International Ocean Conferences
It wasn’t until I began my consulting work with the OA Alliance that I started being part of the international ocean conference scene. It has become one of my favourite things, not only because it takes you to wonderful places; but also it's a unique opportunity to make new connections and meet other humans that are as passionate about the ocean as you are.
My introduction was in the summer of 2022, participating in the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Portugal, followed by CommOCEAN to wrap up the year with some good science communications conversations.
In 2023 we participated in the Our Ocean Conference in Panamá and the European Maritime Day in Brest, France.
My role started as a support during our events in anything communications, from social media, photography, and networkin. However, being in these events opened my eyes to the lack of understanding and exposure to the very relevant climate-ocean relationship.
In the transition from 2023-24 I felt the need to make the “unseen” impacts of climate-ocean change seen and emotionally felt through creative narrative building & storytelling. We felt that these events are key platforms to start making some “creative noise” fed by the new communications pathway we’re developing for the OA Alliance and its network. Bringing a spin to my participation in these events, and how we intend to participate in them.
As a starting point in April 2024 during the Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona, Spain; we hosted a storytelling gathering before our official event. We invited the participants to share their stories about their personal relationships to ocean acidification, using the power of personal narrative to generate understanding, foster connection, and remind us that we’re not alone in our efforts.
We then participated in the Immersed in Change Conference, hosted in June 2024 by the Costa Rican government. It took place during UN World Oceans Day, which gave us the opportunity to launch the #OAHaiku campaign. Poetry can be a cathartic opportunity to express emotions (positive or negative) that arise when working in this field of work.
*The photos at the beach with SUP boards are from the Waterbreak session, hosted by SeaTrees, Finisterre and Protect Blue at the Ocean Decade Conference. Waterbreaks enable conference goers to access the blue spaces around conference locations. See more here.
Stay tuned for what’s coming next!