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==== Marine CoLABoration Workshop - November 2015 ====

A [[start|Marine CoLAB]] workshop held at the London Zoo

==== Participants =====
Louisa Hooper, Heather Koldewey, Sandy Luk, Nicola Frost, Amy Pryor, Aniol Esteban, Giles Bristow, Sue Ranger, Mirella von Lindenfels, Sarah Ridley.

Facilitators: Maja Kuzmanovic, Nik Gaffney, Vali Lalioti 

This is the last workshop of the first year of [[start|Marine CoLAB]]. Louisa Hooper compared it to standing at the seashore at low tide, with rocks and mud emerging under water, so we can begin to see the peaks, as well as what underlies them. One of the biggest challenges for this workshop and the coming year is how to do less with game-changing effectiveness. It is important to look at the big picture as well well as the practicalities of the months and year(s) to come. 


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==== Framing ====


Maja Kuzmanovic looked back over the notes of the past year and distilled a few points from previous discussions on the future of Marine CoLAB, that can be used as a starting point or a point of discussion, when looking forward to 2016 and beyond. Marine CoLAB participants are keen to seize opportunities to reframe challenges and refresh whole systems. They do this by being a part of trusted collaborations and networks. After a year of working together, the facilitators added that the participants are very keen to and good at designing and working on projects. 

At the very first workshop the participants designed a range of possible future scenarios for Marine CoLAB and the worlds in which it would exist. The different futures had two things in common: Marine CoLAB would be integrating values and innovation, as well as establishing and strengthening connections (between the ocean and society, between business and governments, bridging the gapes between local and global governance of oceans). 

Over the course of several workshops, a range of challenges for Marine CoLAB were identified, including systemic change, public engagement, valuing (cultural dimensions) of oceans, perception of marine conservation, transparency of marine industries and plastic pollution of oceans. The facilitators observed an additional challenge: developing a sustainable support network beyond and in-between projects. This is something that began to be addressed in Lisbon and continues in this workshop. 

Finally, before delving into the futures, mission, values and a range of experiments, projects and activities, it might be helpful to remind ourselves of the CGF’s goal for Marine CoLAB: **To communicate the role of the ocean for human wellbeing** (particularly connecting natural sciences and economy). 

==== Agenda ====

In the morning the participants focused om Marine CoLAB as a whole. Beginning with reflecting on **Marine CoLAB so far**: what worked and what needs more work. Grounded in this experience they moved into a visioning process lead by Giles to clarify the overall **Marine CoLAB vision and mission**. At the end of the morning Sue took the group through a beautiful presentation and discussion of the **values based approach**, as a lens that can be used to shape and evaluate projects, experiments and the initiative itself. In the afternoon, the focus was on **Marine CoLAB project incubator**, beginning with a broad mapping of existing and emerging projects by participating organisations which could be relevant to Marine CoLAB facilitated by Aniol. Two following sessions discussed the two projects that emerged from previous workshops: possible directions for GameOn guided by Sandy and a working/planning session for the Plastic Bottles project lead by Heather. At the end of the day we came back to **Marine CoLAB's future in 2016**.

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====Marine CoLAB so far====


=== What worked? ===

== People ==
  * Supportive and energising group of people; Imaginative, energetic, energising and funny; Respectful; Genuine and committed people; Passionate, focussed and willing to put in time
  * Open - want to be doing this; Openness of everyone in embracing something new - nice people
  * Enthusiasm, engagement and energy of members during LAB meetings
  * Broad range of skills, expertise and organisation; Balance of skills and knowledge
  * Good balance of personalities
  * Willingness to communicate
  * Good size of group
  * Good vibes!

== Time & space to explore ===
  * Flexibility, freedom
  * Time spent together without explicit xxx/outcomes
  * Thinking about issues from different perspectives
  * Lack of territoriality and competition
  * Building connections within the group
  * Time, workshops to explore - facilitation has helped
  * New dimensions brought in from CGF (e.g. other labs and communities)
  * Workshops in stimulating environments - allowing us to think outside our daily / OP’s (?)


