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Research
For the suburb of Melbourne, Australia, see Research, Victoria.
Research is an active, diligent and systematic process of inquiry in order to discover, interpret or revise facts, events, behaviors, or theories, or to make practical applications with the help of such facts, laws or theories. The term “research” is also used to describe the collection of information about a particular subject.
The word “research” derives from the Middle French (see French language) and the literal meaning is “to investigate thoroughly”.
Basic & Applied Research
Generally, one can distinguish between basic research and applied research.
Basic Research (also called fundamental or pure research) has as its primary objective the advancement of knowledge and the theoretical understanding of the relations among variables (see statistics). It is exploratory and often driven by the researcher’s curiosity, interest or hunch. It is conducted without a practical end in mind although it can have unexpected results that point to practical applications. The terms “basic” or “fundamental” research indicate that, through theory generation, basic research provides the foundation for further, often applied research. Because there is no guarantee of short-term practical gain, researchers often find it difficult to obtain funding for basic research.
Basic research asks questions such as:
- At what point in human history did logical thought arise?
- Are living organisms the rule or the exception?
- What is the mind-body connection?
- What is the specific genetic code of the oceanic whitetip?
Applied Research is done to solve specific, practical questions; its primary aim is not to gain knowledge for its own sake. It can be exploratory but often it is not. It is almost always done on the basis of basic research. Often the research is carried out by academic or industrial institutions. More often an academic instituion such as a university will have a specific applied research programme funded by a industrial partner. Common areas of applied research include electronics, informatics, process engineering and applied science.
Applied research asks questions such as:
- How can Canada’s wheat crops be protected from grasshoppers?
- What is the most efficient and effective vaccine against influenza?
- How can communication among workers in large companies be improved?
- How can the Great Lakes be protected against the effects of greenhouse gas?
There are many instances when the distinction between basic and applied research is not clear. It is not unusual for researchers to present their project in such a light as to “slot” it into either applied or basic research, depending on the requirements of the funding sources. The question of genetic codes is a good example. Unravelling it for the sake of knowledge alone would be basic research – but what, for example, if knowledge of it also has the benefit of making it possible to alter the code so as to make a plant commercially viable? Some say that the difference between basic and applied research lies in the time span between research and reasonably foreseeable practical applications.
Thomas Kuhn, in his book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, traces an interesting history and analysis of the enterprise of research.
Research process
Generally, research is understood to follow a certain structural process. Though step order may vary depending on the subject matter and researcher, the following steps are usually part of most formal research, both basic and applied:
- Formation of the topic
- hypothesis
- conceptual definitions
- operational definitions
- Gathering of data
- Analysis of data
- Conclusion, revisting of hypothesis
See also
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Center for Coastal And Land-Margin Research (CCALMR)
Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology
http://www.ccalmr.ogi.edu/
ORNL Environmental Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Conducts basic and applied research and development to create scientific knowledge and technological solutions to restore and protect the environment.
http://www.esd.ornl.gov/
National Center for Environmental Decision-making Research
NCEDR focus is on needs of subnational (state, regional, tribal, local) environmental decision makers. It engages environmental decisionmakers with researchers to develop and communicate processes and information that help solve or avoid problems associated with envirionmental decisions.
http://www.ncedr.org
Biosphere 2 Center
Columbia University environmental research activities and education programs in the Arizona "living laboratory" originally built for an experiment to test the feasibility of humans living in a closed ecosystem.
http://www.bio2.edu/
Horizon Communications
International research, film production and development organization: finding solutions to environmental, health, population and development problems.
http://www.yale.edu/horizon/
Resources for the Future
A nonprofit and nonpartisan think tank located in Washington, DC that conducts independent research - rooted primarily in economics and other social sciences - on environmental and natural resource issues.
http://www.rff.org/
Northern Ireland Centre for Energy Research and Technology, NICERT
Contract research centre on energy-related topics e,g. advanced power cycles, renewable energy, refrigeration, biomass, heat pumps, clean coal technology, CFC replacements.
http://www.ulst.ac.uk/faculty/science/nicert/
CRC for Waste Management and Pollution Control Limited
Australian research center studying wastewater treatment and reuse, solid waste management, waste minimisation, contaminated site remediation, and hazardous waste treatment.
http://www.crcwmpc.com.au/
Lake Annsjon Bird Observatory, Sweden
Monitors bird populations in an area in the middle of the Scandinavian mountain range.
http://www.csb.ki.se/users/peterc/annsjon
Cape Tribulation Research Station, AUSTROP Foundation
The only research facility in the lowland tropics of Australia, Cape Tribulation Tropical Research Station operated by the Australian Tropical Research Foundation (AUSTROP), and the home of the Daintree Rainforest Taskforce.
