Update: I have added one more website to this list (The Encyclopedia of Earth).
Original post:
I am somewhat disappointed that I haven't written about environmental or sustainability topics since leaving Washington, D.C. for the Middle East. If you read my most recent posts, it's obvious why.
Now that the transition is over and things have settled down, I figured I'd get back into the swing of things by sharing my go-to environmental websites. These sites have become almost daily reads for me, and I suggest them to my students for improving both their understanding of environmental topics as well as their English. I hope you find them useful and I hope there is room on your bookmarks bar for them :)
1) Environmental News Network (ENN)
The Environmental News Network is by far my favorite environmental news-blog. It's not like many other green news-blogs like TreeHugger or Grist that regurgitate stories like sustainability efforts of companies, how to convert an old trailer into a tiny home, or pictures of exotic flowers or animals. I'm all for companies being socially and environmentally responsible, people reusing materials to make something new and useful, and checking out things I've never seen before, but I prefer to DO those things rather than read about them.
I want to learn the science behind the topics I'm most passionate about, and ENN helps me do that. They compile articles from very reputable sources including The Ecologist and the Yale Environment 360 blog to help me understand the problems the world faces. If you choose just one website to read environmental news and learn about the topics, choose ENN.
2) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
If you want to learn about environmental issues and laws, go here. Period. It is in my opinion some of the best information available on these topics. Not only is it reliable, but also really well-written, organized, and presented in a way we can all understand. Whether you have a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies or are reading about environmental topics for the first time, you'll find the EPA website useful. I reference it a good bit for my lectures and I encourage my students to visit the site to learn more about the topics we discuss in class.
3) The Naked Scientists
I actually just learned of this website this past week - and it has become an instant favorite. I referenced it for one of my lectures on the water cycle. I was wondering just how constant the total amount of water on Earth is. I read a response from a professor of atmospheric, oceanic, and planetary physics at Oxford University and found out the amount of water on Earth and in our atmosphere does remain fairly constant on a geologic time scale (water has a hard time escaping the Earth and our atmosphere because of gravity and because it condenses and falls back to Earth at much lower altitudes than the outer limits of our atmosphere).
The Naked Scientists is a group of researchers from Cambridge University that interviews renowned scientists and researchers on various scientific topics and presents their answers to the public using different mediums. Their goal is to promote science, help you understand it, and have fun while doing it.
4) Coursera
If you've never taken a course on Coursera, you might be wondering why I have it listed here. My response to that is the picture below:
That is a screenshot of my course dashboard. As you can see, they offer some great courses on many different sustainability topics. You can watch video lectures, read their recommended readings, and participate in online discussion. Plus, these courses are taught by professors from very reputable universities around the world. Oh, one more thing - it's FREE.
5) The Economist
Why the Economist? Well, aside from writing a lot about China, which anyone wanting a global perspective of sustainability should love, the Economist has other very insightful articles on environmental issues and energy topics. You'll also learn a lot about economics, geopolitics, and the world in general. It's really good stuff.
6) Renewable Energy World
You can't talk about environmental science or sustainability without talking about energy. And you can't talk about energy without talking about renewable or alternative sources of energy. If you want to be able to hold your own while talking about solar, wind, or tidal energy, go to Renewable Energy World and get your learn on. You'll learn about the latest advances in technologies, industry trends, and the science behind it all.
7) Encyclopedia of Earth
The Encyclopedia of Earth should perhaps be #1 on this list. It is an environmental science teacher's dream. It has articles written on a wide variety of topics in the physical and social sciences. Topics include everything from climate change and agriculture to population and economics.
You can also find photo galleries, videos, science news, and curricula.
The content is produced by experts in their respective fields and is continuously updated by the community of authors, so you can be assured that what you learn is accurate and up-to-date.
Well, that's my list. In my opinion, it's a good one. What do you think?