== Community building ==
  * Listening and finding out about different ways we create change
  * A clearer sense of each other and the interests from our organisations
  * We are trying to understand each others’ strengths and see how working together could add value
  * Building a sense of vision and ambition
  * The team is becoming more confidently creative and innovative - sharing and talking more - developing a TRUSTED network; Trust each other to share ideas, thoughts strengths and weaknesses - no territoriality
  * Self-organising - members of the team are taking the lead on aspects of work - shared leadership
  * Individual initiative starts the ball rolling (e.g. Heather - Plastics, Giles - Vision/mission, Sue - Values, Aniol - Incubator…)
  * Finding a common project (e.g. Plastic pollution) to get our teeth into a specific challenge, that uses existing skills and interests - sum bigger than parts.
  * Mix of work and social
  * Developing new networks and relationships; Global -> local networks


== Support ==

  * CGF: Hands-on engagement, support and guidance of Louisa and CGF, their agility and responsiveness (e.g. supporting conference attendance(?)
  * Facilitators: Support + facilitation and advance planning; facilitators help to keep on track; Capturing and documenting of what happened
  * Connections of the group to 'enablers' (e.g. Oak)


=== What needs more work? ===

== Time! ==
  * Time to deliver our potential of all ideas and projects
  * Finding enough time to engage outside of project ideas are not core business
  * More time thinking and developing a framework for evaluation
  * Retain energy over longer term; retain energy once in project delivery mode
  * Communication between meetings; time to do things and connect between meetings (though it is happening); Embedding CoLAB work between workshops - last minute flurry of preparation for each one. 
  * Information overload - not always possible to digest what is shared


== CoLAB ==
  * Define a sense of direction
  * Clarity of vision and objectives
  * Application of value frame to other work
  * Come back to CGF’s aim valuing the oceans and thinking about strategies to tackle this directly - not getting caught in the "project trap", keeping our ambition at a "game changing" level; Avoiding silos and splits between different threads
  * Developing ideas/projects on more underlying but important challenges (e.g. transparency)
  * Identify the best skills and input a Marcolab project can give to specific needs
  * Bringing in more of an "arts + culture" viewpoint
  * Articulation of where Marine CoLAB fits with other initiatives
  * Structure to support without becoming burdensome machine
  * Need to figure out how to enable effective communication (between individuals, between the CoLAB and the organisations)


== Communication and stakeholder engagement ==

  * Clearly communicating what the Marine CoLAB is and does
  * Connecting beyond the LAB, both with LAB organisations and other orgs.
  * Promotion of ideas and approaches to wider community
  * Connecting to other things happening at CGF: other projects and areas of work CGF supports + learning from other work CGF supported
  * System to enable dissemination of thoughts and approaches and coalesce (?)
  * (fishermen, mpa’s, pollution)
  * Ability to integrate others in some aspects, without losing cohesion of the group
  * Creative communications - communicating complex concepts, training…

== Connect to organisations ==

  * Dedicated staff
  * In-house skills and capacity for four group projects
  * Us as individuals in CoLAB vs us as organisation; thinking about organisational/institutional buy-in and engagement; using more of the entire skillsets of organisations (e.g. corporate responsibility, 'creative' legal approaches, etc.; connecting beyond individuals to others in our organisations; additional collaborators to deliver projects (buy-in); would like to draw on expertise of colleagues 
  * Understanding how to manage and maximise positive feedback into participating organisations

=== What can we improve? ===


Get better at knowing "who we are, where we go and how we do it". 

== Organisational buy-in ==
  * Engage not just individuals, but whole organisations in Marine CoLAB. This could be accomplished by:
    * Clarifying the strategic lines of work of Marine CoLAB (3 lines?)
    * Offering value add (e.g. building effective collaborations)
    * Try to find a common agenda that all organisations would be interested in
  * If Marine CoLAB activities can fit into day-to-day agendas of existing work in the participating organisations, more time can be freed to work on them
  * Think about the structure of the collaboration and how it could overlap with organisational missions, activities and strategies.

== Sustainability ==
  * innovation
  * collaboration
  * projects
  * Core funding is likely to be needed for Marine CoLAB as a whole, as some of the organisations are only funded on a project basis, so do not have the capacity to offer people’s time. While it is important to get Marine CoLAB projects funded, the benefit of the collaboration needs the CoLAB as a whole funded as well. 

== Communication == 

(within organisations, with stakeholders)
  * Focus outwards
  * Create a thought piece explaining something like "this is the benefit of 12 months of Marine CoLAB", using the plastics project and other key outcomes as milestones.
Communicate how it affected ways of working, what effects it had on specific projects, potential long term value for oceans, etc. 


====Future of Marine CoLAB====

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====Mission / MIX====

( cross reference w. Giles' notes )

  * network focused on values based solutions to protect & restore the ocean
  * a collective is a powerful means to address the urgent need for humans to value the oceans & drive change
  * we aim to achieve a shift in how the  ocean is valued by individuals and society to improve ocean health

  * recognising existing values, rather than changing or creating 'new' values

  * we tackle the issues by collaborating, incubating, innovating, catalysing and influencing

  * s/collection/network
  * values based -> USP
  * requires time-frame? 

