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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How does habitat loss affect fish populations?,
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): Impact of habitat loss on fish populations,”Fish populations, Habitat loss, Environmental impact, Conservation”,
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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How does habitat loss impact marine mammals at the population level?,
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): Impact of habitat loss on marine mammals at the population level,”Marine mammals, Habitat loss, Population impact, Conservation”,
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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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
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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, soil management, sustainable management, nature based solutions, nature-based, 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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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
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How effective are noise abatement methods 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): Effectiveness of noise abatement methods in Welsh waters,”Noise abatement, Marine mammals, Welsh waters, Environmental 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
________________________________________________________________________________
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): Engineering, 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
________________________________________________________________________________
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
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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
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How have the morphology and habitats of Welsh estuaries changed over the years?,
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): Changes in morphology and habitats of Welsh estuaries over the years,”Welsh estuaries, Morphology changes, Habitat changes, Coastal 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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