The history of science knows scores of instances where an investigator was in the possession of all the important facts for a new theory but simply failed to ask the right questions.
Ernst Mayr

The Research we will pursue for this guided research is the Exploration of a Single Dry Cleaning Facility.

By investigating the solvent usage from a single dry cleaning facility over time, it is possible answer several research questions about the facility's solvent use and environmental emissions. For example: have the facility's solvent requirements changed over time?, how much perc does the facility emit to the atmosphere and how much perc becomes solid or liquid hazardous waste?

Through this exploration the following questions will be explored:

• How much perchloroethylene does the facility emit to the atmosphere each year?
• What is the atmospheric load (lb/time)?
• How much perchloroethylene does the facility dispose of as hazardous waste each year?
• How have perchloroethylene demands for this facility changed since 1999?
• What does the material balance for perc look like for this facility? How sensitive is the material balance to changes in the air emissions/hazardous waste split?
• What are the hazardous waste implications for the national inventory?
• Have any dry cleaning facilities in your area switched from perc to a more environmentally friendly solvent? (This question begins by looking for facilities that originally are listed on the EPA website for perc usage and eventually are removed from the list denoting a solvent change by the facility. Follow up query of the facility(s) is required to determine the reason for their eventual absence from the EPA query.)

So how did we come up this these research questions?

Science depends on several assumptions about our universe; such as the universe has regular patterns that human beings can comprehend. Theories are the tentative explanations of our understanding of these patterns and how phenomena may operate in the universe. The pursuit of understanding requires that the researcher acquire and foster certain attitudes; such as questioning, disciplined curiosity, open-mindedness, with-holding judgment, respect for evidence balanced with skepticism, intellectual honesty, a sense of responsibility, and an understanding of one's competence and limitations.

Before planning an investigation, the researcher first recognizes a question or a problem to be studied. Although questions need not be derived from a theory, theories often guide researchers in predicting events or outcomes of research, which ultimately support or deny the explanation.
If you have come up with another research idea, submit it below with your comments in the boxes below. ERROR:
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