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EES1200 and EES1201: Environmental Science Research Resources

Article Databases

Once you've identified what information you want to look for (via your research topic), your next step is to decide where to search for it. Research databases are an excellent place to look for scholarly information on a topic.

Why Use Research Databases?

  • They are often specialized by subject area (e.g. Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences)
  • They contain information not available through public resources like Google
  • They are designed with scholars and researchers in mind - that's you!

There are a variety of subject-specific and interdisciplinary databases available to you through U of T, with some of the key ones highlighted here. Not sure where to start or want to see the full scope of resources available for each discipline? Check out the Subjects A-Z list on our website.

Interdisciplinary Databases

Environmental Sciences Databases

Why Search Multiple Databases?

While doing your research, it's a good idea to look in more than one place for your articles. Why, you may ask?

  • Databases contain different content: You may notice some overlap between the search results of different databases (for example, Web of Science and Scopus); however, each database also contains unique results. By searching one and not the other, you a) risk missing out on valuable information, and b) bias your search by excluding relevant materials.
     
  • Databases operate differently: Not all databases search the same way, and so you may need to tweak your search strategy to match the requirements of a specific database. Check out "Building a Search Strategy" in the guide menu for general tips and tricks when designing a search.

 

Getting tull text

When searching for articles in research databases, look for the getit! button* to link to the article's FREE full text online. 

If we don't have an electronic copy of the article, you can also look for print versions of the article, or request it from another library.  

If there is no link to full text, or you experience problems, simply copy the article title or DOI or journal title and search in LibrarySearch.  When full text is not readily available online, make sure you use the title of the journal (not the article title or author).

*Different databases have different full-text buttons so you might want to also look for buttons or links labeled full text or PDF.

Is there an easy way for me to authenticate as a U of T user while I'm researching off-campus?

Yes! We can suggest several strategies.

  1. Start at the library webpage: By signing in with your UTORid and password when you are using LibrarySearch, you are authenticated as a U of T user for the rest of your browser session.  This allows you access to U of T licensed e-content, such as articles, databases, or e-books.
  2. Change your Google Scholar settings: Make sure Google Scholar knows you're a U of T user. Once you change your settings, you'll see "Get it! UTL" links next to articles in your search results.
  3. Get LibKeyNomad: If you're using Chrome or Edge, install an extension called LibKey Nomad. It will link you to the PDF of articles owned by U of T or open access.
  4. Paste the proxy: If you're on a journal website, try pasting http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?url= in front of the URL you're currently on.  You will be asked to log in with your UTORid. Note: This only works if the library actually subscribes to the journal.
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