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 is the distribution and size of the landbank (agricultural land) available for recycling nutrients or organic materials?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
To assess whether soils are sustainably managed and used now and in the future. To prevent overapplication of materials and pollution through better land use planning.
Keywords (discipline, other): Landbank, agriculture, recycling nutrients, organic materials, soil, sustainable management, farming, materials, pollution, land plannig
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 is the distribution, abundance and population demographics of Risso’s dolphin in Welsh waters?,
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
There are frequent sightings of Risso’s dolphins, including calves, in several areas around Wales. However, we have a limited detailed understanding of their occurence in Wales. NRW require better information on abundance, range, breeding, site fidelity, distribution etc. of this species. Photo ID and acoustic detection may be useful methods to obtain much of this information, in addition to collation of existing sighting data.
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): Risso’s dolphin, Distribution, Population demographics, Welsh waters, Marine mammals
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 is the distribution, intensity and frequency of hunting ducks and geese, wildfowling?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
This evidence would help to evaluate extent of this pressure and identify areas for management.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
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 is the diversity, extent, condition and connectivity of soils classes across Wales?
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
Mountains, moorland, and heath
Coastal margins
Semi-natural grassland
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
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 is the effect of 1. different management regimes, 2. different sward structures, 3. different grassland types, 4. species diversity, 5. different species groups for example legumes, forbs, grasses, on water regulation in semi-natural grassland?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Grasslands can play an important role in water regulation, but the evidence is unclear how it is effected by specific management practises, and how much it varies under different forms of grassland and different levels of plant diversity, bearing in mind that species vary in their capacity to absorb and retain water.
Keywords (discipline, other): Semi-natural grassland, Biodiversity, Water regulation, management, diversity
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 is the effect of extinction debt and low genetic diversity caused by semi-natural grassland loss and fragmentation on uncommon or threatened semi-natural grassland species and which species are particularly vulnerable?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Diversity is a basic measure of sustainable management of natural resources. Due top past declines, many populations of Section 7 and other uncommon species are very small and highly fragmented, the effects of which are often unclear
Keywords (discipline, other): Semi-natural grassland
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 is the effect of tree species diversity on woodland productivity in Wales?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Tree species diversification is key to improving resilience but its impact on woodland productivity for timber in Wales is not well understood. This information would be helpful to suport discussions about timber’s role in supporting a regenerative economy.
Keywords (discipline, other): Woodland
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 is the effect of using water efficiently on reduction in energy bills?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
In the UK 89% of household energy use is for heating water. Behavioural change to water use is likely to be more successful if linked to savings on energy bills.
Keywords (discipline, other): Water efficiency, Energy, Bills, Behavior, Psychology, Cost of Living
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 is the effectiveness of natural colonisation by trees as an approach to increasing woodland cover in Wales, specifically to result in the establishment of mature trees which cover more than 20 per cent by area, are more than 0.5 ha in size and a minimum of 20m wide as per National Forestry Inventory and Forestry Commission?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
If natural colonisation by trees is effective (resulting in establishment of woodland that meets the National Forest Inventory definition), this could increase the extent of total woodland cover in Wales, with knock-on benefits for resilience, the provision of ecosystem services and well-being benfits.
Keywords (discipline, other): Woodland
Land use and soil
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 is the efficacy and potential longer-term impacts of acoustic deterrent devices for marine mammals, birds, and fish?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
There remains a gap in knowledge of how some marine mammal, fish and bird species respond to acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs). They are routinely advised as potential mitigation techniques for tidal energy and other industries/activities but while there is some information for seals around aquaculture sites, and for fish at power stations, our understanding of how effective these are for some species remains limited or unknown. The need is for experimental research observing reactions to ADDs at sea. There is also a need to explore how ADDs optimised for one receptor (species) could affect other receptors, particularly given differences in hearing range, auditory sensitivity, and behaviour in reaction to underwater noise. Finally, research is needed to evaluate longer term ADD deployments, and whether these could have lasting displacement or disturbance effects on different receptors.
Next steps and progress: May be taken forward as part of a collaborative project.
Keywords (discipline, other): Marine science, efficacy, longer-term impacts, acoustic deterrent devices, ADDs, marine mammals, birds, fish, mitigation, tidal energy, seals, aquaculture sites, power stations,
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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