Talking the Coast - linking science and people

Who we are

We are a group of Marine and Coastal Scientists and Professionals, as well as ocean-loving people from other walks of life, who are passionate about bringing science and citizens together. You can find out more about our volunteers here.

What we do

Marine scientists and professionals will walk stretches of the English Coastal Path and give talks in the villages, towns and cities they pass through. By the end of 2021 the entirety of the English coast will have been walked by the marine community, with talks delivered in more than 180 locations. We will be mapping our endeavors on an interactive map which will allow people to virtually follow our walks and talks. Participants also blog about their walks, sharing pictures and impressions and thus introducing the English Coast, its beauty and the challenges it faces, to a wider digital public. We also run a Buddy Programme, which teams up scientists with interested locals to "open up" science to a broad demographic.

What we need funding for

We need funding for three key aspects of our work:

1. Cover running costs like monthly fees for zoom and web hosting

2. Remunerate collaborating artists: We know that many artists will be happy just to get their art out there and help the cause, but we believe that their hard work should translate into pay as well. We want to set up a bursary which we can use to pay a small stipend to collaborating artists.

3. Increase possibilities of participation: Not all members of the scientific community are in a position to pay for travel costs and accommodation - we want to enable as many people as possible to participate as walker-talkers and want to set up a bursary which would help with expenses if needed.

Our Events

The talks we deliver are interactive, locally relevant and fun. They are designed to spark interest and encourage further engagement. There will be talks for young people as well as for adults. We will work together with local nature groups, schools and other educational facilities and councils to ensure that our offer meets local needs. We will work with artists and local groups to make our events attractive and interesting to a broad audience, also to people not normally engaged with conservation work or science. Attendance to all talks will be free of charge. All talks and supporting material will be made available online. We will also host a series of free webinars and panel discussions exploring topics such as the relevance of social psychology to conservation, sociological aspects of conservation or diversity within the natural sciences and environmental conservation.

Science and Society

By bringing together the scientific and professional marine community with coastal communities all along the English coast, we aim to increase Ocean Literacy and play our part in the urgently needed transformation of our relationship with our seas and coasts to benefit people and nature.

Diversifying marine science and conservation

We want to improve access to marine science and conservation, especially for people who would not normally be engaged with science and/or conservation activities. We want to diversify the marine science community of the future.

Face the Sea!

We want to cultivate an understanding and appreciation for the role the ocean plays in all our lives. 

The coast is the gateway to the ocean and coastal communities are intrinsically linked to sea and land. Increasing our knowledge about the ocean and the marine environment in general means we will be better suited to face the sea! 

Creating a better future

We want to raise awareness for the current plight of the ocean and the coastal ecosystems, but at the same time empower local people to work towards a brighter future. As part of the coastal community, they can be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Therefore, one of the aims of our project is to create sustained engagement. We will achieve this by cooperating with a wide range of national and local partners.

Through enabling people to better understand their surroundings, we aim to empower them, encourage them to take ownership of their communities and develop a sense of self-pride by increasing positive identification with their region's social and natural local heritage. Through connecting marine scientists and professionals with local people, we want to lay the foundations for a more transdisciplinary approach to science and policy in the future.