If you are seeking to deliver an impactful dissertation topic, with direct relevance to environmental policy makers or, simply looking for inspiration for your final year project, you can search for ideas below.
You can search the research questions that have been directly submitted to us, or browse other collections of research ideas from partner organisation such as Natural Resources Wales and Climate Cymru. We are still adding relevant keywords to the data, so try a different search term if nothing comes up or get in touch for support searching the database.
If you do find a question of relevance and decide to address it through your dissertation, we would really like to know about it. Please fill out the form that can be found here.
[Enter keyword and press ‘search’ or the return key]
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In Wales, how has land-use classification changed since 2010 and what is the extent and spatial-arrangement of modified habitats?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Ecosystem resilience evidence needs encompass several needs from the other ecosystem and theme chapters.
Keywords (discipline, other): Ecosystem Resilience
Woodland
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
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Infrastructure enhancement: what is the optimal design, number and configuration of structures to best enhance biodiversity?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): Infrastructure enhancement for biodiversity,”Infrastructure, Biodiversity enhancement, Marine habitat, Design optimization, Ecological impact”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: marinecoastalevidence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Phone: NA
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Investigate the threat of contaminants of emerging concern in groundwater
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
We want to determine the current scale of the problem – where in Wales they appear most and why. This would include:
– identifying the expect sources of these contaminants in groundwater
– understanding the fate and transport of some of these contaminants of emerging concern in groundwater
– highlighting any specific regulatory interventions that may be required
Keywords (discipline, other): Groundwater, PFAS, contaminants of emerging concern
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/water-environment-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
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Is habitat ‘rollback’ actually occurring as a response to sea level rise and erosion and if it is, where is it occurring and to what extent?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Evaluate extent of pressure and identify areas for intervention. Inform resilience.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
Freshwater
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
Ecosystem resilience
Climate change
Biodiversity
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
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Is litter causing mortality / impacting on marine mammal populations around Wales?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): Litter causing mortality in marine mammals around Wales,”Marine mammals, Litter, Mortality, Wales, Environmental impact”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: marinecoastalevidence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
Is phosphate in estuaries and coastal waters an important factor for eutrophication?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): phosphate in estuaries and coastal waters an important factor for eutrophication ,”phosphate , estuaries , Coastal Waters, Eutropication”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
Is prey availability limiting marine mammal populations in Welsh waters?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): Prey availability limiting marine mammal populations in Welsh waters,”Prey availability, Marine mammals, Population limitations, Welsh waters”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: marinecoastalevidence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Phone: NA
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Is Salicornia gathering an issue to pioneer saltmarsh, what levels of gathering would be appropriate, and could this be licenced?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
For more, and updated information, please visit https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Keywords (discipline, other): Salicornia gathering as an issue for pioneer saltmarsh,”Salicornia, Saltmarsh gathering, Habitat management, Licensing”,
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: marinecoastalevidence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
Is saltmarsh developing further up estuaries than previous distribution and moving inland where unconstrained?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Evaluate extent of pressure and identify areas for intervention. Inform resilience.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
Freshwater
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
Ecosystem resilience
Climate change
Biodiversity
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: n/a External Partner: Y Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: n/a n/a Email Address: Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
Is the building industry becoming more or less sustainable in its consumption of energy and generation of greenhouse gasses?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
The building industry is a major consumer of energy, and generates significant amounts of greenhouse gas from its supply chain including the production of cement and steel . Most of their activity relates to urban areas. Data on this is available at a UK level, but it is harder to obtain for Wales.
Keywords (discipline, other): Architecture, building, energy consumption, climate change, greenhouse gas, supply chain, materials, urban, impact
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/state-of-natural-resources-report-sonarr-for-wales-2020/evidence-needs-table/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: No External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
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