Environmental Science

EarthPortal's Earth News and Earth Forum sections keep you up to date with the latest in environmental science. Visit the Encyclopedia of Earth for an in-depth, user-friendly reference that includes illustrations and wiki-based articles written and peer-reviewed by experts in the field.

Environmental Literacy Council is a nonprofit that aims to help teachers provide the tools that students need to “develop environmental literacy.” Navigation can sometimes be tricky on this site, so use the categories on the left to explore the different aspects of our environment. You’ll find recommended resources that include links to related sites, maps, laws, “viewpoints” and even classroom resources.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the necessary first stop for official government environmental data and initiatives. Visit the “Laws & Regulations” section to learn more about how the agency operates.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) acts as the U.S. government’s steward of the sea and air. Navigate the site using the graphic icons in the upper-right corner of the page; content is neatly organized by the ecosystems and activities regulated by NOAA. You’ll find NOAA news, research information and links to NOAA organizations, such as the National Weather Service.

PBS Kids Go is the collective site for PBS’s various kids programs, a number of which are focused on environmental science, wildlife or ecology. Help your kids explore the different sites and take advantage of the games and animation, all with the usual PBS quality and energy.

EPA Environmental Kids Club is the gateway to a number of state and federal government environmental education Web sites for young children. Though most of the sites don’t feature the latest in Internet technology, they are functional, interactive and informative.

The GLOBE Program (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) unites students, teachers and scientists on collaborative learning projects. To join the vast number of amateur scientists around the world contributing to our understanding of the environment and earth, start by exploring the pages for students or take a look at past projects. You’ll find help with data collection and organization, classroom projects and more.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is a government organization that studies how the environment impacts human health. The student section links to numerous homework-helper sites and activity sites, including full interactive Web pages, downloadable publications and videos, each tagged for its appropriate age range. Don’t miss the Summer Opportunities section for information on internships and summer jobs in the field of environmental health.

Ask A Scientist is a Web site of the U.S. Department of Energy. This simple but informative site has been online since the early 1990s. Browse nearly 20 years of archives, or submit your own question. All questions are answered by environmental and earth science experts.

EHP Science Education Program offers free downloadable lessons on various aspects of environmental health, based on research and articles published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The lessons integrate the disciplines of environmental science, biology and medicine for high school students. Use the Download button at the top of the page to get all the lessons.

Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology is an efficient, peer-reviewed site for undergraduate level ecology faculty. Find each volume of the online publication available in full for free, with articles on teaching issues in the field, complete materials of data set research projects for student assignments, and editorials and reviews.

Green Energy TV is the YouTube for alternative energy, providing an easy way for teachers to bring professional video clips about green energy technology to the classroom.

ScienceDaily brings an immense number of stories to the fore each day. Look for news and feature articles, multimedia and book reviews. The journalism and presentation are both top-notch.

Discovery Channel brings you some of the more interesting and engaging science news online. Read the featured stories or scroll down to find more news stories of interest. Visit the site’s Global Warming section for extensive coverage of the topic.

Grist is a punchy, youthful-looking site with a great range of features and integrated multimedia. Find news and commentary plus special features.

Environmental Health News (EHN) is a news aggregator. Most of the links go to the original news source or peer-reviewed journals, but EHN also publishes synopses of environmental health articles and research.

Environmental Health Perspectives is a monthly journal published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Its Web site is a bit awkward to navigate but is nonetheless an excellent source of peer-reviewed research and news. The journal is also available in Chinese.

Environmental Science & Technology is a blend of research, news, reviews and analysis. The Web site goes beyond its print version with the “Articles ASAP” section, bringing you polished but as-yet unpublished (in print) research. Read abstracts of current articles (and in some cases, complete articles) for free, or purchase access to archived articles.

RealClimate focuses solely on the latest in climate science, steering clear of politics and policy. This no-nonsense group blog is written by 11 climate scientists. Browse entries using the index page or scroll down the right side of the homepage to view categories. For background on climate science, click the start here button at the top.

Environmental Economics is penned by two professors of environmental economics with occasional academic guest bloggers. Focusing on the economics of the environment, it takes a somewhat different look into environmental issues than most blogs out there, which tend toward activism. Use the categories  (scroll down the left side to find them), or explore further with the rich blogroll and link list. For some background on the field, read Environmental Economics 101.

The Natural Patriot reads like a magazine, and has enough pretty pictures to be one. Written by Emmett Duffy, a topics editor for the Encyclopedia of Earth, this blog covers the full domain of environmental science news with information-rich posts that are highly readable. Check out NP’s essential reading list for recommended books.

The Oil Drum addresses the elephant in the environmental room: the problem of oil, specifically that of peak-oil (the point where it starts running out). Written by economics and energy experts from a scientific research perspective, this blog addresses issues in energy science, policy and the future of global energy.

Ecological Society of America is one of the oldest ecological organizations in the country, acting as a vital connection between environmental scientists and students. The site’s student resources page introduces the educational and professional opportunities available in ecology. Find out what it takes to become a certified ecologist and learn what job opportunities exist depending on experience and education.

Idealist is a popular Internet hub and meeting place for socially responsible professionals, companies, activists and enthusiasts, but is primarily known for its quality job listings. Though the jobs listed on this site range well beyond environmental science, you can use the search tool to narrow your results. You’ll also find tools to connect you to events, volunteer opportunities and like-minded people.

Environmental Career Center is a simple but effective site that aims to help those in environmental fields find jobs and educational programs. Users will find educational program listings, job listings and a résumé builder and management tool. Employers can post open positions and search members’ résumés. Both job seekers and employers must register (for free) to gain full access.

Environmental Protection Agency's career page has information on academic and professional opportunities with the government in environmental fields. Look for jobs, explore internship opportunities and graduate programs, and more.