  * we aim to achieve
    * organisations all have a theory of change, glue is the values based piece...
    * as a lab, how do we experiment with strategies?
    * economic shift? perceptual shifts?
     
  * clearer ideas for methods to 'amplify' existing values
  * behaviour shift as a result of uncovering existing values, finding where values & behaviour are at odds.
  * something for 2016 -> values based campaigning (chris rose ? also NEF)

====Values based approach====

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There is a need to find a language all Marine CoLAB participants understand, paying attention to jargon. There is a difference between the term "values" and "value", both are part of one whole, but can be understood quite differently. Sue’s session focused on values that connect people and places. What is important in a place? Values are developed through experience and interaction, and form the heartfelt connections between the people and a place, adding to human wellbeing. From these connections "cultural ecosystem services" beyond monetary value can be developed. They include a wider context, create whole ecosystems of interconnected disciplines (e.g. conservation, economy, mythology, wellbeing…) and incorporate different ways of talking and telling stories about a place.  They deliver benefits to human wellbeing and are connected to other ecosystem services.

In order to uncover deeper values, we need to start with basic connectedness (of people and places, different disciplines, different people. This can form a glue, a common basis and shared understanding. 

  * developing a shared language based around values we can use to communicate within the group
  * 'values of people' <--> 'value of the oceans'
  * uncovering existing values, aligning values
  * issue based theory of change -> value based
  * bringing various voices, with various values into discussion

====Project Incubator====

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Mapping existing and emerging projects by organisations as a way to identify strategic lines of work for Marine CoLAB

The participants identified three main groupings for projects
    * opportunities around MPA & spatial planning, policy related
    * schools, training & educational projects
    * exporting knowledge & support / capacity building

List of relevant projects

== MPA and spatial planning ==
  * [[http://www.marinesafe.org/|Marine Safe]]; a campaign to remove pollutants from personal care products
  * Common ground: [[http://www.sussex-ifca.gov.uk/repository/230115_Merged%20outputs_For%20web+participants.pdf|Community Voice Project]] followup, business case for marine resource management
  * MPA campaign/programme at MCS: increase in capacity for creating marine protected areas, funded opportunity to experiment, potential involvement of Marine CoLAB; engage public in new ways and extend staff capacity
  * Sustainable seafood in Portugal, Spain and EU (NEF, MCS & Client Earth - reducing unlawful fishing; scoping, looking at minimal standards for the seafood industry; including different stakeholders (policy, communities, judges), starting from holistic values and working on changing rules and compliance
  * [[http://www.bluenewdeal.org/|Blue New Deal]], a possible platform to carry MarCoLab stories.


==Education and communication==
  * Thames river academy (educational projects) across different sectors, including rivers and seas across the curriculum
  * Ocean schools: ocean awareness as part of general knowledge, general education
  * [[http://www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch/|Beach Watch]]: citizen science and innovation labs
  * [[https://twitter.com/capturingrcoast|Capturing our coast]]: citizen science, data collection and social research capturing value
  * [[https://twitter.com/hashtag/oceanoptism|#oceanoptismism]]: a network for changing narratives around oceans -> more focus on successes & communication of best practice

==Capacity building==
  * [[http://www.coastalpartnershipsnetwork.org.uk/|Coastal Partnerships Network]]
  * Capacity building at FFI: new educational programmes, scholarships, masters, adult ed., support for organisations
  * (FFI co-management approach)
     * Related: strengthening NGO capacity in Portugal (Aniol)
  * Diverting EU marine funding to 'good things' (European funding opportunities)


=== Next steps ===
    * Aniol to compile & reformat existing info by end of the week, make a [[Project Incubator Form]]
    * Edits, additions and value prompt to be submitted by Dec. 4th
    * (cross reference these notes with Aniol's notes)
    * Next workshop: 
      * Find specific ways for Marine CoLAB to inform or engage with existing and new projects (e.g. advisers) 
      * Write up value space for each project -> further mapping
      * Rethink projects in terms of value lens, changes of impact with contributions from other partners, possibly create a time-line and potential interactions between projects (dependencies....)


