Groups are encouraged to develop their own research ideas in consultation with Dr. Courard-Hauri. Topics should be interesting and relevant to campus or community questions. Topics must be based upon a specific environmental question that can be addressed through experimental analysis within the course of the semester. Experimental procedures should be discussed with the professor in the first few weeks of class to ensure that appropriate instruments or materials can be found.
Water quality I. Water quality and human health. For example, how does dorm tap water compare to bottled water, or filtered water?
Water quality II. How clean are streams near Drake? Is it possible to determine where various pollutants may originate?
Environmental toxins. How does Drake University approach chemical use either within buildings or in landscaping, for example? Do these leave measurable residues, and is there any reason to be concerned?
Greenhouse gasses. Is it possible to estimate Drake's contribution to global warming from a particular sector (such as transportation or energy)?
Recycling. What fraction of Drake's recyclables are actually recycled, and how might this fraction realistically be changed? What would be the costs/benefits to the University? Or, what is Drake's policy on the use of recycled materials (such as paper), and is this policy reasonable given the costs and benefits of other options?
Bottle bill. Two years ago, opponents of Iowa's bottle bill released research which showed potentially dangerous pathogens found in store areas where cans were returned, and suggested that this was compelling evidence to end the in-store bottle-return policy. However, without similar tests in other parts of the stores, or in stores without in-store return areas, it was difficult to properly identify the source of contamination. Further study of these questions might be interesting.
Invasive species. What sorts of invasive species exist in natural areas around Drake, and how might they be controlled? This would involve a survey of various sites, and will require some identification skills. You will also want to get it done early, because it will be difficult to identify species in the late fall.
Species diversity. Are there differences in species diversity or type between the recently planted prairie plot south of Cline and habitat elsewhere? Probably here you would look at beetles, as those are the easiest to work with in mid- to late-fall.