shorelines to validate their effectiveness.

Credit: All photographs from Gavin Foo, The Straits Times

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• Project that uses soya bean powder as part of coastal protection among proposals to get funding, The Straits Times (21 Jun 2024)

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Civil | Construction | Nuclear

Nanobubbles: Tiny Powerhouses with Huge Potential

University of utah environmental engineering professor is at the forefront of new nanobubble technology.

Peculiarly powerful, nanobubbles have opened a new frontier in science and engineering, creating promising environmental and medical applications. But what exactly is a nanobubble? Imagine a tiny water bubble that’s 2,500 times smaller than a single grain of salt. Then imagine that bubble being extremely versatile. So versatile that it’s beginning to be used for water treatment, accelerated wound healing, and even removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

That’s a strong little bubble.

The problem? Creating nanobubbles is currently very energy-intensive and inefficient.

Dr. Hong and his team at the University of Utah are pioneering a novel, energy-efficient process for creating nanobubbles. This process, developed in the Meldrum Civil Engineering building, has numerous promising applications.

In collaboration with Dr. Lewis and Dr. Fleming of the University of Utah Health Sciences and fellow Environmental Engineering professor Dr. Jennifer Weidhaas, Dr. Hong has a patent pending for this new and innovative energy-efficient process.

Since they’ve streamlined this difficult process, Dr. Hong’s team is one of the few to be able to effectively research the application of nanobubble technology in Environmental Engineering – as well as its medical applications.

Applications of Various Nanobubbles

• Ozone nanobubbles can break down harmful chemicals in water, such as PFAS, which are resistant to degradation and harmful. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) were widely used chemicals found in many products, but they persist in the environment and pose health risks. Ozone nanobubbles provide a means to degrade PFAS, offering a promising solution to this environmental challenge. As we improve methods to detect and measure PFAS in air, water, soil, and wildlife, ozone nanobubbles present a viable treatment option for contaminated water sources.
• Oxygen nanobubbles accelerate wound healing by delivering long-lasting oxygen and beneficial reactive oxygen species to tissues. The presence of oxygen is crucial for cell repair and regeneration. By cleaning wounds with water containing oxygen nanobubbles, they enhance oxygen delivery to the affected area, promoting faster and more effective healing. This technology has significant implications for medical treatments and patient recovery times.
• A more recent application is to convert CO2 nanobubbles from the atmosphere into solid rock minerals. This process, known as carbon mineralization, involves CO2 nanobubbles reacting with earthly cations such as calcium and magnesium ions in water to form stable, solid carbonates. This not only helps in reducing greenhouse gases but also provides a method to sequester carbon in a permanent form. This innovative approach contributes to global efforts to mitigate climate change by addressing carbon emissions.

This groundbreaking research is happening right here on campus, showcasing the University of Utah’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. Dr. Hong’s team is making significant strides in environmental engineering research and its medical applications by being at the forefront of nanobubble technology.

More news from our department:

PhD Student Proposes Vision for the Future of Engineering in Utah

Mina Golazad, Construction Engineering PhD student, has been awarded second place in the ASCE Utah Younger Member Forum Scholarship program for her vision of engineering in the future state. Mina’s response to the prompt, “Be Future Ready,” garnered recognition from the ASCE Utah Younger Member Forum. This year’s prompt challenged participants to envision the challenges […]

$1M DOE Grant for Advanced Nuclear Energy Research

Dr. Peter Zhu’s team Plays Key Role in Securing $1M DOE Grant for Advanced Nuclear Energy Research We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Peter Zhu, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and his lab have been collaborating with a team at the University of Illinois on a proposal that has just been awarded […]

Research at the U is Building Better Utah Infrastructure

Dr. Pedro Romero Honored with Friend of Industry Award at the 2024 Utah Asphalt Conference The Utah Asphalt Paving Association—the driving force behind our road infrastructure—recently hosted the 2024 Utah Asphalt Conference from February 27 to 28. Recognized as the premier asphalt-related event in the state, the conference brought together the industry’s best minds, including […]

Dr. Cathy Liu Earns Prestigious Educator Award

CvEEN Professor Earns 2023 Outstanding Educator Award The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) is a global organization dedicated to improving transportation systems and creating smarter, more livable communities. Within this vast network, the Mountain District ITE represents the U.S.’s mountain states and recognizes outstanding educators in the field. Dr. Cathy Liu has been honored with […]

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May 2024 New Grants and Contracts

We are pleased to share the success of SJSU's principal investigators who were awarded grants and contracts during May 2024:

Monthly Awards at a Glance 10 Awards Received: Valued at $1,503,218.

