environmental challenge organisation (singapore)

List of topics for research known as ECO Singapore

Our Youth. Our Future.

Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
TOPICS FOR RESEARCH Charity Reg. No: 1739

In research, we have six important categories and each one has five sub-topics.
Research work could be done in any of the sub-topics mentioned. Interested
volunteers could take their own topics, but after a prior approval from ECO Singapore.

The six categories are

1. Biodiversity
2. Energy
3. Food
4. Shelter
5. Water
6. Waste

1. Biodiversity

The five sub-topics in biodiversity are

1.1 DNA bar-coding and modern taxonomy

Brief Description: DNA bar-coding is a taxonomic method that uses a short
genetic marker in an organism's DNA to identify it as belonging to a
particular species

1.2 How to use the components of biodiversity in a sustainable way?

Brief Description: To analyse the relationship between the root causes of
biodiversity loss, closing gaps in wildlife trade legislation and addressing
human poverty

1.3 Coral Triangle

Brief Description: The Coral Triangle is a geographical term so named as it
refers to a roughly triangular shaped area of the tropical marine waters of
Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and
Timor-Leste.

1.4 Innovative design for a healthy planet

Brief Description: A design which satisfies our needs without affecting the
needs for future generation. How to think globally and act locally such that
we ensure our children’s clean air and green environment.

1.5 Ecological Impacts of Climate Change

Brief Description: The world's climate is changing, and it will continue to
change throughout the 21st century and beyond. Rising temperatures, new
precipitation patterns, and other changes are already affecting many
aspects of human society and the natural world.

ECOSPHERE, 87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695

http://www.eco-singapore.org I Tel: (65) 6333 5543 I Fax: (65) 6333 5537
Registered Address: 10 Anson Road, International Plaza, #15-14 Singapore 079903
 environmental challenge organisation (singapore)
List of topics for research known as ECO Singapore

2. Energy Our Youth. Our Future.

Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
The five sub-topics in energy are Charity Reg. No: 1739

2.1 How should the world reduce its CO2 emissions? Should reductions be
imposed on countries by some percentage of their recent emissions levels
or according to a worldwide per head allowance? Or should an
international carbon tax be imposed somehow?

Brief Description: There is a growing scientific consensus that rising

concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases,
which result from the burning of fossil fuels, are gradually warming the
Earth’s climate.

2.2 Energy saving business models

Brief Description: Going green begins at home for many eco-conscious
consumers. Demand for products and services that help people maximize
their homes energy efficiency and reduce utility costs are at an all time
high.

2.3 Challenges for future energy usage

Brief Description: People are increasingly concerned about getting the
energy they need as well as the financial and environmental costs. They are
worried that they face a future of growing energy shortages, rising prices
and international conflict for supplies.

2.4 Solar thermal power plants

Brief Description: Solar thermal energy is a technology for harnessing solar
energy for thermal energy (heat). In solar thermal power plants the
incoming radiation is tracked by large mirror fields which concentrate the
energy towards absorbers.

2.5 Is it wise to encourage “carbon neutral” homes with on-site electricity

production or should renewable energy be concentrated in large farms?

Brief Description: A carbon-neutral development would generate electricity

using photovoltaic cells, wind turbines or biomass sources - such as a
combined heat and power plant using woodchip fuel.

ECOSPHERE, 87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695

http://www.eco-singapore.org I Tel: (65) 6333 5543 I Fax: (65) 6333 5537
Registered Address: 10 Anson Road, International Plaza, #15-14 Singapore 079903
 environmental challenge organisation (singapore)
List of topics for research known as ECO Singapore

3. Food Our Youth. Our Future.

Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
The five sub-topics in food are Charity Reg. No: 1739

3.1 Food Processing

Brief Description: Food processing is the set of methods and techniques
used to transform raw ingredients into something we can eat or to transform
food into other forms for consumption by humans or animals either in the
home or by the food processing industry.

3.2 Fast Food

Brief Description: Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared
and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be
considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a
restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to
the customer in a packaged form for take-out/take-away.

3.3 Paleo Diet

Brief Description: The modern dietary regimen known as the paleo diet is a
nutritional plan based on the presumed ancient diet of wild plants and
animals that various human species habitually consumed during the
Paleolithic period.

3.4 Food Safety

Brief Description: Food safety describes handling, preparation, and storage
of food in ways that prevent food borne illness. This includes a number of
routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health hazards

3.5 Novel Food Packaging Techniques

Brief Description: Packaging continues to be one of the most important
and innovative areas in food processing. Novel food packaging techniques
provides an authoritative and comprehensive review of the key trends.

ECOSPHERE, 87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695

http://www.eco-singapore.org I Tel: (65) 6333 5543 I Fax: (65) 6333 5537
Registered Address: 10 Anson Road, International Plaza, #15-14 Singapore 079903
 environmental challenge organisation (singapore)
List of topics for research known as ECO Singapore

4. Shelter Our Youth. Our Future.

Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
The five sub-topics in shelter are Charity Reg. No: 1739

4.1 Eco – Living

Brief Description: Eco-living is the art of living your dreams while minimising
your impact on the environment. Topics will include recycling, green
building, transport, product reviews and anything else to help readers live
within ecological limits.

4.2 Innovative Sheltering

Brief Description: On a regular basis countries are hit by natural or
manmade disasters. Besides the tragedy of human casualties, often many
infrastructural works, buildings and houses are damaged or totally
destroyed. In such cases it is important for emergency responders to react
fast and provide aid in an effective manner, with attention for the long-term
redevelopment of the area. This topic calls for innovative solutions and
products.

