Pentland supports Caithness researcher exploring region’s relationship with the sea

Pentland Floating Offshore Wind Farm is supporting a Caithness researcher whose work will explore the relationship between the region’s coastal communities and the sea, and what it can tell us about how people respond to changes in the marine environment.

Wick-based researcher Jane Murton-Armer is studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), where her research uses the work of Caithness author Neil to explore how the sea has shaped local identity, culture and communities. Pentland is providing funding towards Jane’s PhD.

Jane began a Master of Research degree with UHI’s Institute for Northern Studies in March 2026, with the programme providing the opportunity to develop her work into a full PhD.

Her research, Shorelines of the North: Constructing Maritime Identity in the Coastal Works of Neil Gunn, looks at the deep connection people living in Caithness have with the marine environment. It will explore how the region’s maritime history, including its fishing communities and Gaelic culture, has helped shape local identity and how that relationship continues to influence attitudes towards sustainability and wellbeing today.

The research will also consider what these connections mean as coastal and marine areas continue to change, including through the development of new infrastructure such as offshore wind.

Jane said: “Living in Wick, the sea is a very real part of everyday life and our sense of place. Through my research, I want to explore where that connection comes from and why it continues to matter to people today.

“Neil Gunn’s writing provides a fascinating starting point because the sea shapes people, communities and their way of life. I’m interested in connecting those ideas with the experiences of coastal communities today and understanding what they can tell us about how we approach the future of our coast.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Pentland for supporting my studies. Funding can be a real challenge for arts and humanities research, and this support will allow me to continue developing the project and exploring a subject that means a great deal to me personally and to the place I call home.”

Jane has also recently volunteered with Wick Heritage Museum, where she hopes to further explore the maritime heritage of Caithness through its collections. Longer term, she hopes to continue working in research and education in the Highlands and help ensure local voices and histories remain part of conversations about the region’s future.

Peter Moore, Consents Manager for Pentland Floating Offshore Wind Farm, said: “As a project being developed off the Caithness coast, understanding and respecting the relationship local communities have with the sea is incredibly important to us.

“Jane’s research brings a different and really interesting perspective to that relationship, looking not only at the history and culture that have shaped Caithness, but what they can teach us about how coastal communities experience change today.

“We’re delighted to support Jane as she takes her research forward and to continue investing in education and opportunities within the communities closest to Pentland.”

Pentland has supported education and training opportunities in Caithness over a number of years, including through the Pentland Floating Offshore Wind Education & Training Fund, which provides scholarships to local school leavers pursuing further and higher education. The fund has previously provided support to students with costs including equipment, books and relocating for university.