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Dissertation research topics

Dissertation research topics

The central feature of the MPhil in Polar Studies is the up to 20,000 word dissertation, undertaken within the context of the research agenda of one of the Institute's research groups.

The topics listed below are examples of the types of research that could be undertaken for a dissertation. This should not be viewed as an exhaustive list and we will also consider applications from students with their own proposed topics, provided they fit within the research and supervisory interests of Institute academic staff. Please browse the webpages of Institute academic staff to find out more about the research interests of a prospective supervisor.

You may also find it useful to browse examples of recent dissertation titles.

You may also wish to discuss your interests with a potential supervisor or the Course Director before applying, but this is not compulsory. You must include a statement of up to 600 words explaining "Why I would like to enrol on the MPhil in Polar Studies, including how my previous studies relate to this MPhil". Finally, you should indicate on your application form: i) the broad area of research you would like to undertake for your dissertation, ii) a possible topic or topics from the list or choose your own related topic, and iii) a prospective supervisor or supervisors you might wish to supervise you.

Possible projects: Social Sciences and Humanities

Histories, Cultures, Environments and Politics

Supervisors: Prof Michael Bravo (MB), Prof Richard Powell (RP)

  • Northern Indigenous rights and governance
  • Historical Geography of Polar Regions
  • Polar geopolitics
  • Intellectual history of Arctic Studies, Antarctic Studies, or Polar Studies
  • History of Art and Representation in the Polar Regions
  • Constructions of region and territory in the polar regions
  • Historiography, orality and traditional knowledge of northern peoples
  • Scientific practice and knowledge production
  • Histories of polar science and exploration
  • Cultural studies of the polar regions
  • Sovereignty and states in the Arctic
  • 'Nature' and conservation in the polar regions
  • Tourism and travel in the Polar regions

Possible projects: Natural Sciences

Glaciers, Ice Sheets, Snow, Permafrost & Vegetation

Supervisors: Prof Neil Arnold (NA), Dr Becky Dell (BD), Prof Marc Macias Fauria (MMF), Prof Gareth Rees (GR), Prof Ian Willis (IW)

  • Satellite-based digital elevation models for cryospheric mass balance and change (NA, IW)
  • Airborne- and satellite-derived properties of cryospheric surfaces (albedo, roughness, temperature) (NA, BD, GR, IW)
  • Satellite remote sensing (optical & radar) of Greenland Ice Sheet surface hydrology (NA, IW)
  • Antarctic ice shelf surface hydrology from optical & radar satellite remote sensing (BD)
  • Modelling energy balance, melt and surface hydrological processes (NA, IW)
  • Subglacial hydrology of the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets (NA, IW)
  • Glacier and ice sheet dynamics from satellite feature tracking (BD, NA, IW)
  • Remote sensing of Tundra permafrost (GR)
  • Investigation of ice shelf interactions with the atmosphere and ocean (BD)
  • Numerical glacier simulations (NA)
  • Synoptic conditions of Arctic or Antarctic climate (IW)
  • Surface hydrology and dynamics of debris-covered glaciers of High Mountain Asia (BD, IW)
  • The geomorphology of glacial landscapes on Mars (NA)
  • Mapping glacial landforms from high resolution digital evolution models (NA, IW)
  • Variability and change in circumarctic snow cover (GR)
  • Location, characterisation and dynamics of the arctic treeline (GR)
  • Circumarctic phenology (GR)
  • Snowlab: citizen science meets snow hydrology (GR)
  • Tundra vegetation mapping and dynamics (GR)
  • Hyperspectral observations of high-latitude vegetation (GR)
  • Arctic spatial ecology (MMF)
  • Arctic ecological interactions (MMF)
  • Arctic vegetation resilience to climate change (MMF)
  • Sea ice ecology (MMF)