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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Psychology and behavior change topics
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Visit the 1 in 5 website to see topics in social psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, decision making, mental health, human factors, perception and more.
https://www.1in5project.info/project-ideas
Keywords (discipline, other): social psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, decision making, mental health, human factors
Website/URL links: https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=A673B09CD3ADE8F9!70595&migratedtospo=true&redeem=aHR0cHM6Ly8xZHJ2Lm1zL28vcyFBdm5vcmRPY3NIT21oS2REa0RONzJYd2RpWWljSWc_ZT1LcEpUYUQ&wd=target%28Psychology.one%7C0f801ffb-c9dc-49b4-8f6b-94ea415b7ac3%2FProject%20ideas%7Cc10f2185-a13e-42a6-ac7d-db50969ccfaf%2F%29&wdorigin=NavigationUrl
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: No Organisation:
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: contact@1in5project.info Phone: NA
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Questions on regenerative tourism in Welsh Designated Landscapes
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
• How can tourism benefits be distributed more fairly within local communities?
• What role can regenerative tourism play in rural economies?
• Questions on travel and transport – access?
Keywords (discipline, other): regenerative tourism, designated landscapes, communities, rural economies, travel, transport, access
Website/URL links: https://landscapeswales.org.uk/
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Tirweddau Cymru Landscapes Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
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Religion and Climate Change
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
According to the Pew Research Centre, some 84% of the world’s population has a religious affiliation. Whilst this figure is from 2010 and might be contested, there is no doubt that religion is globally a highly significant influence on how people understand the world and live their lives. There is a growing body of work investigating religious approaches to thinking and acting in relation to the environment and this offers a rich seam to mine for dissertation topics. The short bibliography below offers some starting points for this kind of literature-based study.
Within departments of Religious Studies and Theology that are able to support projects using qualitative research (e.g. in sociology of religion or practical theology), there would be scope for looking at particular local faith communities and their response to climate change. For example, one project might be to look at the impact of the Arocha Eco Church award project on one or two local churches. Another might be to study how environmental concerns are reflected in sermons within one or two local religious communities that have preaching as part of their religious practice.
Bibliography
Some general resources:
John A. Grim, e.d., Indigenous Traditions and Ecology : The Interbeing of Cosmology and Community (Harvard University Press, 2001)
John Hart, ed., The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Religion and Ecology (Chichester: John Wiley, 2017)
Larry L. Rasmussen, Earth-honoring Faith: Religious Ethics in a New Key (Oxford: OUP, 2015)
These sources relate more specifically to Christian theology:
Celia Deane-Drummond, The Ethics of Nature (Blackwell, 2004)
Willis Jenkins, Ecologies of Grace: Environmental Ethics and Christian Theology (OUP, 2008)
Hilary Marlow, Biblical Prophets and Contemporary Environmental Ethics (OUP, 2009)
Sallie McFague, The Body of God: An Ecological Theology (SCM, 1993)
Sallie McFague, Models of God: Theology for an ecological Nuclear Age (SCM / Fortress, 1987)
Michael Northcott, The Environment and Christian Ethics (CUP, 1996)
Keywords (discipline, other): Religion, Theology, Climate Change, Christian, ethics, eco-church, community, communities, Christian, tradition, faith, ecology
Website/URL links: https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=A673B09CD3ADE8F9!70595&migratedtospo=true&redeem=aHR0cHM6Ly8xZHJ2Lm1zL28vcyFBdm5vcmRPY3NIT21oS2REa0RONzJYd2RpWWljSWc_ZT1LcEpUYUQ&wd=target%28Theology.one%7C6a0608a7-6fc3-4d81-a38d-f0dbdaf71f3d%2FProject%20ideas%7C9fceeadc-e4b0-43a6-96ef-a37541ed4f45%2F%29&wdorigin=NavigationUrl
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Cardiff Baptist College; Cardiff University:
Contact Details
Name: Stephen Roberts Email Address: RobertsS51@cardiff.ac.uk Phone: NA
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Research to inform and promote holistic education for Sustainable Development (SDG 4.7): A targeted piece of research to clearly show evidence of the links between peace, human rights, gender equality and sustainable development, supported by case studies.
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Work around climate change within the education sector tends to focus on environmental issues in isolation – issues such as plastic pollution and recycling. Whilst this is important, it would be beneficial to promote a more holistic approach, including climate justice and also making links between local and global issues such as peace, human rights and equality. This would support the realisation of Sustainable Development Goal 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.”
