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 are the downstream impacts of reducing nutrient to land?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
To assess the impact on soils and wider environment
Keywords (discipline, other): Land use and soil
Marine
Freshwater
Enclosed farmland
Air quality
Waste
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 are the ecological impacts of fine sediments on freshwater pearl mussel and salmonid fish?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Pollution from rural sources including nutrient and silt run-off is the second biggest factor in preventing Welsh rivers from achieving Good Ecological Status. In order to address this issue, we need to improve our understanding of the impacts of fine sediments in rivers.
Keywords (discipline, other): Freshwater
Marine
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 are the effects on fish communities from the presence of offshore wind farms, or marine renewable energy device arrays?,
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): Effects of offshore wind farms and renewable energy device arrays on fish communities,”Offshore wind farms, Renewable energy, Fish communities, Habitat disturbance”,
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 are the extent, severity and impacts of diffuse water pollution in the marine ecosystem?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
To inform our understanding of and advice on building resilient marine ecosystems. This would investigate the extent to which diffuse water pollution, from both agriculture and urban sources, including point sources and in combination effects, affects MPA condition. This could also include a case study in Milford Haven.
Keywords (discipline, other): Marine
Freshwater
Coastal Margins
Urban
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
Waste
Water efficiency
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 are the flood-risk benefits provided by coastal habitats?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
This work would comprise a technical assessment to bring together recent evidence and research relating to the flood risk benefits of different marine and coastal habitats in Wales. It would explore the wider well-being outcomes and produce a summary report and visual materials to share with wider stakeholders such as Welsh Government.
Next steps and progress: Likely to be contracted out
Keywords (discipline, other): marine science, flood-risk benefits, marine and coastal habitats, technical assessments, wellbeing
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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What are the flood-risk benefits provided by coastal habitats?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
This work would comprise spatial (GIS) mapping to identify the locations along the coast where habitats are providing flood risk benefits. It will also identify opportunities for the use of nature-based solutions, management and restoration activities that could help to support natural flood management activities at those localities identified in the spatial mapping and provide an analysis of the feasibility and effectiveness of their implementation at localities where possible. Next steps and progress: Evidence review completed in house and mapping and valuation contract underway.
Keywords (discipline, other): Flood-risk benefits, Coastal habitats, GIS mapping, Nature-based solutions, Flood management, Restoration activities
Website/URL links: 0
Looking for collaborators: No External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone:
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What are the genetic links between different populations of Crawfish in Welsh and adjacent 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): Genetic links between Crawfish populations in Welsh and adjacent waters,”Crawfish, Genetic connectivity, Welsh waters, Marine species, Population studies”,
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What are the high risk human and animal pathogens found in soils? Where are they present and what is their extent?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Plant and animal diseases are predicted to change due to climate change. To assess potential risk to human, plant and animal health
Keywords (discipline, other): Land use and soil
Woodland
Freshwater
Coastal margins
Mountains, moorland, and heath
Enclosed farmland
Urban
Waste
Invasive non-native species
Semi-natural grassland
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 are the impacts of abandoned, lost and / or discarded fishing gear in Welsh waters?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
This evidence review will build on Defra Impacts Evidence Group funded review of abandoned, lost, discarded fishing gear (ALDFG). This review would provide an assessment of this issue in Welsh waters and would include sections such as number of pots/nets lost and collate evidence of currently known impacts in Welsh waters.
Suggested level of research: PhD
Keywords (discipline, other): Marine science, impact, abandoned, lost, discarded fishing gear, ALDFG, pots, nets
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What are the impacts of abandoned, lost and / or discarded fishing gear 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): Impacts of abandoned, lost and / or discarded fishing gear in Welsh waters,”Fishing gear, Marine pollution, Marine fauna, Welsh waters, 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: marinecoastalevidence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Phone: NA
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