Environmental science looks at the effects different factors have on the environment. One project idea for college students is to test the durability of natural and synthetic clothing. Test natural clothing such as wool or cotton against the elements, and compare the results against the same test using polyester. For this experiment, accelerate wear and usage by cutting clothing into strips and exposing them to heavy weather conditions. Place the same amount of strips indoors away from the elements. Compare the results and findings after several months.
Earth science looks at astronomy and the earth's natural minerals and rocks. Wind fences are structures built to protect towns and highways from the buildup of snow and sand. The fixture uses a specific slant to prevent snow and sand from destroying certain areas. College students can study the geology climates of the locations where wind fences are installed. Students can look into how science determines the type of weather that occurs in these areas and how scientists determine the need for and potential locations of wind fences. Students can elaborate on how the wind fences change the effects of particular climates over time.
College students can study the circuitry in a computer in their science course. Students can discover that computers provide extraordinarily high-frequency energy. Computer science students can work on building a shield for a radio frequency to prevent problems. Additionally, computer designers and engineer students can determine the radio frequency's magnitude by placing a computer and an FM radio together in a small room. Turn the computer on, and tune the radio to channel with no stations. Move the radio around the computer. Use a diagram to measure the places where the frequency is the strongest.
Plant science, or botany, is the study of how the world affects plants and vice versa. College students can conduct a botany project by observing how green plants use carbon dioxide (CO2) in the process of producing food and sustaining their life cycles. For this project, students must place several types of potted plants into plastic bags and set them near a window in their home. The plastic bag prevents the CO2 from the sun to enter the plant, thus depriving it of needed nutrients. The students can study which plant species can live the longest without its food source.