Science Communications for Sustainable Seas
Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge – GoodSense science communications supporting impact
In a nutshell
Science communications support was provided by GoodSense to the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge for over four years. Our science media relations work with the Challenge team generated nearly 100 instances of media coverage from a wide variety of media, to reach different audiences. Ocean science and blue economy stories GoodSense pitched were covered in media including RNZ, The NZ Listener, NZ Herald, Stuff, Policy Quarterly, NZ Resource Management Magazine, Local Government Magazine, the NZ Science Media Centre and SciMex.
Sustainable Seas was one of twelve National Science Challenges established in 2014 and funded to 2024 to tackle the biggest science-based issues and opportunities facing New Zealand.
The Challenge brought together the country’s top marine scientists to work collaboratively across disciplines, institutions and borders to enhance how marine resources in Aotearoa can be used within environmental and biological constraints.
Scallop recovery in top of the South still clouded by uncertainty. Article featured in Stuff, published 20 February 2021
The Science Communications support the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge needed
The Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge had a clear mandate to not only produce new research findings but to also inform policy making and management practice. This meant communicating research effectively was essential.
Sustainable Seas’ Communications Manager, Robin Wilkinson, selected GoodSense to provide additional media relations planning and implementation support in late 2020. Magnolia Lowe continued the contract with GoodSense, when she took over as Communications Manager, late in 2022. We’re grateful to Robin, Maggie and to Challenge Director Julie Hall for choosing to work with us.
The Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge focus on creating impact made strong communications critical. This was influenced in-part by the Challenge’s international science panel, and by an explicit request from Minister for the Environment, David Parker, to inform the regulatory environment.
This drove a focus within the Challenge on synthesis, developing cases studies, policy recommendations and guidance summaries, with concise messages. People can’t implement science if they don’t know about it or understand it.
The large scale, broad scope and complexity of the research programme meant our additional outsource support could help the team achieve more impact.
At GoodSense we could focus on media relations, working alongside Desna Whaanga-Schollum, contracted to deliver Māori media relations. This significantly improved the science communications capacity of the in-house team.
How GoodSense helped
Our science media relations work with the Challenge team generated 92 instances of media coverage and you can see these listed, with links to some stories, below.
GoodSense supported Sustainable Seas with media engagement to maximise the reach and impact of research findings, for over four years. GoodSense worked closely with the internal communications team at Sustainable Seas and with different researchers helping them identify key audiences, to shape story ideas and to craft key messages. We gave continuity of science communications expertise from co-creating the strategy, in 2020, through the four-plus years of media relations delivery.
We were able to understand the underlying goal and breadth of the Challenge work and how different pieces of work related to that. We were able to bring our knowledge of what research would be most likely to get coverage and how to craft angles and messages to get results. Our media relations approach, working with journalists and following up to help them bring a story together, was highly valued by the team.
We helped relate individual pieces of research to the larger marine ecology and blue economy context, to make stories more relevant for media and audiences.
We pitched stories to the media, worked with journalists to help them develop stories, and wrote and submitted media releases. You can see, with links, the many instances of media coverage this work generated in the list below.
We reported on coverage achieved monthly and in regular progress calls. These not only helped the Communications Manage, but supported the focus on communications, and awareness of coverage, within the Challenge leadership team.
“Mātauranga Māori meets science to save mussel population” featured on Morning Report, RNZ 29 January 2021
What GoodSense science comms support meant for the challenge
The instances of media coverage, listed below, meant marine science stories were regularly in a wide variety of New Zealand media. This reached a wide range of audiences, including policy makers as well as the public. Stories GoodSense pitched were covered in media including RNZ, The NZ Listener, NZ Herald, Stuff, Policy Quarterly, NZ Resource Management Magazine, Local Government Magazine, the NZ Science Media Centre and SciMex.
The consistency of science communications support meant we could accumulate a core understanding of what the Challenge was seeking to achieve and more effectively weave in different components. It also gave some additional continuity when communications team members internally at the Challenge changed.
Our team approach, with Kylie Bailey leading the work under GoodSense Director Jo Patterson and with project support in the initial phases from Emma Williams, gave us more scope and continuity and back-up than sole freelancers can provide during long, complex projects.
