RJA #3a: Research Topic Exploration

I found Chapter 3 to be very helpful, as well as the websites provided by Prof. Clark. By doing some surface research I feel like I was able to narrow down my topic a bit more, and focus on one or two main aspects for my research.

Based on the very "superficial" (superficial in the sense that I have not read into great depth on my subject) knowledge that I have read over thus far, I would like to base my research on the environmental and economic affects of dam building (and maintaining.)

I feel as though I could narrow my research enough to really explain the effects a dam has environmentally, i.e. flooding, changing upstream and downstream ecosystems, altering the food chain, the consequences (losing species of animals etc) as a result.

Also, I would like to focus on the economic aspect of dams as well, I feel as though I could effectively tie it in with the environmental effects in a positive manner. Maybe give some examples how it can help out us (human kind) in the means of creating jobs etc, but in the long run, because of how altered the ecosystems become, and the damages caused (flooding etc) then it adversely affects us in the long run.

This approach would hopefully keep the research interesting, and give a big picture view of my topic.