Environmental Science Fair Projects

Teacher and teenage girls performing experiments outside.
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Are you interested in doing a science fair project that involves the environment, ecology, pollution, or other environmental issues? Here are some science fair project ideas that involve environmental science problems.

Environmental Processes

  • Does the pH of rain or other precipitation (snow) vary according to ​the season?
  • Is the pH of rain the same as the pH of soil?
  • Can you use a plant to gauge the level of air pollution?
  • Can you use plants to remove air pollutants?
  • Can you use algae to remove water pollutants?
  • How does soil composition change with depth?
  • What organisms can you use as indicator organisms to alert you to a dangerous environmental condition in the environment?
  • How can you simulate acid rain?

Studying Environmental Damage

  • What effect does the presence of phosphates have, if any, on the oxygen level of water in a pond?
  • How does an oil spill affect marine life?
  • How much lead is in your soil? How much mercury is in your soil?
  • How much electronic pollution is there in your home? Can you find a way to measure it?
  • How much copper can plants tolerate?
  • How does the presence of soap or detergent in water affect plant growth? What about seed germination or propagation?
  • How far away from an animal pen do you need to be for there to be no fecal bacteria contamination of the soil or water?

Researching Solutions

  • Can you use gray water (water that has been used for bathing or washing) to water your plants? Does it matter what type of soap you used for your cleaning? Are some plants more tolerant of gray water than others?
  • Are carbon filters as effective with chlorinated or fluoridated water as they are with water that does not contain chlorine or fluoride?
  • How can you minimize the volume taken up by trash?
  • How much trash can be recycled or composted?
  • How can you prevent soil erosion?
  • What type of car antifreeze is most friendly to the environment?
  • What type of de-icer is most friendly to the environment?
  • Are there non-toxic methods that can be used to control mosquito populations?
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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Environmental Science Fair Projects." ThoughtCo, Sep. 1, 2021, thoughtco.com/environmental-science-fair-project-ideas-609040. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2021, September 1). Environmental Science Fair Projects. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/environmental-science-fair-project-ideas-609040 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Environmental Science Fair Projects." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/environmental-science-fair-project-ideas-609040 (accessed March 19, 2024).