The consistency had clear benefits and efficiencies. We helped deliver the multi-year strategy we co-created with the Challenge in 2020. Externally, we could build trust and understanding with journalists and editors over time.
Our capability in supporting Sustainable Seas, as a complex research platform, was enhanced by our work as an outsource science communications team, across four other National Science Challenges.
Our ability to coach and support researchers to develop more media relations skills was appreciated. Approaches such as pre-interview support calls with researchers helped them built capability and confidence. With the increasing importance being placed on communications in the science system in general the increased comms capability of researchers has career-wide benefits.
Together with the internal science communications team, we helped build an increased understanding of the power of communications among researchers in the Challenge. This led to a growing appetite from researchers for communications funds and activity for their projects. As the Challenge progressed more researchers became more enthusiastic to be involved in communicating their science and and more proactive in sharing story-ideas.
Some coverage, such as The NZ Listener editorial on the economic potential for seaweed, took months of persistent and supportive follow up. The power of having multiple voices articulating a consistent message at the same time, such as where The Cawthron Institute, worked alongside GoodSense and the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge internal science communications team. Our collaborative approach helps support this kind of multi-stakeholder advocacy.
Key impacts the Challenge delivered, in which the multi-year media coverage and other communications may have played a background role include:
- The Sustainable Seas team belief an outcome of the blue economy research workstream was increased public awareness of the potential of seaweed aquaculture to produce products.
- ‘Eco-system management’ being embedded in government documentation, including briefings to incoming Ministers in 2023, and reflected in the National Party manifesto in 2023.
Dive into research undertaken through Sustainable Seas:
- Try the Tohorā natural language AI search engine, produced by Daylight
- Watch ‘Turning The Tide’ on RNZ, produced by Tauihu Media.
“GoodSense is a very strong and supportive partner to take on board. Key to the success was ability and willingness, on both sides, to work collaboratively, with the right relationships in place.” Magnolia Lowe, Communications Manager, Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge
“Thanks to GoodSense for a positive engagement over more than four years.” Julie Hall, Director, Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge
“What will our beaches, lakes and rivers look like in 2050?” featured in The Forever Project, Stuff (Olivia Wannan) Publish Date: 10 January 2021
Media Coverage achieved for the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge research through GoodSense science communications and media relations
2024 – Sustainable Seas media coverage achieved
Headline: Aotearoa scientist and team recognised by international sustainability body for their work in preventing ecosystem collapse
Media outlet: Science Media Centre’s Science Deadline newsletter mention
Publish date: 26 April 2024
Headline: Ecosystems are deeply interconnected – environmental research, policy and management should be too
Media outlet: The Conversation
Publish date: 23 April 2024
Headline: Can the private sector help restore our marine environment?
Media outlet: Infrastructure News
Publish date: 10 April 20204
Media outlet: Science Media Centre’s Science Deadline newsletter and SCIMEX
Publish date: 28 March 2024
Headline: New risk modelling can support Aotearoa’s pāua industry adapt to climate change
Media outlet: Science Media Centre’s Science Deadline newsletter and SCIMEX
Publish date: 19 January 2024
2023 – Sustainable Seas media coverage achieved
Headline: New information is pāua
Media outlet: Wairarapa Times-Age
Publish date: 29 December 2023
Headline: New risk modelling for Aotearoa’s pāua industry
Media outlet: Science Media Centre’s Science Deadline newsletter
Publish date: 15 December 2023
Headline: Future-proofing deep-sea coral conservation in Aotearoa
Media outlet: Science Media Centre’s Science Deadline newsletter and SCIMEX
Publish date: 18 October 2023
Headline: NZ adrift on prioritising ocean health
Media outlet: Newsroom
Publish date: 7 July 2023
Headline: Policy leadership needed for the future of Aotearoa’s marine environment
Media outlet: SCIMEX
Publish date: 13 July 2023
Headline: A new framework for customised marine conservation in local contexts
Media outlet: SCIMEX
Publish date: 31 August 2023
Headline: Interview with Elizabeth Macpherson
Media outlet: Mediaworks radio (MORE FM, The Breeze and The Sound)
Publish date: 15 July 2023
Headline: Cyclone silt depleting our seabeds: marine scientist
Media outlet: RNZ Nine to Noon
Publish date: 12 April 2023
Headline: Build Aotearoa’s circular marine bioeconomy for sustainable growth: expert
Media outlet: Carbon News (this came from the Expert opinion on circular bioeconomy
we did for the Science Media Centre)
Publish date: 3 April 2023
Headline: Underwater Treasure
Media outlet: The Listener – Andrea Graves article
Publish date: 17-23 June
Headline: Commercial fishing increases near newly established marine protected areas (based on the MPAs release)
Media outlet: SCIMEX
Publish date: 12 May 2023
Headline: Commercial fishing increases near newly established marine protected areas
Media outlet: Science Deadline email (SMC’s email to journalists), The Latest Research section.
