This unit provides in-depth and practical experience in the investigation of an important environmental management issue of relevance to the local or national context. Students will be expected to identify a relevant significant local/national issue and prepare a short research proposal before commencing their project. Guidance will be provided in the research by the unit tutor and a research supervisor. Students will be encouraged to explore the availability of both published and unpublished sources of data and seek to interpret those in the context of their research interest as distinct from generating their own data.