Research in Environmental Science

Prof. Sarah Cohn

2/25/26

Agenda

Introduction

Technical Logistics

Databases

Searching

Getting Help

Introduction

A few thoughts to get us started.

Research

  • Research as inquiry

    • Research is iterative and depends upon asking increasingly complex or new questions whose answers in turn develop additional questions or lines of inquiry.

  • Searching as (strategic) exploration

    • Searching for information is often nonlinear, requiring the evaluation of sources and the flexibility to pursue alternate avenues as needed.

LLMs & AI

  • Cognitive offloading

    • What do you give up when you outsource thinking and the process of learning to a machine?

  • Process, 'friction', failure

    • How we learn!

  • Environmental concerns

    • Is it worth it?

  • Research specific AI tools

Technical Logistics

To make research easier.

  • LibKey is a browser extension that checks for full-text access to scholarly articles through CCNY Libraries.

 

  • Download the browser extension at thirdiron.com/downloadnomad
  • Set your institution to City College, CUNY

Libkey Nomad

InterLibrary Loan

  • Creating an ILL account allows you to request articles the library does not have full-text access to in our databases 
  • Use your CCNY email & EMPLID

Databases

Where you should be searching.

GreenFILE

Covers the connections between the environment and a variety of disciplines such as agriculture, education, law, health and technology.

General Science Full Text

Includes popular science magazines as well as professional journals and The New York Times Science Section.

Science Magazine

Publish high quality in research across the sciences, with articles that consistently rank among the most cited in the world.

OneSearch

Multi-disciplinary database with peer-reviewed journal articles, books, & media.

library.ccny.cuny.edu

Searching

How you should be searching.

Do the results look promising, interesting, or relevant? If not, change a search term and try again.

 

Repeat until you're seeing relevant articles.

3.

Evaluate the results & iterate as needed

Combine 2 or more search terms, adding any relevant filters.

2.

Build a search & test it out

Think about different ways to describe your topic in individual words or phrases.

1.

Identify your key words

Getting Help

Sarah Cohn

scohn@ccny.cuny.edu

ccny.libcal.com/appointments/scohn

 

Reference Desk

Monday-Friday 10am-7pm

Friday 10am-4pm

library.ccny.cuny.edu/chat

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