Having some clear research and case studies could be the basis for writing some more comprehensive resources and developing a pilot project in Wales that would support children and young people in developing the above skills and taking on local and global projects that would make a difference.
Keywords (discipline, other): International Relations, politics, education, climate change, SDGs
Website/URL links:
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: WCIA
Contact Details
Name: Jane Harries Email Address: janeharries@wcia.org.uk Phone: NA
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Research to inform and promote holistic education for Sustainable Development (SDG 4.7): A targeted piece of research to clearly show evidence of the links between peace, human rights, gender equality and sustainable development, supported by case studies.
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Work around climate change within the education sector tends to focus on environmental issues in isolation – issues such as plastic pollution and recycling. Whilst this is important, it would be beneficial to promote a more holistic approach, including climate justice and also making links between local and global issues such as peace, human rights and equality. This would support the realisation of Sustainable Development Goal 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.”
Having some clear research and case studies could be the basis for writing some more comprehensive resources and developing a pilot project in Wales that would support children and young people in developing the above skills and taking on local and global projects that would make a difference.
Keywords (discipline, other): Education, International Relations, climate change, peace, human rights
Website/URL links:
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: WCIA
Contact Details
Name: Jane Harries Email Address: janeharries@wcia.org.uk Phone: NA
________________________________________________________________________________
Research to show links between militarism in Wales (and beyond) and climate change.
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Published statistics on climate emissions don’t take into account the impact of activities by the military. For 2019, the carbon footprint of the UK military was estimated at 11 million tonnes of CO2 for 2018 (Conflict and Environment Observatory). This was before the war in Ukraine. Calculations of military emissions in Wales should include the impact of implementing low-fly zones, the testing of drones in West Wales, energy used by military bases and the production of components of arms which take place in Wales. This research would be a first step to being open and honest about the contribution of the military to climate emissions. It should lead to public debate about how much the armed forces cost, both today and for future generations.
Keywords (discipline, other): International Relations, Politics, carbon emissions, peace
Website/URL links: https://ceobs.org/the-militarys-contribution-to-climate-change/
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Cymdeithas y Cymod / Fellowship of Reconciliation in Wales
Contact Details
Name: Awel Heddwch Email Address: awel.heddwch@gmail.com Phone: NA
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Researching people new to nature connection and how/if it changes behaviour and perspective on how to protect our natural environment.
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
When we see what we value being destroyed and not sustainably developed it might galvanise action, e.g., voting for a political candidate with green credentials, consuming less, influencing others.
Keywords (discipline, other): Psychology, politics, nature connection
Website/URL links: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/the-childrens-people-and-nature-survey-for-england-2022-update/the-childrens-people-and-nature-survey-for-england-2022-update
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: Nature Connection and Forest Bathing
Contact Details
Name: Lucy McQuillan Email Address: Phone: NA
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Resilience and adaptation to flooding and coastal change
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Our research needs to help people plan for, better protect, respond to, and recover from flooding, as well as coastal change.
Our research activities will support us to:
2.1 – understand behavioural, societal, and organisational changes which might be needed for England and Wales to adapt and be resilient to flooding and coastal change
2.2 – measure flood and coastal resilience
2.3 – work with communities to make decisions together and take action to build resilience and adapt
2.4 – understand the options to adapt our coasts
2.5 – use a balance of different interventions that create resilience to flooding and coastal change
Further information is available on the joint programme webpage: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-and-development-programme/about
If you would like to contact the programme to share information on how your work relates, or if you want to hear from the programme team when a new research activity is starting, use the areas of research interest form: https://forms.office.com/e/PALmAmETZ2
If you want to request support from the programme for a research partnership follow instructions on how to apply for research support: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-research-support-and-partnerships
Keywords (discipline, other): flood, coastal erosion, coastal change, flooding, adaptation, resilience, protect, respond, recover
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/flooding-reports-evidence-and-data/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: Yes External Partner: Yes Organisation: NRW
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone: NA
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Saltmarsh restoration using polders: what are the costs, benefits and trade-offs to breeding and overwintering bird 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): Saltmarsh restoration using polders and impacts on bird populations,”Saltmarsh, Polders, Restoration, Bird populations, Coastal ecosystems”,
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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Sensitivity and vulnerability of the Habitats Regulations features to elevated nutrient concentrations,
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): Sensitivity of sea cliff habitats to elevated nitrogen concentrations,”Sea cliffs, Nitrogen concentrations, Habitat sensitivity, Environmental impact”,
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: Phone: NA
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