The research grants were presented on June 4. dingu styrjanna þann 4. júní síðastliðinn. Frá vinstri: . From lefti: Dagný Arnarsdóttir, Program Director with students Alexander Elliott, Etienn Gernez, Arastou Gharibi, Lindsay Church and Alan Deverell; Shiran Þórisson CEO and Birgir Örn Sigurjónssonwho receeived the grant on behalf of student Manuel Meidinger.

The following projects will be sponsored:

Alan Deverell - Developing the Deep: Evaluating the feasibility of establishing a recreational diving sector in the Ísafjarðardjup area of Iceland
Alexander Elliot - Economic and environmental sustainability in coastal rural tourism development: a case study on The Nauteyri Project in the Westfjords of Iceland
Arastou Gharibi - Bio-indication: An assessment of environmental pollution [in Ísafjörður]
Etienne Gernez - Frozen fish exportation from Iceland to France: Economic and Environmental Performance
Lindsay Church - A Feasibility Study on Ecotourism: Should ecotourism be marketed in the Westfjords, Iceland?
Manuel Meidinger - A preliminary assessment and GIS mapping of the vulnerability for Ísafjörður to potential sea level rise and extreme storm surges.

All of the above students are master students of the programme in Coastal and Marine Management at the Univsersity Centre of the Westfjords, with one exception, Theodór Kristjánsson, who is a doctoral student at the Agricultural University of Iceland.

According to the Westfjords Growth Agreement supporting research that aims at the development of the Westfjords is very meaningful. Therefore a research fund for university students who conduct studies which are related to the region was convened. Many of the sponsored projects have the potential of contributing the economic growth, if the results turn out to be positive. Some of the above mentioned projects will examine elements that may have a substantial influence on the communities as well as the economy, and the methodology may also be employed elsewhere in the region. On the whole, the projects are very interesting and the results will without a doubt have practical value both directly and indirectly to the economy. By awarding research grants it is hoped that an increasing number of students will consider the opportunity of undertaking research projects in the Westfjord region, and that both the economy and community will profit from the results of these projects.

Further information about the research grants, rules and application procedures, are available on the Westfjords Growth Agreement webpage (note that you need to scroll down for the English version).