Developing Your Dissertation Ideas
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.
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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Where should new semi-natural grasslands be created to best improve grassland connectivity and ecosystem resilience?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
New grasslands will need to be created if grassland ecosystems are to be made more resilient. More research is needed to help decide where these should be located.
Keywords (discipline, other): Semi-natural grassland
Ecosystem resilience
Enclosed farmland
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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Where should new semi-natural grasslands be created to have most ecosystem service benefit, for example carbon storage or sequestration; water regulation and flood prevention; pollination supply; education; leisure; landscape?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Semi-natural grasslands can deliver a wide range of ecosystem services. New sites should be located to increase ecosystem service delivery, for example to help regulate water supply on floodplains and pollinator supply near to cropland.
Keywords (discipline, other): Semi-natural grassland
Land use and soil
Water efficiency
Ecosystem resilience
Climate change
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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Which freshwater-dependent habitats and species are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, how will they be affected and where are they located in Wales?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Keywords (discipline, other): Freshwater
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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Which goals in the Well-being of Future Generations Act require a change in the energy system?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
What are the synergies and trade-offs which affect;
1. Aspiration of achieving the greater welfare of well-being
2. Build physical and social infrastructures for sustainable development
3. Achieve sustainable management of the natural environment
For instance, in order to achieve ‘a healthier Wales goal’, look at the impact of energy on health such as fuel poverty, air quality – so what needs to fundamentally change in the energy system to help achieve healthier Wales.
Keywords (discipline, other): Energy
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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Which semi-natural grassland species, including bryophytes and lichens, are particularly vulnerable to atmospheric nitrogen pollution?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Evidence of the negative effacts of atmospheric nitrogen and ammonia on grassland plant species is increasing, but more research is needed.
Keywords (discipline, other): Semi-natural grassland
Ecosystem resilience
Air quality
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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Why has soil organic carbon concentrations declined on habitat land in the uplands?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
ERAMMP monitoring has shown a short-term decline this evidence is needed to help inform future sustainable land management practices.
Keywords (discipline, other): Land use and soil
Mountains, moorland, and heath
Semi-natural grassland
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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Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Evidence is limited. We could have greater benefits if evidence is produced at finer geographical scales.
We need evidence to reflect the renewable energy mix in Wales such as onshore wind, offshore wind, solar, hydropower, ground and air source heat pumps, geothermal, biomass and emerging technolgies like hydrogen.
There is potential for Welsh Government Wales Regional Energy Plans to conduct evidence that considers the impact of renewable energy that has potetnial in that region. Area statement would also be a useful tool in aiding this piece of work
Keywords (discipline, other): Energy
Ecosystem resilience
Woodland
Marine
Mountains, moorland, and heath
Freshwater
Coastal margins
Urban
Semi-natural grassland
Enclosed farmland
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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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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