Note: Some industry-sponsored awards are not listed due to their respective non-disclosure terms.

Connie L. Lurie College of Education

Ruiz, Sandra Zuniga, Teacher Education Emancipatory Anti-Racist Mathematics Teaching and Learning Sponsor: National Academy of Education – $113,118.

Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering

Oh, Dahyun, Chemical and Materials Engineering Center for High Precision Patterning Science (CHiPPS) Sponsor: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories – $4,000.

College of Science

Carroll, Dustin, Moss Landing Marine Lab Analysis of the Role of Diel Vertical Migrators in the Marine Biological Pump Sponsor: Brown University – $49,837.

Carroll, Dustin, Moss Landing Marine Lab Ocean Carbon Sink Variability: Internal vs. Forced Mechanisms Sponsor: Columbia University – $33,870.

Clark, Ross P / Aiello, Ivano W.,  Meteorology & Climate Science MRN-1 Bolinas Lagoon Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Study Sponsor: NASA – $679,686.

Diao, Minghui,  Meteorology & Climate Science Aerosol Indirect Effects on Cirrus Clouds Based on NASA Flight Campaigns and Global Climate Models NASA Sponsor: NASA – $80,271.

Harvey, James,  Moss Landing Marine Lab Marine Mammal Observer Training Sponsor: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute – $5,618.

Harvey, James, Moss Landing Marine Lab Suisun Marsh Waterfowl Science Investigations: Data Synthesis and Manuscript Preparation Sponsor: U.S. Geological Survey – $50,000.

College of Social Sciences

Augustine, Dallas, Justice Studies A Longitudinal Qualitative Study of Fentanyl-Stimulant Polysubstance Use Among People Experiencing Homelessness (PD/PI: McNeil, Knight) Sponsor: Yale University – $49,810.

Rondilla, Joanne, Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander OHANA Center of Excellence on Empowering Behavioral Health Sponsor: San Jose State University – $437,008.

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• uno earth and environmental sciences professor is fishing for clues

CAMPUS NEWS: JUNE 21, 2024

Tilapia research, uno earth and environmental sciences professor is fishing for clues in port sulphur waters.

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University of New Orleans earth and environmental sciences professor Martin O’Connell has received a grant to study fish habitat in Port Sulphur for tilapia, considered an invasive fish species in the wild.

University of New Orleans earth and environmental sciences professor Martin O’Connell is fishing for clues in Plaquemines Parish to determine whether tilapia—considered an invasive fish species in the wild—has survived a targeted kill conducted almost 15 years ago.

O’Connell, director of the Nekton Research Laboratory at UNO’s Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, has received a nearly $50,000 grant from the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program for the project in Port Sulphur, Louisiana.

O’Connell’s research involves studying, managing, and conserving aquatic animals in freshwater, estuarine, and marine habitats. His lab researchers examine long-term changes in fish assemblages, responses of aquatic communities to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, and ecological needs of organisms threatened by changing global conditions. Ann Uzee-O'Connell, a researcher in the Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, is the co-principal investigator for the grant.

“As a scientist who has studied invasive species most of my career, I am curious to see how well the eradication strategy carried out by LDWF worked,” O’Connell said. “I hope that 14 years after all this happened that we don't find any tilapia.”

Tilapia species are probably the worse group of escaped aquaculture species when it comes to causing ecological and economical damage around the world, O’Connell said. When the area ditches were surveyed for tilapia around 2010, it was estimated that they represented 85 percent of the population.

“This type of quick population growth causes local native fishes to lose both food items and habitat,” O’Connell said.

There are important freshwater species, such as largemouth bass, bluegill and estuarine species like red drum and spotted sea trout that use the areas around Port Sulphur as nursery habitats, O’Connell said.

“It’s bad enough that we are losing so much habitat in Plaquemines Parish to coastal erosion,” he said. “Having another stressor like non-native fishes just adds to the threat to both commercially and recreationally important native fishes.”

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