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]
.
What is the potential to increase carbon stocks within grassland soils?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Grassland covers a very large area of Wales. It provides the potential to be able to store significant quantities of carbon if the soils frequently hold less than their maximum level of carbon.
Keywords (discipline, other): Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What is the predicted impact of flooding and sea level rise on agricultural soils?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
To help inform future sustainable land use and management pratices
Keywords (discipline, other): Land use, flooding, impact, sustainable land use, land management, sea level, soil, salinity, model, agriculture
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What is the presence and extent of genetic materials in soils for potential future biomedical resources and disease control?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Plant and animal diseases are predicted to change due to climate change. To assess the full extent of the provisioning service provided by soils.
Keywords (discipline, other): Land use and soil
Woodland
Mountains, moorland, and heath
Coastal margins
Semi-natural grassland
Enclosed farmland
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What is the presence, extent and concentrations of plastic and microplastics in soils? How does this affect the ecosystem services provided by soils?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
To assess the impact on soil ecosystem services and well-being
Keywords (discipline, other): Land use and soil
Enclosed farmland
Waste
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What is the proportion and condition of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWs) that have been restored, or are under restoration, throughout Wales?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
A commitment to PAWS restoration is contained within Welsh Government’s Woodlands for Wales strategy, but information on the proportion and condition of PAWS under restoration is sparse, particularly outside the Welsh Government Woodland Estate. This evidence would help inform future assessments of resilience and support policy and operational management decisions.
Keywords (discipline, other): Woodland
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What is the public perception of value of coastal habitats, particularly for dunes and shingle as coastal defence structures and social confidence in the utility of nature-based solutions?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
Inform policy, land management decisions and communication to aid community understanding of coastal management.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What is the quantified extent and location of river reaches in Wales that are disconnected from their floodplains?
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
Urban
Semi-natural grassland
Enclosed farmland
Land use and soil
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What is the rate of carbon sequestration for coastal grasslands and coastal heath?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
This evidence to inform regulating ecosystem service in terms of carbon sequestration. There are no values for coastal grasslands and coastal heath.
Keywords (discipline, other): Coastal margins
Marine
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What is the relative carbon-sequestration benefit of shallow peat and organic soil or rapid forestry and how does this vary according to timescale for multiple crops, and timber afteruse?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
The balance of benefit for carbon sequestration between afforestation or retention of shallow peat and organo-mineral soils is complex and varies depending on assumptions, including timescales, cropping cycles, climate impacts and timber afteruse (Carbon sequestration). Current studies are often contradictory and further theoretical and emirical evidence and review is required to inform policy.
Keywords (discipline, other): Mountains, moorland, and heath
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
________________________________________________________________________________
What is the sensitivity and longevity of fragile sponge species?
Summary of the Research Question / Evidence Need:
There is a lack of information on the sensitivity and longevity of sponges, in particular the species that make up the Section 7 fragile sponge and anthozoan communities. This includes mostly branching sponges such as Axinella spp. Homaxinella sp., Raspailia spp. and Stelligera spp. Potentially also other sponges that form large colonies such as Pachymatisma johnstonii and Cliona celata. The evidence need could be widened out to include other species that are common to the fragile sponge and anthozoan community habitat such as Pentapora, certain hydroids and anthozoans. Information in MarESA (Marine Evidence based Sensitivity Assessment) points to a lack of supporting information on longevity and sensitivity of sponges species, this work would help to plug that gap. A better understanding of the sensitivity and longevity of these sponge species would enable more informed decisions on the management of these species. Next steps and progress: Combination of in house and potential collaboration.
Keywords (discipline, other): Sponge species, Longevity, Sensitivity, Fragile sponge communities, Anthozoan communities, MarESA, Species management, In house collaboration
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:
________________________________________________________________________________