http://www.altnews.com.au/austrop/
Woods Hole Research Center
Addresses the great issues of environment through scientific research and education and through applications of science in public affairs. Focus is on climate change and the warming of the earth, as well as global forests because of their controlling influence on climate.
http://www.whrc.org
US Global Change Research Information Office
Studies climate change and related issues.
http://www.gcrio.org
Desert Research Institute
affiliated with University of Nevada; research programs focus on water resources and air quality, global climate change and the physics of the earth's turbulent atmosphere, and humanity's historic struggle to adapt to harsh environments.
http://www.dri.edu/
Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station Environmental Laboratory
advancing science and engineering technologies for ecosystem management. Research staff includes government and contract researchers from environmental disciplines.
http://www.wes.army.mil/el/homepage.html
Rocky Mountain Institute
Nonprofit research and educational foundation aiming to foster efficient and sustainable use of resources. Founded by Amory and Hunter Lovins. Research areas are energy, transportation, green development, climate change, water, economic renewal, corporate sustainability, and security.
http://www.rmi.org
ELI: The Environmental Law Institute
an internationally recognized, independent research and education center that advances environmental protection by improving law, policy, and management. (U.S.-based)
http://www.eli.org/
The Ecosystems Center
Part of the Marine Biology Lab, with focus on environmental research and education. Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
United Kingdom body for research, survey, monitoring and training in the terrestrial and freshwater sciences. Provides independent research and advice to inform government policy on natural resource management and environmental protection, and to raise public awareness of national and global environmental issues.
http://www.ceh-nerc.ac.uk/
World Resources Institute (WRI)
committed to change for a sustainable world - believes that change in human behavior is urgently needed to halt the accelerating rate of environmental deterioration. Site has resources on climate change, forest resources, international environmental economics, biodiversity, coastal and marine resources, trends and indicators, and sustainable agriculture.
http://www.wri.org/
Institute of Chemical Toxicology, Wayne State University
Research on the short- and long-term effects of chemicals on human, animal and plant life.
http://www.wayne.edu/ict
The Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security
Conducts research and policy analysis in the areas of environment, sustainable development, and international security.
http://www.pacinst.org/
Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce (SMS)
The (SMS) is a research center specializing in marine biodiversity and ecosystems of Florida. Research focuses on the Indian River Lagoon and the offshore waters of Florida's east central coast, with comparative studies throughout coastal Florida.
http://www.sms.si.edu/
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Does research on landscape and population ecology, coastal science, and global change, particularly within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
http://www.serc.si.edu/
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI)
One of the world's leading centers for basic research on the ecology, behavior and evolution of tropical organisms.
http://www.si.edu/stri/
Environment Institute
European Institute's concern has been focused on protecting man and his environment and on the quality of life and goods in Europe.
http://www.ei.jrc.it/
NEETF - The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation
Addressing Issues of Critcal National Concern through Environmental Education.
http://www.neetf.org/
Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Research, training, and software for hydrologic engineering and water resources planning and management.
http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/
Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth
Japanese organization focused on development of innovative environmental technologies and broadening the range of CO2 sinks. About the organization, its research activities and results, and funding opportunities.
http://www.rite.or.jp/English/E-home-frame.html
Univ of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Environmental research institute specializing in the science of coastal environments.
http://www.co.cees.edu/index.html
Center For Combustion and Environmental Research
An interdisciplinary group established to study fundamental problems relating to the field of combustion and environmental protection.
http://me-www.colorado.edu/centers/combustion/ccr.html
Center for Energy and Environmental Resources
Central liaison for energy and environmental research and education. Focuses on efficient and economical uses of energy and on ensuring a cleaner environment by developing ecologically sound energy related technologies.
http://www.utexas.edu/research/ceer/
Environmental Control Research Group
University of Paisley in Scotland investigates contaminants in air, land, inland waters and river estuaries. Details given about projects, publications and the people who work on them.
http://environment.paisley.ac.uk/chemistry/home/environmental/env_index.htm
Sustainable Development Institute
SDI seeks to heighten the environmental quality of economic development efforts through improvements in policy and practice. Its geographical concentration is on tropical forest regions and the Atlantic coast of Canada, the U.S., and the eastern Caribbean.
http://www.susdev.org/
Conservation & Research Center
At the Smithsonian Institution's mandate their mission is to advance conservation of biological diversity. The CRC increases knowledge through investigations of threatened species, habitats, and communities, and disseminates knowledge through advanced studies, professional training, and public outreach.
http://www.si.edu/crc/
National Center For Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
At NCEAS, scientists conduct collaborative research on major fundamental and applied problems in ecology. The Center facilitates integrative research aimed at synthesizing existing data and information, and subsequently making these data available in accordance with our data policy.
http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/fmt/doc?/frames.html
University of Delaware Research Centers
Agricultural, Engineering, and Natural Science research centers.
