Chantal Victoria Bright

PhD Candidate in Geography (Human)

Research entitled “Women, Water Security, and Peace in Liberia: An African Ecofeminist Perspective” Supervised by Dr Alison Browne (Primary), Dr Jonathan Huck and Dr Laura Mcleod .

Research Interests: Water and Sanitation Access, Water and Peace, Women and Water, Gendered Peacebuilding,  Feminist Research, Afro-feminism, Fragility and Conflict-affected Situations, Gender-based Violence, Environmental Justice, Liberian Studies, West Africa.

PhD research support in-part by:

1. Leverhulme Study Abroad Studentship (2022-2023)
2. Northwest Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) Placement Scheme
3. Turing Scheme
4. John Rylands Research Institute and Library /John W. Kluge Center at The Library of Congress PhD Fellowship
5. Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) - Frederick Soddy Postgraduate Award and Frederick Soddy Trust

Chantal Victoria Bright is a researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Manchester. Her work explores the intersections of gender, water security, and conflict in fragile and conflict-affected regions of West Africa, with a focus on feminist and environmental peacebuilding.

Chantal holds a master’s degree in Environmental Management from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science from Seton Hall University. She is passionate about storytelling and creative writing, honouring cultural memory, cultivating feminist knowledge, and confronting the many faces of gender-based violence.

• (January -June 2024) "Gender, Ethnology, and Human Rights" Adjunct Lecturer, University of Liberia 
• (January - June 2024) "Gender, Ethnology, and Human Rights" Adjunct Lecturer, University of Liberia 
• (February - June 2022) GEOG30552 De-Colonising Geographies 
• (September 2021 - January 2022)  GEOG10251 Introducing Human Geographies 1
• (September 2021 - January 2022) MGDI60391 The Politics and Governance of Development
• (February - June 2021) GEOG31012 De-colonising Geographies: Theory, Methods, Praxis 
• (February - June 2021) GEOG12012 Tutorials and Profile of a Research Geographer 

• Widening Participation Fellow 2020-21 at Manchester. WP Fellows develop and deliver activities to inspire and engage school and college students from across Greater Manchester. 
• Doing Environmental Research – Delivered a Talk, Learning from the Veteran’s Session. (February 2021, March 2022)

The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED),Social Responsibility Catalyst Fund - Awarded £2,500 to facilitate social responsibility project which address period poverty for school aged girls in Liberia. The fund is used to produce over 800 sustainable reusable pads to keep girls from missing one week of school every month due to unaffordable sanitation pads. The fund also supports the salaries of women entrepreneur seamstress who locally produce sustainable pads.

Making A Difference Award Winner (2022) for the category of “outstanding contribution to social innovation and environmental impact.”

Manchester Doctoral College Execellence Award for Best Contribution to Internationalisation (2021-22)