Brianna Cunliffe Awarded Research Grant for Energy Resilience Project in the Westfjords
The University Centre of the Westfjords (UW) is thrilled to announce that Brianna Marie Cunliffe, a first-year master’s student in the Coastal Communities and Regional Development program, has received a 350,000 ISK research grant from the Icelandic Regional Development Institute. The funding will support her thesis project, titled “Participatory Energy Planning for Resilient Coastal Westfjords Futures.”
Brianna’s research focuses on developing community-centered energy resilience pathways. Highlighting the importance of participatory planning, she explains, “Energy resilience pathways that center community input can build buy-in, avert costly conflict or delay, and generate effective, visionary solutions. My research aims to weave together Westfjords stakeholders’ values, priorities, and wisdom through participatory planning exercises. Through community-engaged strategic visioning, I'll investigate the merits of re-localizing energy dialogues and decision-making to enable place-based innovations that meet local needs amidst formidable challenges.”
Brianna plans to collaborate with local partners to host stakeholder workshops that explore possible future energy pathways, addressing key issues facing the region. She emphasizes the significance of working directly with the Westfjords community: “This grant is huge for my ability to do my best to engage in action-oriented research. It means I can devote more focus and time to this endeavor, ensure a welcoming atmosphere for participants, lower barriers to participation, and do this work in person, in the Westfjords, which is fundamental for relationship-building and holistic understanding. It is also a great pathway to greater connections with the work of Byggðastofnun and their many partners across the region, and will provide a pathway for my project to make a more meaningful contribution. I'm very fortunate to have made this connection early in the research process, so I can work collaboratively with partners to ensure this project is aligned with and serves the community's needs.
A Passion for Participatory Research and Community Resilience
Brianna’s commitment to community-centered energy transitions and climate resilience stems from her extensive experience in advocacy and public engagement. Before joining UW, she served as the Community Resilience and Engagement Coordinator for Maine-based climate advocacy organization A Climate to Thrive through the Island Institute Fellows program. In that role, she facilitated municipal collaborations on climate resilience policies, secured funding for local initiatives through grant writing, and managed outreach and community-wide programming, events, and radio shows. Her professional background also includes roles with the National Parks Service, the Clean Air Task Force, and Dogwood Alliance, where she learned invaluable lessons about public lands, environmental justice, and community organizing. Brianna currently serves as co-chair of the Next Generation Advisory Council for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, centering climate justice in the endeavor to build an inclusive future for the people’s trail. A 2022 graduate of Bowdoin College with Honors in Environmental Studies and Government, Brianna’s passion for participatory research began with her undergraduate honors thesis, which laid the foundation for her interest in action-oriented, community-engaged studies.
A Tight-Knit Community and Stunning Landscape
Reflecting on her experience at UW, Brianna shares her enthusiasm for the interdisciplinary approach. “I chose this program because I wanted a very applied, hands-on way to tackle complex problems and understand interconnected systems in a stunning, unique landscape. The tight-knit community here has exceeded all my expectations, and the program has been everything I hoped for and more.” We wish Brianna good luck with the project and congratulate her on the grant.