Publish date: 12 May 2023
Headline: Commercial fishers flock to protected areas (based on the MPAs release)
Media outlet: 95Bfm
Publish date: 25 May 2023
Headline: Ki uta ki tai project to feature in Environment Southland magazine
Media outlet: EnviroSouth
Publish date: Feb or March edition
- https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/486038/northland-harbours-at-risk-from-new-super-spreader-marine-seaweed-pest
- https://www.carbonnews.co.nz/story.asp?storyID=27086
- https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/300819757/the-wahine-professor-who-is-making-waves-in-marine-science –
- https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/300832925/starfish-main-ingredient-in-antiwrinkle-cream-to-save-mussels
- https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/486122/skin-cream-farmed-from-starfish-could-save-ohiwa-harbour-mussels
Headline: [Conrad was interviewed about silt after the cyclones and its effect on estuaries/the sea – because of the SMC expert opinion. We have searched for, but can’t find the coverage, on the website/our Google Alerts. Because Today FM has closed down, we cannot get the coverage].
Media outlet: Today FM, Tova’s breakfast show
Publish date: interview was 5.20am 28 February 2023
Headline: [Conrad was interviewed about silt after the cyclones and its effect on estuaries/the sea – because of the SMC expert opinion. We have searched for it but can’t find the coverage on the website/our Google Alerts. We are awaiting confirmation of the broadcast date and the links to be sent by Newstalk ZB for the coverage].
Media outlet: Newstalk ZB
Publish date: interview was 2pm, 27 February 2023
2022 – Sustainable Seas media coverage achieved
Headline: Our local estuary part of research to look after estuary health in Aotearoa (article on Ki uta ki tai project)
Media outlet: Kaipara District Council newsletter
Publish date: November 2022
Headline: Our local estuary part of research to look after estuary health in Aotearoa (article on Ki uta ki tai project)
Media outlet: Environment Southland newsletter
Publish date: November 2022
Headline: Seaweed shows promise for use in suncare products
Media outlet: Beauty NZ magazine (industry magazine)
Publish date: September 2022
Headline: Meet Anna Madarasz-Smith, HBRC’s new science manager
Media outlet: BayBuzz
Publish date: 9 September 2022
Headline: Nicola MacDonald / Kaitiaki Practitioner
Media outlet: Radio Waatea, Shane Te Pou
Publish date: 21 September 2022
Headline: Professor Kura Paul-Burke
Media outlet: Waatea News
Publish date: 22 June 2022
Headline: Doing Business by doing good
Media outlet: Seafood NZ
Publish date: June 2022
Headline: Getting ready for our warmer future Media outlet: Our Changing World, RNZ Publish date: 7 April 2022
Headline: Exploring what paua fishery investors need to know Media outlet: Seafood NZ Magazine Publish date: Apr 2022
Headline: Gift of the Sea
Media outlet: Good Magazine
Publish date: March 2022
Headline: Climate change threat to Māori economy
Media outlet: Waatea News
Publish date: 14 March 2022
Headline: Slap some seaweed on
Media outlet: The Listener (Health column)
Publish date: 26 February 2022
Headline: Slap on that Seaweed
Media outlet: Marine Farmers Association Newsletter
Publish date: 28 February 2022
“The future of commercial fisheries – Expert Reaction”
featured by the Science Media Centre
Publish Date: 22 March 2021
2021 – Sustainable Seas media coverage achieved
Headline: New marine ecotourism insight sets stage for sustainability push
Media outlet: Tourism Ticker (a subscriber-based tourism industry newsletter) who picked up the media release around Marine Ecotourism baseline report 1
Publish date: 2 December 2021
Headline: Marine Ecotourism Is Supporting Tourism Industry To Build Back Better
Media outlet: NLA International UK (Blue Economy consultants) Twitter account
Publish date: 2 December 2021
Headline: Seaweed could be the answer for skin and environment safe suncare products Media outlet: SMC’s Friday Science Deadline newsletter
Publish date: 10 December 2021
Headline: Scheme aims to establish commercial seaweed farming sector
Media outlet: Stuff
