Introduction

This guide will help you begin your research on Environmental Inequality. 

Research Tips

Using an * will allow you to search words with multiple endings. For example, polic* will search policy and policies. 

Using “and” will return results that contain both search terms. For example, searching “environmental justice” AND “pollution” will return only results that contain both environmental justice AND pollution.

Using “or” will return results that contain either search term. For example, searching “environmental justice” OR “pollution” will return results that contain either environmental justice OR pollution. This may return more results than searching “environmental justice” AND “pollution,” but the results may be less relevant. 

Using “not” will return results that do not contain that search term. For example, searching “environmental justice” NOT “pollution” will return only results on environmental justice that do not also contain pollution. This helps you eliminate irrelevant resources, but will mean you get fewer results. 

Suggested Search Terms

  • “Environmental inequality”
  • “Environmental justice” 
  • “Environmental polic*”
  • “Environmental protect*”
  • “Environmental health” 
  • “Public health” 

Once you narrow down your specific topic, you will likely want to use other search terms that relate to your specific topic. For example, if you want to research environmental inequality related to safe housing, in addition to the suggested search terms above, you would want to brainstorm some search terms related to “safe housing.” 

Resources

Databases

Miscellaneous 

Biology

Political Science

Sociology

Journals

You may want to use the following journals during your research:

Book Collection

Book Collection

If you find a print book that seems useful, consider browsing the shelf near the book for other books related to your topic.

Or, if you are just starting out, consider browsing areas of the book collection that may be related to your topic. Here is a helpful guide to how subjects are arranged in the Dewey Decimal system.

Some suggested books:

 
Seeking Environmental Justice by Sarah Wilks 


Environmental Justice & Environmentalism: The Social Justice Challenge
to the Environmental Movement by Ronald Shandler


Technoscience & Environmental Justice:
Expert Cultures in a Grassroots Movement by Gwen Ottinger


Environmental Justice: Creating Equality, Reclaiming Democracy

Don’t forget…

We also have e-book and print collections you may find useful! Search our catalog, or come in to the library and browse. 

Government Documents Collection

Examples from our Government Documents Collection: 

Summary of the Meeting of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council: Executive Summary
Call #: EP1.2:J 98/2/2000 (micorfiche) 

Environmental Justice: An Overview of Transportation & Environmental Justice
Call #: TD2.2:OV 2/2

Environmental Justice: Hearings before the Subcommittee on
Civil & Constitutional Rights of the Committee on the Judiciary,
House of Representatives, 103 Congress (1993)
Call # Y 4.J 89/1:103/64 (microfiche) 

Search Online

Don’t forget, there is a lot of government information now available on the web. Our Government Documents guide has links to some useful places to find government information from laws to statistics. 

Web Resources