A classic example from the field of environmental science is that of a land use management plan. In this project, students take into account the social, cultural, economic and environmental factors of a geographic area in order to propose a plan for the most effective and environmentally sound use of the land and natural resources in that area. Evaluation projects that review the effectiveness of some current program or regimen with an eye to recommendations for future changes may also be included in this category. For example, students might review their town's recycling and waste disposal systems and propose more effective alternatives. Projects in this category tend to blend the social and political concerns students may have with the science understanding that is necessary to make sound decisions and proposals regarding those concerns.
Students here review and summarize the findings of others about a scientific area of interest.
However, literature reviews are both a real and useful component of scientific endeavors in many fields. Broad literature reviews that capture differing view points and methods as well as trends in the research and understanding of a field can be as useful to students as they are to scientists.