http://www.udel.edu/OVPR/research.html
Center for Energy and Environmental Policy
Research programs into the areas of environmental justice and sustainable development.
http://www.udel.edu/ceep/
Center for the Study of Marine Policy
The Center conducts a broad range of research studies emphasizing the application of policy analysis and other analytical tools to the study of the management of ocean and coastal areas on regional, national, and global scales.
http://www.udel.edu/CMS/csmp/
Human Dimensions Research Programs Guide
To improve the understanding of global environmental processes.
http://www.ciesin.org/TG/HDP/HDP-home.html
Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station
Field research station of Southeastern Louisiana University's College of Arts and Sciences. Its predominate use is by faculty and students in the biology department.
http://www.selu.edu/Academics/ArtsSciences/centers/turtlecove/turtleco.htm
K.U.Leuven research database
All research teams, research projects(5000) and expertises of K.U.Leuven researchers.
http://cwisdb.cc.kuleuven.ac.be/research/
ICENS - International Center for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences
Multi-disciplinary research centre located on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. Site has information about the centre, its research programmes, publications, and analytical services available.
http://www.icens.org
Danish Hydraulic Institute
Independent, international organisation affiliated with the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences, offering research and consultation in ecology, environmental chemistry, water resources, environmental informatics, and hydraulic structures, with particular emphasis on environmental monitoring.
http://www.dhi.dk/
ENVINET - European Network for Arctic-Alpine Environmental Research
"Infrastructure Co-operation Network" of 17 research stations engaged in multidisciplinary environmental research in Northern Europe. Includes information on cooperative projects.
http://www.npolar.no/
Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center
One of the leading centers for biomedical and biobehavioral research with non-human primates, in recent years Yerkes has expanded to include a broad range of science from molecular and cellular studies to investigations of culture and social behavior.
http://www.emory.edu/WHSC/YERKES/
NEDO (Japan) Global Environmental Technology Development
Research and technology development in several environmental areas (including waste management, recycling, CFC destruction and replacement, CO2 fixation and utilization, bioreactors, soil remediation, more). Languages: English, Japanese.
http://www.nedo.go.jp/english/
University of California Energy Institute
The purpose of the center is to foster and support selected research programs in the energy fields, build an information database for teachers and students, and conduct policy related studies. Page includes mission statement, list of staff, research papers and related programs.
http://www.ucei.berkeley.edu/ucei/
UCLA Center for Clean Technology (CCT)
Center performs research in the areas of pollution prevention, environmental impact and waste handling.
http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/database/801.html
Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Manitoba, Canada
Promote and facilitates Northern research covering the physical environment, social issues and economic development, including sustainable resource development. Offers opportunities to study the northern lights, whales, arctic flora and fauna, polar bears and historic Fort Prince of Wales.
http://www.churchillmb.net/~cnsc/
Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey
Education and research focused on cross-disciplinary analysis of long-term environmental problems.
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/eng/ces/
Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI)
The (AGCI) summer programs provide a series of in-depth sessions for invited scientists from around the world to explore the latest understandings of the global environment and how human activities affect Earth systems.
http://www.gcrio.org/agci-home.html
Energy, Environment, and Resources Center
University of Tennessee, Knoxville center conducts high-level, multidisciplinary research using the intellectual resources of the University and its regional partners. This research seeks to find real-world solutions to problems in the fields of energy, environmental resources, technology, and economic development.
http://eerc.ra.utk.edu/
Environmental Working Group
EWG is a nonprofit environmental research organization based in Washington, D.C. and a leading content provider for public interest groups and concerned citizens who are campaigning to protect the environment.
http://www.ewg.org/
Center for Environmental Research & Conservation
A consortium of five education and research institutions created in response to critical environmental concerns facing the Earth.
http://cerc.columbia.edu/
Center for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment
CSERGE's core academic objectives are to undertake policy-relevant research on global environmental problems and to contribute to the ESRC's Global Environmental Change Research Programme.
http://www.uea.ac.uk/env/all/resgroup/cserge/
Natural Environment Research Council
To promote and support, by any means, high quality basic, strategic and applied research, survey, long-term environmental monitoring and related postgraduate training in terrestrial, marine and freshwater biology.
