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.
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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
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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
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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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How important are river flushing events for estuarine habitats and dispersion of contaminants and nutrients in Welsh estuaries?,
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): Importance of river flushing events for estuarine habitats and nutrient dispersion in Welsh estuaries,”River flushing, Estuaries, Nutrient dispersion, Habitat health, 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
________________________________________________________________________________
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
________________________________________________________________________________
How is soil carbon storage and sequestration in semi-natural grassland affected by 1. different management regimes, 2. different grassland types, 3. species diversity, 4. different species groups for example legumes, forbs, grasses?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Grasslands store significant amounts of soil carbon, but the evidence is unclear how it is effected by specific management practises, including mob grazing, and how much it varies under different forms of grassland and different levels of plant or fungal diversity
Keywords (discipline, other): Semi-natural grassland
Land use and soil
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 is the wave climate in Welsh waters changing over time, and is the available data adequate?,
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 wave climate in Welsh waters over time,”Wave climate, Welsh waters, Climate change, Oceanography”,
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 many complete or partial barriers to migratory fish are there in Welsh rivers? What are the quantified impacts of these barriers (i.e. lengths of rivers with decreased accessibility) to the different species of anadromous fish?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Physical modification is the main reason for rivers Welsh rivers failing to achieve Good Ecological Status. Modifications to floodplains have significant impacts on ecosystem health and flood risk. However limited information is available on the extent and specific impacts of these modifications. This information is required to inform ecosystem resilience and restoration opportunities.
Keywords (discipline, other): Freshwater
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 many properties do sand dunes and shingle ridges protect?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Evaluate the extent of the flood defence ecosystem service which coastal habitats provide
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
Woodland
Freshwater
Urban
Semi-natural grassland
Enclosed farmland
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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