Choose from a range of environmental justice topics to create a Capstone project that has real-world impacts on local communities. We’ll connect you with the resources and support you need to develop your project. Once you’ve selected a topic, let us know so we can get you started.
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Capstone Topic Categories
Environmental Justice
Studies show that high levels of air pollution can cause complications during the pregnancy, as well as with the baby. Is air pollution exposure amongst pregnant women different according to poverty level, and what are the associated health effects? What are some potential changes in policy that can help combat these exposures?
Examine health problems in lower-income pregnant women who are exposed to high levels of air pollution and explore possible options for reducing exposures, including local, county-wide, and state-wide policy.
Redlining is a form of discrimination that took place in the early-mid 1900s, preventing mostly lower income people of color from owning property. What is the relationship between historic redlining and the exposure to air pollution? What are some potential changes in policy that can help reduce these exposures in redlined zones?
Examine which areas were affected by historic redlining and how these areas relate to air pollution exposures over time.
Research the effectiveness of policies to reduce exposures to air pollution, comparing regional policy versus policy focused on smaller local areas.
For outdoor laborers — construction workers, farm workers, gardeners, etc. — exposures to smoke from wildfires are an inescapable part of the job. What policies ought to be in place to mitigate exposures to these workers during smoke events?
Examine exposures to outdoor workers during smoke events, and the associated health effects, and research current labor rights related to environmental health risks for those unable to shelter in place.
People living near major freeways have increased exposures to TRAPs (transportation related air pollutants). The ScholAir project has placed 6 air monitors around the East Bay, some alongside the 880 and 580 corridor. What does real-time data collection tell us about these exposures? Which community based efforts have been most successful in changing transportation policy to reduce these exposures?
Explore the changes over time of TRAPs in the Bay Area’s 880 and 580 corridors and how those changes have impacted the health and well-being of residents.
Wildfire events can pose many housing threats for low-income housing residents, and even more for homeless populations. What is California doing to support low-income housing residents and homeless populations in relation to wildfire events? What first-hand accounts offer evidence to support these tensions?
Poor air quality doesn’t affect everyone equally. Those with certain preexisting conditions (for example, obesity and asthma) and from underserved communities are at higher risk for health problems caused by poor air quality. What preexisting health conditions and other factors affect the impact of exposures to air pollution and what can be done about them?
Looking at health data for East Oakland, examine the effects of existing health issues and explore East Oakland community-based efforts to reduce the impact of exposures to air pollution.
Long-standing forms of oppression in society have chronic effects on the physical body, and can affect generations of populations. How does racism and other forms of social oppression effect the physical body, and how might this cause predisposition in conditions relating to air pollution exposure?
Explore how the combination of social stressors, including racism, and long-term exposures to environmental pollutants impact health in or underserved communities.
Asthma is one of the most common and highly studied conditions related to air pollutant exposures, but not everyone with asthma is impacted to the same extent. What are the most common risk factors for young people with asthma, and how can local policy work to address these factors?
Examine the impacts of exposures to air pollutants, including wildfire smoke, on childhood asthma in vulnerable communities.
The EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are a set of outdoor air limits on pollutants that cause smog, acid rain, and other health hazards. What air pollutants are currently regulated by the EPA as part of NAAQS and what is the history of regulation for these air pollutants? What is the EPA’s process of adopting regulations for air pollutants and how could this process be improved?
Learn about the scope of the EPA’s current air pollution regulation and the process for adopting new rules.
Identify any gaps in this process and think about ways to fill them.
Electric Vehicles have become a popular approach to mitigating use of fossil fuels, but these vehicles are out of reach for lower-income families. To mitigate this, some municipalities have instituted incentive programs. What are the implications surrounding equity for electric vehicles, and what can local organizations and/or businesses do to combat these inequities? How effective are incentive programs and how could they be improved?
Examine the positive and negative equity-related outcomes of, and issues with, EV cars, including access, and impacts on related businesses.
Explore local rebate programs designed for low-income families trading in their polluting cars for discounted EV cars and evaluate the effectiveness of these programs
Public Health Problems and Solutions
Studies show that high levels of air pollution can cause complications during the pregnancy, as well as with the baby. Is air pollution exposure amongst pregnant women different according to poverty level, and what are the associated health effects? What are some potential changes in policy that can help combat these exposures?
