Arts-based Research

Alongside our survey, we set out to explore the drivers behind youth engagement in ocean decision-making. During our research question development and reading, it became clear that the rationales for engaging youth in ocean decision-making are under-recognised and not often foregrounded. As highlighted in Julia's recent paper (link below), there is a need for researchers and youth workers to articulate why they are engaging with young people in the first instance. It is important to understand the value that bringing youth into work brings, beyond moral obligations. Research shows that young people bring unique lived experiences, creativity, and innovation. As young people ourselves, we feel that youth engagement would be more empowering if those inviting us understood the benefits of engaging us in their work. 

As such, we invited young people across Scotland and South Africa to reflect and articulate why they should have a voice in ocean decision-making, utilising arts-based methodologies. Our approach was flexible, as we invited young people to explore a variety of different mediums (poetry, painting, zine-making, weaving, photography, etc.). We are in the process of collaboratively analysing these results now, and will be sharing our virtual gallery, alongside the methods for our analysis, soon. Stay tuned!

Check out Julia's paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42055-026-00127-3?utm_source=rct_congratemailt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=oa_20260831&utm_content=10.1186/s42055-026-00127-3