Potential MP Topics

Here are some potential topics for masters projects. The information below is followed by a contact person for more details. If you decide to work on one of these topics (or, if you find that one of them is no longer of interest to the sponsor), please e-mail. Mostly, these don’t have money attached to them, but they may be good candidates for outside funding (grants).

Information on funding sources for internships is available on the Career Services Web site or in the Career Services office (A108 LSRC)

• CARIBBEAN MARINE PROTECTEDAREAS MANAGEMENT NETWORK AND FORUM

• CITY OF DURHAM, URBAN FORESTRY AND PARKS & RECREATION
  Neighborhood Tree Replacement Plans

• CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

• CENTER FOR TROPICAL STUDIES
  Tropical plant ecology data from Peru

• DUKE FOREST
  Improving Silvicultural Prescriptions for Certification
  Linking Research Data to Duke Forest Management
  Assessing Effects of Harvesting and Site Preparation on Soil Properties
  How Cost-Effective is Duke Forest Management?
  Duke Forest as a "High Conservation Value Forest"
  Duke Forest Invasive Species Project

• DUKE SMART HOME PROGRAM

• DUKE UNIVERSITY
  Analysis of "greening" of Duke University
  Help with the construction of a Human Impact Index
  Human Impact Projects

• DUKE UNIVERSITY MARINE LAB

• DURHAM CITY/COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT
  Lick Creek Corridor Water Quality Analysis
  Environmental  Benchmarks
  Alternative Waste Water Treatment Plants (awwtp)
  Baseline Invasive Plant Survey
  Environmental Benefits from Use of Landscaping Plants
  Research on Heat Island Effects
  Appropriate Wildlife Mitigation During Bridge Replacement Projects
  Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning
  Vegetation Management Plan - Durham City Trails and
  Greenways

• DURHAM COUNTY FARMLAND PROTECTION PLAN

• DURHAM COUNTY OPEN SPACE PROJECTS

• FAIRVIEW FOREST COMMUNITY (Western NC) PROJECT TO MANAGE THE WOOLY ADELGID INFESTATION IN HEMLOCKS

• HAITI BIODIESEL PROJECT

• NC DIVISION OF FORESTRY
  Interpreting New Forest Inventory Data
  Hardwood Management including American Chestnut Restoration
  Atlantic White Cedar/Longleaf/Cypress/Pine Straw Production
  Urban Forestry and Management
  Forest Stewardship, Landowner Objectives, Forest Legacy
  Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) -- treatments to improve both timber and wildlife management in a nature cherry bark/oak/willow oak/water oak stand(contact Ron Meyers ron.myers@ncmail.net)
  Hardwood Seed Source Project for documenting/identifying potential seed collection trees and areas (opportunity to utilize GPS and mapping skills(contact Ron Meyers ron.myers@ncmail.net)
  Helping Society of American Foresters (SAF) locate and document SAF Natural areas within NC (contact Ron Meyers ron.myers@ncmail.net)

• NC DIVISION OF PARKS AND RECREATION
  Resource Protection

• NC DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
  Are DWQ participatory processes improving water quality in NC?

• NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE FEDERATION
  Improving Sustainability in Shipping Industry >

• NICHOLAS INSTITUTE
  More information >

• NICHOLAS SCHOOL
  Low-Carbon Options for a Transportation System Linking the Marine Lab with the Durham Campus >
  Accreditation of professional degree programs in environmental management >

• PARKSWATCH -- CENTER FOR TROPICAL CONSERVATION
  Interpreting Tropical Protected Area Data
  Improving Methodology for Evaluating Protected Area Effectiveness
  Other Potential Projects Related to Protected Areas in Latin America

• Peartree Palmetto Preserve -- Conservation Fund

• WHOLE FOODS MARKET

For more information, contact the Office of Professional Studies