Examine health problems in lower-income pregnant women who are exposed to high levels of air pollution and explore possible options for reducing exposures, including local, county-wide, and state-wide policy.
People living near major freeways have increased exposures to TRAPs (transportation related air pollutants). The ScholAir project has placed 6 air monitors around the East Bay, some alongside the 880 and 580 corridor. What does real-time data collection tell us about these exposures? Which community based efforts have been most successful in changing transportation policy to reduce these exposures?
Explore the changes over time of TRAPs in the Bay Area’s 880 and 580 corridors and how those changes have impacted the health and well-being of residents.
Poor air quality doesn’t affect everyone equally. Those with certain preexisting conditions (for example, obesity and asthma) and from underserved communities are at higher risk for health problems caused by poor air quality. What preexisting health conditions and other factors affect the impact of exposures to air pollution and what can be done about them?
Looking at health data for East Oakland, examine the effects of existing health issues and explore East Oakland community-based efforts to reduce the impact of exposures to air pollution.
With the increase in wildfires, the awareness of health problems related to exposures to smoke. As a result, small-scale air filtration units are now common in homes and schools, but how effective are these appliances? How do the DIY air-filtration units compare to the higher-priced units?
Analyze the effectiveness of small-scale air filtration units using indoor air quality data and real-time local air-monitoring data.
Explore school policies around air filtration and evaluate their effectiveness
Communicating effectively with the general public about complex public health issues can be difficult due to a range of barriers, from literacy and language to issues around trust. What are the challenges and barriers to effective communication, and which strategies are most successful when communicating health-protective messaging on exposure to air pollutants?
Create an effective environmental health campaign using targeted messaging and design to communicate essential air pollutant exposure information to underserved communities.
Long-standing forms of oppression in society have chronic effects on the physical body, and can affect generations of populations. How does racism and other forms of social oppression effect the physical body, and how might this cause predisposition in conditions relating to air pollution exposure?
Explore how the combination of social stressors, including racism, and long-term exposures to environmental pollutants impact health in or underserved communities.
Asthma is one of the most common and highly studied conditions related to air pollutant exposures, but not everyone with asthma is impacted to the same extent. What are the most common risk factors for young people with asthma, and how can local policy work to address these factors?
Examine the impacts of exposures to air pollutants, including wildfire smoke, on childhood asthma in vulnerable communities.
Advice and recommendation for reducing exposures to air pollutants are easy to come by, but their effectiveness and the likelihood that people will adopt these strategies is another story. What behavioral changes can people make that effectively reduce health risks from air pollutant exposures? What barriers exist that might prevent people from changing behavior and how can we mitigate those barriers?
Learn about recommended personal mitigation strategies to reduce exposures to air pollutants. Using a national data set, apply skills in summary statistics to explore if and how people in the US exercise these behaviors.
Analyze national air pollution mitigation behavior data to explore how people implement public health recommendations.
Politics and Policy
Redlining is a form of discrimination that took place in the early-mid 1900s, preventing mostly lower income people of color from owning property. What is the relationship between historic redlining and the exposure to air pollution? What are some potential changes in policy that can help reduce these exposures in redlined zones?
Examine which areas were affected by historic redlining and how these areas relate to air pollution exposures over time.
Research the effectiveness of policies to reduce exposures to air pollution, comparing regional policy versus policy focused on smaller local areas.
For outdoor laborers — construction workers, farm workers, gardeners, etc. — exposures to smoke from wildfires are an inescapable part of the job. What policies ought to be in place to mitigate exposures to these workers during smoke events?
Examine exposures to outdoor workers during smoke events, and the associated health effects, and research current labor rights related to environmental health risks for those unable to shelter in place.
Wildfire events can pose many housing threats for low-income housing residents, and even more for homeless populations. What is California doing to support low-income housing residents and homeless populations in relation to wildfire events? What first-hand accounts offer evidence to support these tensions?
AB617, a bill introduced in 2017, puts community-based organizations at the forefront of statewide efforts to reduce exposure to air pollution amongst vulnerable populations. What have been the major successes thus far with AB617, and what aspects have not been successful? What changes would you make to a bill like this?
Examine the main goals and timeline of AB 617.
Compare and contrast different counties and their implementation of the bill.
The East Bay is home to polluting industries, crisscrossed by major freeway corridors, and subject to wildfire smoke from other parts of the state and beyond. What are the major and most concerning sources of air pollution? What are the sources near your school? Which of those sources would be most and least difficult to change? What are some starting points for changing one of the sources?
