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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What are the types, distribution, frequency and intensity of fishing activities from commercial fishing vessels in Welsh waters?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
The majority of Welsh commercial fishing vessels are under 12m in length. However, currently we know very little about where, when, with what gear, how much gear, and how often these boats go fishing. This information would have multiple uses, including helping us to understand possible impacts on the marine environment. Data from Welsh Government’s inshore vessel monitoring systems, Catch app and logsheets could be combined and analysed to indicate the type, distribution, frequency and intensity of <12m commercial fishing vessels’ activity in Welsh waters.
Next steps and progress: Continue to liaise with Welsh Government
Keywords (discipline, other): Marine science, types, distribution, frequency, intensity, fishing, data, app, analyse, commercial fishing vessel
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: Kirsten Ramsay Email Address: kirsten.ramsay@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk Phone: NA
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What are the wider benefits provided by sustainable 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): Sustainable fish populations, Marine ecosystems, Biodiversity, Fisheries, Marine biology
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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What areas of the sea are used by different seabirds and how?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
This practical study will develop our understanding of Welsh seabirds, especially in relation to the main areas of Welsh seas that they use to help inform potential impacts. The project would involve using GPS and data loggers fitted to birds and particularly focus on diving birds such as auks, cormorants and shags.
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): Seabirds, Habitat use, Marine areas, Foraging, Nesting, Birds, Marine
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: marinecoastalevidence@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Phone: NA
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What areas of Welsh waters are used by different fish species and how?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
An assessment of abundance, distribution and structure of marine fish species in Welsh waters through the year, with a review of available data and recommendations for gap filling. This would lead to an update to Ellis et al. (2012) for Wales but would also cover other species, life stages and habitat use in addition to spawning and nursery grounds. Next steps and progress: Needs to be scoped out, but a contract to update and expand upon the Ellis et al. (2012) work is likely.
Keywords (discipline, other): Marine fish species, abundance, distribution, structure, habitat use, spawning grounds, nursery grounds, Ellis et al. (2012), Wales
Website/URL links: https://naturalresources.wales/evidence-and-data/research-and-reports/marine-biodiversity-collaborative-research-priorities/?lang=en
Looking for collaborators: No External Partner: Yes Organisation: Natural Resources Wales
Contact Details
Name: Email Address: Phone:
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What can be done to encourage woodland managers to accelerate adaptation to climate change and pests and diseases, beyond UK Forestry Standard requirements, to improve the resilience of woodland ecosystems?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Adaptation to climate change and pests and diseases needs to accelerate. Understanding the mechanisms available for example those tried and tested, as well as innovative, to accelerate adaptation to climate change and pests and diseases would help inform future policy and delivery approaches.
Keywords (discipline, other): Woodland
Ecosystem resilience
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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What changes are required to achieve water efficiencies in the agriculture sector?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Guidance on optimum use of water across agriculture and business sectors is out of date. There is a need to raise awareness of new technologies which can reduce water use.
Keywords (discipline, other): Water efficiency
Freshwater
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
Semi-natural grassland
Waste
Energy
Ecosystem resilience
Biodiversity
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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What changes are required to achieve water efficiencies in the business and commerce sector?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Guidance on optimum use of water across agriculture and business sectors is out of date. There is a need to raise awareness of new technologies which can reduce water use.
Keywords (discipline, other): Water efficiency
Ecosystem resilience
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 contribution do sandeels make to Welsh marine mammal, bird and piscivorous fish diets?,
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): Sandeels’ contribution to marine mammal, bird, and piscivorous fish diets,”Sandeels, Marine mammals, Birds, Piscivorous fish, Diet, Marine food web”,
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 contribution do Welsh saltmarshes make as supporting habitat for non commercial and commercial fish populations and what is the economic value of this service for the commercial species?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
This evidence would enable evaluation of a potentially important ecosystem service of which there is little known for the Welsh context. Identify opportunities for enhancement.
Keywords (discipline, other): Economics, Coastal margins, Marine Biodiversity, Saltmarsh, habitat, economic value, ecosystem services
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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What data are available to update the current distribution of invasive non-native species in Welsh waters?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
This would improve data sets on the distribution of marine non-native species in Welsh Waters and inform our understanding of the impact of this pressure on the marine ecosystem
Keywords (discipline, other): Marine
Coastal Margins
Invasive non-native species
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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