Publish date: 10 December 2021
Headline: Seaweed Could Be The Answer For Skin And Environment Safe Suncare Products Media outlet: Scoop
Publish date: 8 December 2021
Media outlet: Scoop
Publish date: 14 December 2021
Headline: Research: Covid’s impact on marine ecotourism operators (baseline 2 report media release)
Media outlet: Tourism Ticker
Publish date: 16 December 2021
Headline: Race on to save Bay of Plenty mussels from 11-armed sea stars as stock levels plummet
Media outlet: Newshub
Publish date: 24 December 2021
Headline: Live interview: Seaweed Sector reports with John Campbell and Serean Adams
Media outlet: TVNZ Breakfast (on demand episode has expired but Robin has a clip of interview)
Publish date: 17 November 2021
Headline: Six seaweed species deemed worthy of farming in NZ
Media outlet: Fish site
Publish date: 1 November 2021
Headline: Marine Ecotourism Is Supporting Tourism Industry To Build Back Better
Media outlet: Scoop
Publish date: 30 November 2021
Headline: Six Rimurimu/seaweed Species Could Put Aotearoa New Zealand On The Map
Media outlet: Scoop
Publish date: 1 November 2021
Headline: Six seaweed species could ‘put New Zealand on the map’
Media outlet: Voxy
Publish date: 1 November 2021
Headline: Six seaweed species could ‘put New Zealand on the map’
Media outlet: SCIMEX
Publish date: 1 November 2021
Headline: Southland Aquaculture Group welcomes call for seaweed body
Media outlet: Stuff
Publish date: 20 September 2021
Headline: Smart + Connected Aquaculture update
Media outlet: Marine Farmers Association newsletter – pg. 12 / 13
Publish date: August 2021
Headline: How seaweed could benefit Aotearoa NZ
Media outlet: IRANZ newsletter – Seaweed report features twice – in the Multimedia sector and as a standalone story.
Publish date: September 2021
Headline: Morning RNZ Rural News– Seaweed Sector media release, Andy Elliot (Wakatū) interview
Media outlet: RNZ
Publish date: 16 August 2021
Headline: Seaweed sector ‘constrained by regulation and supply’ RNZ
Media outlet: RNZ
Publish date: 16 August 2021
Headline: NZ seaweed sector tied up in red tape – Research (Serean interview)
Media outlet: RNZ, Morning Report
Publish date: 16 August 2021
Headline: Seaweed bounty waiting to be tapped
Media outlet: Waatea News
Publish date: 16 August 2021
Headline: Wakatu looks to boost blue economy with rimurimu – Andy Elliot (Wakatū) interview
Media outlet: Waatea News
Publish date: 20 August 2021
Headline: Seaweed sector ‘constrained by regulation and supply’
Media outlet: NZ Herald – syndication of RNZ online article
Publish date: 16 August 2021
Headline: AM show no link available – Serean, Nigel and Andy were not available so they interviewed Michael Lakeman (who is involved in the sector)
Media outlet: AM show
Publish date: 16 August 2021
Headline: Farming the sea bed for weed
Media outlet: The Detail, RNZ
Publish date: 30 August 2021
Headline: Farming the sea bed for weed
Media outlet: The Detail, Newsroom
Publish date: 30 August 2021
Headline: Why the seaweed market is a golden opportunity for New Zealand
Media outlet: Newshub
Publish date: 30 August 2021
Headline: Seaweed Power
Media outlet: NZ Listener
Publish date: has a cover date of 4 September so would have gone on sale the week prior (last week of August)
Headline: The algae sector in New Zealand
Media outlet: Pesceinrete (Italian fishing sector site)
Publish date: 18 August 2021
Headline: Seaweed: an untapped powerhouse to improve NZ’s health, economy, and environment
Media outlet: SCIMEX
Publish date: 16 August 2021
Headline: Developing A Rimurimu/seaweed Sector Would Hugely Benefit NZ
Media outlet: Scoop
Publish date: 16 August 2021
Headline: Rimurimu (seaweed) ‘could be game changer’ – report
Media outlet: Te Ao
Publish date: 24 August 2021
Headline: A thriving seaweed sector could yield massive benefits for New Zealand
Media outlet: The Fish Site
Publish date: 17 August 2021
Headline: Sustainable mussel spat supply using mātauranga Māori
Media outlet: Seafood NZ magazine, pg 36-37
Publish date: August 2021
Headline: “Research into seaweed for sun care products”
Media outlet: Organics NZ magazine
Publish date: July/August issue, on sale from 21 June.