Learn about the different types of air pollution sources and which are most relevant to the student.
Connect with why pollution from these sources persists despite knowledge of their negative health effects.
The EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are a set of outdoor air limits on pollutants that cause smog, acid rain, and other health hazards. What air pollutants are currently regulated by the EPA as part of NAAQS and what is the history of regulation for these air pollutants? What is the EPA’s process of adopting regulations for air pollutants and how could this process be improved?
Learn about the scope of the EPA’s current air pollution regulation and the process for adopting new rules.
Identify any gaps in this process and think about ways to fill them.
As environmental and commercial conditions change, so do air pollution components, concentrations, and patterns. How has air pollution changed near your school over the last ten years? Is your air quality getting better or worse?
Explore and analyze air monitor data to summarize concentrations and how they have changed over time.
Apply skills in summary statistics to air monitor data and interpret your findings.
Electric Vehicles have become a popular approach to mitigating use of fossil fuels, but these vehicles are out of reach for lower-income families. To mitigate this, some municipalities have instituted incentive programs. What are the implications surrounding equity for electric vehicles, and what can local organizations and/or businesses do to combat these inequities? How effective are incentive programs and how could they be improved?
Examine the positive and negative equity-related outcomes of, and issues with, EV cars, including access, and impacts on related businesses.
Explore local rebate programs designed for low-income families trading in their polluting cars for discounted EV cars and evaluate the effectiveness of these programs
Housing and Transportation
Redlining is a form of discrimination that took place in the early-mid 1900s, preventing mostly lower income people of color from owning property. What is the relationship between historic redlining and the exposure to air pollution? What are some potential changes in policy that can help reduce these exposures in redlined zones?
Examine which areas were affected by historic redlining and how these areas relate to air pollution exposures over time.
Research the effectiveness of policies to reduce exposures to air pollution, comparing regional policy versus policy focused on smaller local areas.
People living near major freeways have increased exposures to TRAPs (transportation related air pollutants). The ScholAir project has placed 6 air monitors around the East Bay, some alongside the 880 and 580 corridor. What does real-time data collection tell us about these exposures? Which community based efforts have been most successful in changing transportation policy to reduce these exposures?
Explore the changes over time of TRAPs in the Bay Area’s 880 and 580 corridors and how those changes have impacted the health and well-being of residents.
Wildfire events can pose many housing threats for low-income housing residents, and even more for homeless populations. What is California doing to support low-income housing residents and homeless populations in relation to wildfire events? What first-hand accounts offer evidence to support these tensions?
Electric Vehicles have become a popular approach to mitigating use of fossil fuels, but these vehicles are out of reach for lower-income families. To mitigate this, some municipalities have instituted incentive programs. What are the implications surrounding equity for electric vehicles, and what can local organizations and/or businesses do to combat these inequities? How effective are incentive programs and how could they be improved?
Examine the positive and negative equity-related outcomes of, and issues with, EV cars, including access, and impacts on related businesses.
Explore local rebate programs designed for low-income families trading in their polluting cars for discounted EV cars and evaluate the effectiveness of these programs
Wildlife and Ecosystems
Not only humans are affected by air pollution. How has air pollution affected the broader environment in California?
Research different components of the ecosystem (for example: weather/climate, water systems, plant wildlife, agriculture, animal health) or select one aspect and take a deep dive. Understand how wide-reaching the effects of air pollution are on the many interconnected systems in our natural environment.
Poor air quality does not only have harmful effects to humans. Air pollutants also impact wildlife and their ecosystems. What are the effects of poor air quality on wildlife and their surrounding ecosystems?
Examine the effects, or potential effects that wildfire smoke and other major pollutants have on wildlife.
Referencing historical air quality data or the data from Clarity air monitors placed at the Oakland Zoo, investigate the impact of air local and regional adverse air quality events.
Historical Analysis
Redlining is a form of discrimination that took place in the early-mid 1900s, preventing mostly lower income people of color from owning property. What is the relationship between historic redlining and the exposure to air pollution? What are some potential changes in policy that can help reduce these exposures in redlined zones?
Examine which areas were affected by historic redlining and how these areas relate to air pollution exposures over time.
Research the effectiveness of policies to reduce exposures to air pollution, comparing regional policy versus policy focused on smaller local areas.
