It can be difficult to answer the question of whether or not science is beneficial. Scientists are often encouraged to pursue their curiosity, but that can result in research focusing on a variety of subjects -some of which might not be of any benefit to society. For instance, a significant part of science is establishing theories and making predictions that can be testable. These discoveries are often used in the development of new technologies, like drugs, medical devices and renewable energy.
To be considered valuable, science must also address issues and concerns that affect the well-being of humans. This requires collaboration with stakeholders in order to determine their needs, formulate clear goals and develop an effective plan to meet those needs. There are many scientific initiatives that lack this collaboration and are focused on developing knowledge without having a direct connection to society. The impact of research on society is not always tracked and assessed effectively.
Translational ecology (TE) is one of the many strategies that have been developed to produce useful science. It focuses on the importance of scientists proactively taking note of and responding to the research context. TE also stresses the importance of engaging end users in a meaningful way throughout the research process, and encourages learning-based decision making processes like adaptive management which is a common practice for natural land and resource managers.
Students often have a difficult time to select a topic that is both fascinating as well being scholarly, especially when professors have time limitations. The list of easy science research topics can help students choose topics that will impress their professors and provide valuable information to the scientific community.