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SURF for STEM students: Example Topic / Search Term Generation

This guide is to help support SURF for STEM students

Example Topic / Search Term Generation

Example topic: Are there benefits of a carbon capture and utilization (CCU) over a carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) system in the manufacturing of concrete?

KEYWORD	SYNONYM-narrow	SYNONYM-broaden	RELATED TERM
Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU)	Specific methods of CCU	Carbon capture, carbon use	Recycling carbon
Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)	Specific methods of CCS	Carbon capture, carbon storage	Carbon sink
Concrete		Cement	Cement additives

Step 1: Identify keywords.

Step 2: Identify synonyms.

Step 3: Identify related terms by thinking of both broader and narrower ideas.

Example Topic / Search Term Generation

Example topic: What are the benefits of an energy management system in residential buildings on energy price?

KEYWORD	SYNONYM-narrow	SYNONYM-broaden	RELATED TERM
Energy Management System	Building Energy Management System	Energy control system	Energy efficiency, reliability, automation
Residential buildings	Apartment complexes	Dwelling, home	Smart building
Energy prices		Energy cost, energy use	Price control, savings

Step 1: Identify keywords.

Step 2: Identify synonyms.

Step 3: Identify related terms by thinking of both broader and narrower ideas.

Example Topic / Search Term Generation

Example topic: How do dunes affect sediment transport on beaches?

KEYWORD	SYNONYM-narrow	SYNONYM-broaden	RELATED TERM
Sediment transport	Sediment deposition, water sediment transport, sand transport	Sediment movement	Flow, movement, clastic rocks
Dunes	Foredunes, primary dunes, frontal dunes	Sand mound, sandhill	Landform, formation
Beaches	Sand beaches, sand coast, beachfront	Coast, coastline	Littoral, marine, water's edge

Step 1: Identify keywords.

Step 2: Identify synonyms.

Step 3: Identify related terms by thinking of both broader and narrower ideas.

Example Topic / Search Term Generation

Example topic: How does ocean acidification affect oysters?

KEYWORD	SYNONYM-narrow	SYNONYM-broaden	RELATED TERM
Oysters	Oyster larva, Crassotrea oyster, Pacific oyster	Mollusk, bivalve, shellfish	Shell, aquaculture, mariculture
Ocean	Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, estuary, coast	Sea, saltwater	brackish water, marine environment, aquatic
Acidification		pH lowering	pH monitoring, warming effects, uptake of carbon dioxide

Step 1: Identify keywords.

Step 2: Identify synonyms.

Step 3: Identify related terms by thinking of both broader and narrower ideas.

Example Topic / Search Term Generation

Example topic: How has climate change affected the habitat of the Northern Pintail?

KEYWORD	SYNONYM-narrow	SYNONYM-broaden	RELATED TERM
Climate change	Global warming	Climate crisis, environmental change	Extreme weather
Habitat	Marsh, swamp, wetland	North America, Europe	Habitat loss, habitat change
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	dabbling ducks, Anatidae	Ducks, waterfowl, migratory birds

Step 1: Identify keywords.

Step 2: Identify synonyms.

Step 3: Identify related terms by thinking of both broader and narrower ideas.