People living near major freeways have increased exposures to TRAPs (transportation related air pollutants). The ScholAir project has placed 6 air monitors around the East Bay, some alongside the 880 and 580 corridor. What does real-time data collection tell us about these exposures? Which community based efforts have been most successful in changing transportation policy to reduce these exposures?
Explore the changes over time of TRAPs in the Bay Area’s 880 and 580 corridors and how those changes have impacted the health and well-being of residents.
Long-standing forms of oppression in society have chronic effects on the physical body, and can affect generations of populations. How does racism and other forms of social oppression effect the physical body, and how might this cause predisposition in conditions relating to air pollution exposure?
Explore how the combination of social stressors, including racism, and long-term exposures to environmental pollutants impact health in or underserved communities.
The East Bay is home to polluting industries, crisscrossed by major freeway corridors, and subject to wildfire smoke from other parts of the state and beyond. What are the major and most concerning sources of air pollution? What are the sources near your school? Which of those sources would be most and least difficult to change? What are some starting points for changing one of the sources?
Learn about the different types of air pollution sources and which are most relevant to the student.
Connect with why pollution from these sources persists despite knowledge of their negative health effects.
The EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are a set of outdoor air limits on pollutants that cause smog, acid rain, and other health hazards. What air pollutants are currently regulated by the EPA as part of NAAQS and what is the history of regulation for these air pollutants? What is the EPA’s process of adopting regulations for air pollutants and how could this process be improved?
Learn about the scope of the EPA’s current air pollution regulation and the process for adopting new rules.
Identify any gaps in this process and think about ways to fill them.
As environmental and commercial conditions change, so do air pollution components, concentrations, and patterns. How has air pollution changed near your school over the last ten years? Is your air quality getting better or worse?
Explore and analyze air monitor data to summarize concentrations and how they have changed over time.
Apply skills in summary statistics to air monitor data and interpret your findings.
Environmental Justice
Studies show that high levels of air pollution can cause complications during the pregnancy, as well as with the baby. Is air pollution exposure amongst pregnant women different according to poverty level, and what are the associated health effects? What are some potential changes in policy that can help combat these exposures?
Examine health problems in lower-income pregnant women who are exposed to high levels of air pollution and explore possible options for reducing exposures, including local, county-wide, and state-wide policy.
Redlining is a form of discrimination that took place in the early-mid 1900s, preventing mostly lower income people of color from owning property. What is the relationship between historic redlining and the exposure to air pollution? What are some potential changes in policy that can help reduce these exposures in redlined zones?
Examine which areas were affected by historic redlining and how these areas relate to air pollution exposures over time.
Research the effectiveness of policies to reduce exposures to air pollution, comparing regional policy versus policy focused on smaller local areas.
For outdoor laborers — construction workers, farm workers, gardeners, etc. — exposures to smoke from wildfires are an inescapable part of the job. What policies ought to be in place to mitigate exposures to these workers during smoke events?
Examine exposures to outdoor workers during smoke events, and the associated health effects, and research current labor rights related to environmental health risks for those unable to shelter in place.
People living near major freeways have increased exposures to TRAPs (transportation related air pollutants). The ScholAir project has placed 6 air monitors around the East Bay, some alongside the 880 and 580 corridor. What does real-time data collection tell us about these exposures? Which community based efforts have been most successful in changing transportation policy to reduce these exposures?
Explore the changes over time of TRAPs in the Bay Area’s 880 and 580 corridors and how those changes have impacted the health and well-being of residents.
Wildfire events can pose many housing threats for low-income housing residents, and even more for homeless populations. What is California doing to support low-income housing residents and homeless populations in relation to wildfire events? What first-hand accounts offer evidence to support these tensions?
Poor air quality doesn’t affect everyone equally. Those with certain preexisting conditions (for example, obesity and asthma) and from underserved communities are at higher risk for health problems caused by poor air quality. What preexisting health conditions and other factors affect the impact of exposures to air pollution and what can be done about them?
Looking at health data for East Oakland, examine the effects of existing health issues and explore East Oakland community-based efforts to reduce the impact of exposures to air pollution.
AB617, a bill introduced in 2017, puts community-based organizations at the forefront of statewide efforts to reduce exposure to air pollution amongst vulnerable populations. What have been the major successes thus far with AB617, and what aspects have not been successful? What changes would you make to a bill like this?
Examine the main goals and timeline of AB 617.