4.3 Natural Building Resources

Brief Description: This involves a range of materials that place major
emphasis on sustainability. Ways of achieving sustainability through focus on
durability and the use of minimally processed, plentiful renewable
resources, as well as those that, while recycled or salvaged, produce
healthy living environments and maintain indoor air quality.

4.4 Reusable Building Materials

Brief Description: To save a lot of money it is best to use recycled building
materials when building or remodelling buildings. It is surprised to know how
many reusable building supplies that we can find inexpensive or even free

4.5 Green Buildings

Brief Description: Green building is the practice of creating structures and
using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient
throughout a building's life-cycle from design, construction, operation,
maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction.

ECOSPHERE, 87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695

http://www.eco-singapore.org I Tel: (65) 6333 5543 I Fax: (65) 6333 5537
Registered Address: 10 Anson Road, International Plaza, #15-14 Singapore 079903
 environmental challenge organisation (singapore)
List of topics for research known as ECO Singapore

5. Water Our Youth. Our Future.

Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
The five sub-topics in water are Charity Reg. No: 1739

5.1 Water - Drop by drop

Brief Description: Due to expansion of mankind, many renewable sources
are being converted to non-renewable; and water is the recent one.
Though our earth is made of 70% water, we are unable to form a network.

5.2 Long-term protection of aquatic systems

Brief Description: Aquatic ecosystems contribute to a large proportion of
the planet's biotic productivity as about 30% of the world's primary
productivity comes from plants living in the ocean. These ecosystems also
include wetlands located at lakeshores, riverbanks, the ocean shoreline,
and any habitat where the soil or vegetation is submerged for some
duration.

5.3 Water Resource Management

Brief Description: More and more people are choosing to live in cities. With
more than half of humanity urbanized, there is an urgent need to take an
integrated and holistic view of the supply and demand for water in Cities.
While many cities, particularly in developing countries, are facing acute
scarcity in providing clean safe water, urban managers are daunted by the
complex task of sanitation.

5.4 Fluoridation of Drinking Water

Brief Description: Water fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to
a public water supply to reduce tooth decay. It has fluoride at a level that is
effective for preventing cavities; this can occur naturally or by adding
fluoride.

5.5 Effect of algal blooms increasing in coastal waters.

Brief Description: An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the population of
algae in an aquatic system. Algal blooms may occur in freshwater as well
as marine environments. Typically, only one or a small number of
phytoplankton species are involved, and some blooms may be recognized
by discoloration of the water resulting from the high density of pigmented
cells.

ECOSPHERE, 87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695

http://www.eco-singapore.org I Tel: (65) 6333 5543 I Fax: (65) 6333 5537
Registered Address: 10 Anson Road, International Plaza, #15-14 Singapore 079903
 environmental challenge organisation (singapore)
List of topics for research known as ECO Singapore

6. Waste Our Youth. Our Future.

Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
The five sub-topics in waste are Charity Reg. No: 1739

6.1 Municipal Solid Waste Disposal

Brief Description: Municipal solid waste (MSW), also called urban solid
waste, is a waste type that includes predominantly household waste
(domestic waste) with sometimes the addition of commercial wastes
collected by a municipality within a given area. They are in either solid or
semisolid form and generally exclude industrial hazardous wastes.

6.2 Hazardous Waste Disposal

Brief Description: A hazardous waste is waste that poses substantial threats
to public health or the environment. These wastes may be found in different
physical states such as gaseous, liquids, or solids. Furthermore, a hazardous
waste is a special type of waste because it cannot be disposed of by
common means like other by-products of our everyday lives.

6.3 Commercial Waste Disposal

Brief Description: Producing commercial waste must take all reasonable
steps to keep the waste safe. By giving it to someone else we must be sure
they are authorised to take it and can transport, process or dispose of it
safely and legally.

6.4 E – Waste
Brief Description: Electronic waste, describes loosely discarded, surplus,
obsolete, or broken electrical or electronic devices. Environmental groups
claim that the informal processing of electronic waste in developing
countries causes serious health and pollution problems.

6.5 Pollution prevention through waste minimization, recycling and reuse

Brief Description: The waste hierarchy refers to the 3Rs of reduce, reuse and
recycle, which classify waste management strategies according to their
desirability. The 3Rs are meant to be a hierarchy, in order of importance.

ECOSPHERE, 87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695

http://www.eco-singapore.org I Tel: (65) 6333 5543 I Fax: (65) 6333 5537
Registered Address: 10 Anson Road, International Plaza, #15-14 Singapore 079903
 environmental challenge organisation (singapore)
List of topics for research known as ECO Singapore

Our Youth. Our Future.

Society Reg. No: ROS326/2002
7. Other Topics Charity Reg. No: 1739

Volunteers can choose any of the topics mentioned below after prior approval from
ECO Singapore.

7.1 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

7.2 365 ways to improve Singapore
7.3 Green Power
7.4 The World today
7.5 UNICEF
7.6 Environmental Ethics
7.7 Industrial Revolution – A boon or a curse
7.8 Do the economies that result from a trash burning plant outweigh or not
outweigh its environmental impact?
7.9 Education for Sustainable Development
7.10 Environmental Management Systems

ECOSPHERE, 87 Beach Road, Chye Sing Building, #06-01 Singapore 189695

http://www.eco-singapore.org I Tel: (65) 6333 5543 I Fax: (65) 6333 5537
Registered Address: 10 Anson Road, International Plaza, #15-14 Singapore 079903