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/cgi-bin/loadframeset.pl?title=Welcome%20to%20NERC&right=http%3A//www.nerc.ac.uk/&left=/pic-strip.html
Center for Conservation Biology
Created to develop the science of conservation biology, including its application to solutions for critical conservation problems. In particular, the CCB conducts objective scientific and policy research that is building a sound basis for the conservation, management, and restoration of biotic diversity, and the overall management of Earth's life support systems.
http://www.stanford.edu/group/CCB/
The Environmental Institute at Carnegie Mellon University
Promoting interdisciplinary environmental research that will enable Carnegie Mellon to continue its leadership in developing new knowledge.
http://www.ce.cmu.edu/EnvInst/
Maine Environmental Policy Institute
The institure is dedicated to researching environmental challenges facing the state and reporting this research to policy makers and the public.
http://www.meepi.org
Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology
CIIT is a not-for-profit toxicology research institute dedicated to providing an improved scientific basis for understanding and assessing the potential adverse effects of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products on human health.
http://www.ciit.org/
Synoptic Climatology Lab, University of Delaware
Performs research into climate and health, as well as other climatological issues that affect humans and other organisms around the world..
http://www.udel.edu/SynClim/scl.html
Urban Regeneration and the Environment (URGENT)
UK Natural Environment Research Council's thematic programme set up to integrate urban environmental research across the geological, ecological, freshwater and atmospheric sciences.
http://urgent.nerc.ac.uk
U.S. Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, California
The United States Salinity Laboratory, a National Laboratory for basic research on the chemistry, physics, biology, and assessment of salt-affected soil-plant-water systems. (Riverside CA USA)
http://www.ussl.ars.usda.gov/
Blackland Research Center - Water Sciences Laboratory
Texas
http://waterhome.brc.tamus.edu/
NIEHS - National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
conducts basic research on environmental health and environment-related diseases. Links to information on programs, grants, research, events, contracts, employment, training, outreach events, public information.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems - Centre for Arid Zone Research, Alice Springs NT, Australia
A regional research group within the Sustainable Ecosystems division of CSIRO. Undertakes research into the ecology and management of the arid and semi-arid rangelands of Australia.
http://www.cazr.csiro.au
Organization of Biological Field Stations
An association of more than 200 field stations and professionals concerned with field facilities for biological research and education, primarily in North America and Central America. This site provides links to OBFS member stations.
http://www.obfs.org/
International Union of Forestry Research Organizations
IUFRO is a non-profit, non-governmental international network of forest scientists. Its objectives are to promote international cooperation in forestry and forest products research.
http://iufro.boku.ac.at/
The Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research
(MCEER) is a national center of excellence that develops and applies knowledge and advanced technologies to reduce earthquake losses.
http://mceer.buffalo.edu/default.asp
Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich
Center of expertise in research and consultancy in the environment and natural resources sector, conducting research, development, and training to promote efficient management and use of renewable natural resources in support of sustainable livelihoods.
http://www.nri.org/
Center for Development Research, University of Bonn
Conducts interdisciplinary research on political, cultural, economic, technical and ecological questions related to development and global sustainability.
http://www.zef.de/
Center For Environmental Prediction, Rutgers University
Specializes in research and education in regional and global environmental prediction, particularly with reference to climate change modeling.
http://www.cep.rutgers.edu
Northern Environmental Research Network, NorNet
Co-operation network of northern Finnish environmental researchers. Includes information about member institutions and upcoming conferences.
http://www.nornet.oulu.fi/english/index.html
The University of Texas at Austin Environmental Science Institute
The mission of the Institute is to bring together faculty and students in the life, earth, physical, and social sciences to form a focused, interdisciplinary program of environmental research at the university.
http://www.geo.utexas.edu/esi/
William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
US DOE scientific user facility with experimental, theoretical, and computational capabilities for solving environmental problems. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington.
http://www.emsl.pnl.gov/
Ratchford Field Station at Wilkes University
Field station for undergraduate field-based education and research by collecting, handling and field-analyzing samples of rock, soils, sediment, ground water, surface water and vegetation.
http://www.wilkes.edu/academics/gse/rachford.asp
Environmental Sciences - Oak Ridge National Laboratory
ORNL's environmental sciences R&D portfolio includes work in biogeochemistry, environmental biotechnology, environmental chemistry, ecosystem studies, geosciences, hydrology, microbiology, and environmental assessment.
http://www.ornl.gov/ornlhome/environmental_sciences.shtml
Earth Share of Missouri
Group takes part in the preservation of parks, rivers, and natural lands, maintaining clean air and safe water, and development and maintenance of urban and wilderness trails.
http://www.earthsharemo.org/
The Dolphin Society
An Australian non-profit-making research institution, established in 1994 to research the effects on people of interaction with dolphins, and to pursue conservation and rights for marine mammals in general.
http://members.eisa.net.au/~dolphins/
National Center for Environmental Health (U.S. CDC)
Leadership to promote health & quality of life by preventing or controlling those diseases, birth defects, or disabilities resulting from interaction between people and the environment.
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/
National Pollution Prevention Center for Higher Education
Mission is to promote sustainable development by educating students, faculty, and professionals about pollution prevention; create educational materials; provide tools and strategies for addressing relevant environmental problems; and establish a national network of pollution prevention educators.
http://www.snre.umich.edu./nppc/
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