====Game On!====

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  * (cross reference with Sandy's notes)
  * ideas that have surfaced / developed
    * challenge; how/when to engage the pubic to change rules / process
    * concluded that the first experiment was not so game focused, perhaps more suitable as a training tool
    * perhaps better to focus on more general 'ocean awareness'
    * two main options
      * "we're close to a tipping point on ocean experience games, imagery is swamped in action games"
      * influence exiting game devs or filmmakers / ocean 'consultants' / best practice guide
    * current strands
      * coached lab space to develop game(s) and/or app(s)
      * develop add ons to existing games
      * develop games as tie ins to other games/films/etc
        * BBC docos, google ocean, natgeo, etc
      * mainstream marine conservation game (cf. beyond (..?) rising tide - maxis?)
    * games can also be used as fund-raising vehicles
    * simple experiments to test ides -> scale
    * possible direction
       -> sim city like versions of initial scenarios (workshop 1)
  * three existing options for progress / requiring feedback
    * small lab games (c.f fish hackathon)
      * advantage; existing format, easier to test assumptions with small games, process based learning
      * disadvantage; does a game actually 'work' as a way to develop connections to the oceans?, hackathon outcomes can be lacklustre. potentially limited impact.
    * full on game
      * advantage; AR tech becoming cheaper & easier to create, existing research from BBC on AR in education, potentially wide audience, amplification.
      * disadvantage; high expectations, cost of development, educational games are usually boring, competitive
      * questions; target audience? SIM-MPA? 
    * marine game/film leadership
      * advantage; might be scope for a 'think tank' with more general (less issue/agenda based) consulting, 
         good time for BBC Oceans, influence through others. how to maintain contact with influencers
      * disadvantage; 'Nemo effect' (clown fish), Disney often difficult to work with, span of control is extended, possible dilution.
  * ZSL project, virtual Chagos, funding during 2016. British, controversial, inaccessible.
  * interest
    * giles, testing assumptions, experiments
    * heather, perhaps as a masters project for students {Exeter uni, Chagos project)
    * mirella, perhaps more preliminary research to see which option is most promising
    * MSC, existing contacts (octonauts) potential test audience.
  * next steps; 
    * potential research questions, masters topics. 
    * sandy, sue & heather draft a few paragraphs re. research scope etc. "next week"
  

====Plastics project====

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  * successful funding proposal
    * mayoral election in may 2016
    * focus as a marine project rather than just about 'rubbish'
    * "fountains for the future" project link, roll out in summer 2016
    * closer look at what has failed, expected backlash, sustainability, strategy
    * required; project implementation plan, timeline, external deadlines. kickoff meeting (before xmas)
    * collaborative structure;
      * 2 ppl full time - project mgmt at ZSL (via Project Oceans), narrative & communication TEP
      * FF interns & some staff for research & background, active mapping process
      * governance? overview committee, advisory group
      * connections with existing NGOs working in 'plastics space'
      * Emma Cunningham re. stakeholder interviews, industry, NGOs, etc
      * how to ensure 'best advice' is maintained, front of house role?
    * strategy for mayoral candidates
    * establish list of allies, existing contacts and relevant conversations, meetings required.
    * any upcoming 'big things' to connect to (world cup, etc) esp. positioning for London?
    * start compling hideous facts about single use bottles
    * potential case studies (selfridges, ZSL, etc)
    * how do we explicitly test values based research?

====Planning 2016====

  * 10 days of time is covered per organisation
  * how best to structure the time?
  * smaller, structured meetings around particular topics/projects
  * aggregating projects (mapping), specific project (plastics)
  * discuss learning which emerges from projects
  * what can we teach each other
  * sometime for thinking about wider issues, larger context, incubation of vague ideas.
  * time to proactively communicate,
  * better integration of partners into project proposals -> more explicit collaborations
  * clarify evidence base for the lab, both process and projects
  * collaboration as an improvement over competition for limited resources
  * how can new/other partners get involved in the future?
  * more focus on strategy, strategy work team, external communication
  * 4~6 days of meetings of entire group
  * (cf. global strategy for sharks)
  * added value of open thinking space, facilitated structure
  * further work required on values, strategy, project updates, planning, evaluation.
  * circulate set of objectives, further ideas
  * what does a lab community look like?
  * strategy for engagement?
  * clear criteria for 'a lab project'?

====Next Steps====
  * project mapping
    * write up value space for each project -> further mapping
    * Aniol to compile & reformat existing info by end of the week
    * edits, additions and value prompt to be submitted by Dec. 4th
  * Game On! 
    * potential research questions, masters topics. 
    * Sandy, Sue & Heather draft a few paragraphs re. research scope etc. "next week"
  * Plastics 
    * schedule next meetings, brainstorming, etc
    * project implementation plan, timeline, external deadlines. kickoff meeting (before xmas)
    * establish list of existing contacts and relevant conversations, meetings required.
  * 2016 and further
    * write a few paragraphs about how Marine CoLab has changed/improved current work
    * circulate set of objectives, further ideas
  * each participant to write a one page year in review by xmas -> send to louisa