Headline: “Making tikanga Maori more evident in fishing practices”
Media outlet: Seafood NZ magazine
Publish date: June 2021
Headline: “BOP ocean projects part of new initiative”
Media outlet: Sunlive
Publish date: 10 June 2021
Headline: “Marine Indigenous Knowledge Crucial For Solving Global Challenges“
Media outlet: Scoop News
Publish date: 9 June 2021
Headline: “SunLive – Using art for environmental education – The Bay’s News First”
Media outlet: Sunlive
Publish Date: 10 May 2021
Headline: “Tauranga students help create giant rope artwork on marine science”
Media outlet: Education HQ
Publish Date: 10 May 2021
Headline: “The Unseen”
Media outlet: BOP Times weekend lift out magazine
Publish Date: May 2021
Headline: “The Unseen can be seen at Tauranga Art Gallery”
Media outlet: Sunlive
Publish Date: 22 May 2021
Headline: “The Unseen can be seen”
Media outlet: Sunlive
Publish Date: 30 May 2021
Headline: “What‘s on – wedding show, museums, art and music”
Media outlet: Sunlive
Publish Date: 30 May 2021
Headline: Sustainable Seas seeks to deliver marine research essential to NZ’s health and wealth
Media outlet: Seafood NZ magazine,
Publish Date: April 2021
Headline: “The future of commercial fisheries – Expert Reaction”
Media outlet: Science Media Centre
Publish Date: 22 March 2021
Headline: “Making Creative Communities”
Media outlet: Stuff (Arihia Latham)
Publish Date: 20 March 2021
Headline: “School kids to go on virtual field trip to learn about seaweed”
Media outlet: RNZ
Publish Date: 6 March 2021
Headline: Scallop recovery in top of the South still clouded by uncertainty
Media outlet: Stuff
Publish date: 20 February 2021
Headline: Scientists uncover secret to healthy estuaries
Media outlet: SunLive
Publish date: 12 February 2021
Headline: “Protecting Hawke’s Bay’s Marine Ecology”
Media outlet: BayBuzz (Bridget Freeman-Rock)
Publish Date: 29 January 2021
Headline: “What will our beaches, lakes and rivers look like in 2050?”
Media outlet: The Forever Project, Stuff (Olivia Wannan)
Publish Date: 10 January 2021
Headline: “Mātauranga Māori meets science to save mussel population”
Media outlet: Morning Report, RNZ
Publish Date: 29 January 2021
Headline: “Glider Observations in New Zealand’s Shelf Seas”
Media outlet: Marine Tech Talk, Teledyne Marine
Publish Date: 28 January 2021
2020 – Sustainable Seas media coverage achieved
Headline: “All at sea – the surprising reach of river waters”
Broadcaster: RNZ, Our Changing World
Broadcast Date: 3 Dec 2020, 9pm and published at RNZ Online
Journalist: Alison Balance interviewed Joanna O’Callaghan.
Headline: “NZ Rivers Run Much Father Out To Sea Than Expected”
Publication: Stuff
Publication Date: 30 November 2020
Journalist: Will Harvie, Senior & Science Reporter
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