Research in Environmental Science

Prof. Sarah Cohn

2/25/26

Agenda

Introduction

Types of Sources

Databases

Searching

Getting Help

Introduction

A few thoughts to get us started.

Why Library?

  • One isn't better than the other

    • Different information needs require different places to search.

  • The library is a resource for you as CCNY students

    • Utilize all the tools available to you. 

    • Librarians are nice and helpful!

LLMs & AI

  • Fake sources

  • 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?

Types of Sources

Know what you're looking for.

Scholarly

Popular

  • Author & Audience

    • by journalists for the general public

  • Publication

    • newspaper or magazine

  • Content

    • human interest hook, photos, little or no specialized language, background on topic

  • Citations

    • links within the text

  • Author & Audience

    • by academics & researchers for other academics & researchers

  • Publication

    • peer reviewed journal

  • Content

    • original research, data, findings, theoretical framework, specialized language

  • Citations

    • Works cited or bibliography

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.

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

1.

Identify your key words

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

2.

Build a search & test it out

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 & change the search as needed

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

Rose Undergrad

By Sarah Cohn

Rose Undergrad

Environmental Science

  • 16

More from Sarah Cohn