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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What is the population status of the mitten crab in north 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): Population status of mitten crab in North Wales,”Mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, Population status, North Wales, Invasive species”,
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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What is the post release mortality of various fish species from recreational angling?,
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): Post-release mortality of fish from recreational angling,”Fish mortality, Recreational angling, Post-release survival, Fisheries management”,
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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What is the potential for carbon sequestration in traditional agroforestry systems?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Traditional agroforestry systems such as wood pasture and orchards offer the potential to sequester carbon while maintaining food production on the same piece of land. There has been little research into what potential of these habitats is sequester carbon.
Keywords (discipline, other): Enclosed farmland
Woodland
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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What is the potential for noise disturbance of marine mammals in Wales?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Important evidence to balance priorities for provisioning ecosystem services through renewable energy resources with maintaining and enhancing biodiversity, specifically mobile species. To inform our advice to developers.
Keywords (discipline, other): Marine
Energy
Ecosystem resilience
Biodiversity
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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What is the potential to increase carbon stocks within grassland soils?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Grassland covers a very large area of Wales. It provides the potential to be able to store significant quantities of carbon if the soils frequently hold less than their maximum level of carbon.
Keywords (discipline, other): Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What is the predicted impact of flooding and sea level rise on agricultural soils?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
To help inform future sustainable land use and management pratices
Keywords (discipline, other): Land use, flooding, impact, sustainable land use, land management, sea level, soil, salinity, model, agriculture
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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What is the presence and extent of genetic materials in soils for potential future biomedical resources and disease control?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Plant and animal diseases are predicted to change due to climate change. To assess the full extent of the provisioning service provided by soils.
Keywords (discipline, other): Land use and soil
Woodland
Mountains, moorland, and heath
Coastal margins
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What is the presence, extent and concentrations of plastic and microplastics in soils? How does this affect the ecosystem services provided by soils?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
To assess the impact on soil ecosystem services and well-being
Keywords (discipline, other): Land use and soil
Enclosed farmland
Waste
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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What is the proportion and condition of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWs) that have been restored, or are under restoration, throughout Wales?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
A commitment to PAWS restoration is contained within Welsh Government’s Woodlands for Wales strategy, but information on the proportion and condition of PAWS under restoration is sparse, particularly outside the Welsh Government Woodland Estate. This evidence would help inform future assessments of resilience and support policy and operational management decisions.
Keywords (discipline, other): Woodland
Ecosystem resilience
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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What is the public perception of value of coastal habitats, particularly for dunes and shingle as coastal defence structures and social confidence in the utility of nature-based solutions?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Inform policy, land management decisions and communication to aid community understanding of coastal management.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
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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