Compare and contrast different counties and their implementation of the bill.
With the increase in wildfires, the awareness of health problems related to exposures to smoke. As a result, small-scale air filtration units are now common in homes and schools, but how effective are these appliances? How do the DIY air-filtration units compare to the higher-priced units?
Analyze the effectiveness of small-scale air filtration units using indoor air quality data and real-time local air-monitoring data.
Explore school policies around air filtration and evaluate their effectiveness
Communicating effectively with the general public about complex public health issues can be difficult due to a range of barriers, from literacy and language to issues around trust. What are the challenges and barriers to effective communication, and which strategies are most successful when communicating health-protective messaging on exposure to air pollutants?
Create an effective environmental health campaign using targeted messaging and design to communicate essential air pollutant exposure information to underserved communities.
Long-standing forms of oppression in society have chronic effects on the physical body, and can affect generations of populations. How does racism and other forms of social oppression effect the physical body, and how might this cause predisposition in conditions relating to air pollution exposure?
Explore how the combination of social stressors, including racism, and long-term exposures to environmental pollutants impact health in or underserved communities.
Asthma is one of the most common and highly studied conditions related to air pollutant exposures, but not everyone with asthma is impacted to the same extent. What are the most common risk factors for young people with asthma, and how can local policy work to address these factors?
Examine the impacts of exposures to air pollutants, including wildfire smoke, on childhood asthma in vulnerable communities.
The East Bay is home to polluting industries, crisscrossed by major freeway corridors, and subject to wildfire smoke from other parts of the state and beyond. What are the major and most concerning sources of air pollution? What are the sources near your school? Which of those sources would be most and least difficult to change? What are some starting points for changing one of the sources?
Learn about the different types of air pollution sources and which are most relevant to the student.
Connect with why pollution from these sources persists despite knowledge of their negative health effects.
Advice and recommendation for reducing exposures to air pollutants are easy to come by, but their effectiveness and the likelihood that people will adopt these strategies is another story. What behavioral changes can people make that effectively reduce health risks from air pollutant exposures? What barriers exist that might prevent people from changing behavior and how can we mitigate those barriers?
Learn about recommended personal mitigation strategies to reduce exposures to air pollutants. Using a national data set, apply skills in summary statistics to explore if and how people in the US exercise these behaviors.
Analyze national air pollution mitigation behavior data to explore how people implement public health recommendations.
The EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are a set of outdoor air limits on pollutants that cause smog, acid rain, and other health hazards. What air pollutants are currently regulated by the EPA as part of NAAQS and what is the history of regulation for these air pollutants? What is the EPA’s process of adopting regulations for air pollutants and how could this process be improved?
Learn about the scope of the EPA’s current air pollution regulation and the process for adopting new rules.
Identify any gaps in this process and think about ways to fill them.
As environmental and commercial conditions change, so do air pollution components, concentrations, and patterns. How has air pollution changed near your school over the last ten years? Is your air quality getting better or worse?
Explore and analyze air monitor data to summarize concentrations and how they have changed over time.
Apply skills in summary statistics to air monitor data and interpret your findings.
Electric Vehicles have become a popular approach to mitigating use of fossil fuels, but these vehicles are out of reach for lower-income families. To mitigate this, some municipalities have instituted incentive programs. What are the implications surrounding equity for electric vehicles, and what can local organizations and/or businesses do to combat these inequities? How effective are incentive programs and how could they be improved?
Examine the positive and negative equity-related outcomes of, and issues with, EV cars, including access, and impacts on related businesses.
Explore local rebate programs designed for low-income families trading in their polluting cars for discounted EV cars and evaluate the effectiveness of these programs
Not only humans are affected by air pollution. How has air pollution affected the broader environment in California?
Research different components of the ecosystem (for example: weather/climate, water systems, plant wildlife, agriculture, animal health) or select one aspect and take a deep dive. Understand how wide-reaching the effects of air pollution are on the many interconnected systems in our natural environment.
Poor air quality does not only have harmful effects to humans. Air pollutants also impact wildlife and their ecosystems. What are the effects of poor air quality on wildlife and their surrounding ecosystems?
Examine the effects, or potential effects that wildfire smoke and other major pollutants have on wildlife.
Referencing historical air quality data or the data from Clarity air monitors placed at the Oakland Zoo, investigate the impact of air local and regional adverse air quality events.