How to do Research in Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Library resources for researchers working on the environment, climate, environmental science and public policy (ESPP), energy and environment, Global Development and other environmental and sustainability topics.
START WITH GOOD KEYWORDS
Topic-specific keywords will help improve your results in a general multidisciplinary database like Google, Google Scholar, HOLLIS, or Academic Search Premier.
Add keywords like these to your search:
- Topics- green banking, fast fashion, air pollution, American robin, invasive plants, CO2, El Niño, transhumance, environmental justice, storytelling, megacities
- Modifiers- indigenous, local, Federal, itinerant, francophone. qualitative
- Types of evidence- data, review, statistics, regulations
- Geographical areas- Los Angeles, Malaysia, Levant, Cook County, Dorchester, Lake Superior, United States
UPGRADE YOUR SEARCH: KEY DATABASES
The best tool for your project may be a specialized search engine, also known as a database. These databases are subject-specific or format-specific search tools:
Environment Index (via HarvardKey) – Environment Index can sometimes provide access to a deeper set of scholarly articles, especially if you’re doing historical research.
ProQuest Congressional (via HarvardKey) – If U.S. national policy is part of your search, ProQuest Congressional helps you more easily find bills, laws, Congressional committee outputs, Congressional debate, and Congressional Research Service reports.
NexisUni (via HarvardKey) – If you’re looking for public opinion and perceptions of past events, you can find full text of news articles at NexisUni. More than 15,000 sources. Use “advanced search,” then scroll down to “source” if you want to search within a particular newspaper.
Dig Deeper
Environment at a Glance is a Harvard Library guide that provides one page of quick links to resources in environmental studies.
Databases for Environmental Studies - explore the full list of Harvard Library databases in this subject category.
CONNECT WITH US
George E. Clark, the library liaison to environmental studies programs and researchers, is available to give support via email, in person, or on Zoom. He works with any Harvard scholar.
- Some Harvard Library locations will be closed or have special hours for Commencement, Thursday, May 26. Please check the Library Hours page for specifics. Ask a Librarian and chat hours will remain as usual.
- Most Harvard Library locations will be closed Monday, May 30 and Tuesday, May 31, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Ask a Librarian and chat service will be closed on these dates.
- If you're experiencing an ongoing technical issue when you attempt to access library materials with your HarvardKey during these times, please report it to Library Technology Services.
Chat
Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm
Friday9am-7pm
Saturday9am-5pm
Sunday 12noon-7pm
Chat is intended for brief inquiries from the Harvard community.
Reach out to librarians and other reference specialists by email using our online form. We usually respond within 24 hours Monday through Friday.
Meet
Talk to a librarian for advice on defining your topic, developing your research strategy, and locating and using sources. Make an appointment now.
These services are intended primarily for Harvard University faculty, staff and students. If you are not affiliated with Harvard, please use these services only to request information about the Library and its collections.