Sustaining ocean observations: Strategic messaging and communications

Abstract

Arguably the most important outcome of the Sustaining Ocean Observations 2.0 Workshop hosted by the Ocean Studies Board was “Strengthening the Collective Voice: Communicating the Importance of Sustained Ocean Observations.” One of the most significant challenges the ocean observing community faces is articulating the value of ocean information and improving ocean literacy. The Ocean Decade presents a pivotal moment to catalyze new effort and funding that will support strategic and unified messages regarding the role that observations play in society. Led by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership (COL), the proposed strategic messaging and communications initiative will develop consistent, layered, and clear messaging regarding the value of ocean observations. COL will leverage existing interagency programs and trusted partners, along with external academic, policy, and industry collaborators, to obtain funding and other resources to support the initiative. This Ocean-Shot will build on ideas put forth by Ocean Obs’19, the Ocean Best Practices System, and other UN Ocean Decade initiatives. Primary activities will include hiring communications experts, surveying the community and relevant partners to collect input on the role of observations, and identifying messaging gaps. This effort would strengthen the community’s collective voice to demonstrate the value of observations to potential funders, philanthropic or private partners, and governments, and would address the needs of the technology sector.