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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How do we measure the impact value for invasive non-native species of Interest or priority, to Wales on each ecosystems’ resilience, and services, now and in the future?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
This will help to improve the approach of assessing the impact that invasive non-native species of Interests to Wales currently have or will have in the future on ecosystems in Wales, their resilience and the ecosystem services they provide.
Keywords (discipline, other): Invasive non-native species
Woodland
Marine
Mountains, moorland, and heath
Freshwater
Coastal margins
Urban
Semi-natural grassland
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
________________________________________________________________________________
How do we persuade land managers to change practices and mindsets to reduce nutrient and silt pollution of freshwater ecosystems?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Restoration of freshwater ecosystems is key to improving their resilience to multiple pressures and addressing the climate and nature emergencies. Knowledge and tools are required to facilitate sucessful and cost effective ecosystem restoration.
Keywords (discipline, other): Freshwater
Mountains, moorland, and heath
Urban
Semi-natural grassland
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
________________________________________________________________________________
How does biodiversity in new woodlands in the Uplands compare with that in ancient woodlands in the Uplands? Where there are differences, what are the drivers?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
The biodiversity distinction between ancient and secondary woodland has long been recognised, though much of this is based on evidence from lowland woods and is less clear in upland and Atlantic areas. The ability of secondary woodland in upland areas to assimilate and restore ancient woodland biota is dependent on many factors for example landuse history, proximity to ancient woodland, age of planting or regeneration. To design better woodlands for the future, evidence of the the relative importance of these factors is required.
Keywords (discipline, other): Mountains, moorland, and heath
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
________________________________________________________________________________
How does meat reared on semi-natural grasslands vary in terms of quality, taste and health benefits compared to that from intensively managed grassland?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Meat produced from semi-natural grasslands has a higher nutrient content and lower fat levels than that produced from agriculturally improved grasslands, but lower levels of protein and energy. However, more research is needed, particularly with regard to health benefits and taste.
Keywords (discipline, other): 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
________________________________________________________________________________
How does soil management practices contribute to nature based solutions?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
To help inform future sustainable land management pratices in future
Keywords (discipline, other): Land use and soil
Mountains, moorland, and heath
Coastal margins
Urban
Semi-natural grassland
Enclosed farmland
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
________________________________________________________________________________
How effective are noise abatement methods in Welsh waters?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
It is likely that noisy activities such as piling for offshore wind, and detonation of unexploded ordnance, may cause adverse effects, especially for marine mammals and fish. Noise abatement methods, such as bubble curtains, to reduce noise at source or reduce how far the noise is able to propagate, have been demonstrated to reduce the noise impact. However, there is no information on how these techniques might perform under the hydrographical conditions in Welsh waters, such as deep water or strong tidal areas. This project ideally should include lab studies (testing resonant bubbles), field studies (bubble curtains for UXOs) and a desk review.
Next steps and progress: This topic is currently being investigated in a Defra project which NRW is on the steering group for. Once outputs are complete, NRW may seek funding for a project that will address potential gaps and / or build on these outputs.
Keywords (discipline, other): Marine evidence, noise abatement methods, piling, offshore wind, adverse effects, marine mammals, fish, bubble curtain, noise, hydrographical conditions, tidal, lab, field, desk review
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: Dr Kirsten Ramsay Email Address: kirsten.ramsay@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
How feasible and/or effective would it be to remove or modify existing structures in estuarine and coastal Heavily Modified Water Bodies?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
The project would investigate the feasibility of removal or modification of existing structures in Heavily Modified Water Bodies. This would include: removal of obsolete structures linked to flood protection, coast protection, navigation ports and harbours; removal of hard bank reinforcement or replacement with soft engineering solutions; modification of existing structures.
This includes consideration of measures which may address hydromorphological pressures in Heavily Modified Water Bodies, measures which would support coastal adaptation or implementation of nature-based solutions, and importantly consider the costs and benefits of those measures to help inform business cases/cost-benefit analysis to determine what can be delivered.
Next steps and progress: NRW in house work to scope out the project and consider mitigation measures.
Keywords (discipline, other): Marine science, removal, structures, estuarine and coastal Heavily Modified Water Bodies, hard bank reinforcement, soft engineering solutions, modification, hydromorphological pressure, cost-benefit analysis, nature-based solutions, mitigation
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: Dr Kirsten Ramsay Email Address: kirsten.ramsay@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk Phone: NA
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How has land use and land management systems changed in Wales and what is the impact on soils?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Soil condition is mostly a function of the management system in place and so any changes to land use and land management systems need to be monitored. In adition, a better understanding and monitoring of shared land uses where primary use is for woodland or agriculture but also may support renewable energy development for example would be useful.
Keywords (discipline, other): Land use and soil
Woodland
Mountains, moorland, and heath
Coastal margins
Urban
Semi-natural grassland
Enclosed farmland
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
________________________________________________________________________________
How has the condition of SSSI features, habitats and species, in Wales changed since the last rapid review in 2006?
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
Marine
Mountains, moorland, and heath
Freshwater
Coastal margins
Urban
Semi-natural grassland
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
________________________________________________________________________________
How is agriculture impacting coastal habitats both positively and negatively?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Evaluate extent of pressure and identify areas for intervention.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
Enclosed farmland
Freshwater
Land use and soil
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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