Understanding the functions and activities of science-policy interfaces is key to connecting communities and ocean science

The ACCESS-BoFEP 2026 Conference program is available here

Abstract

Coastal areas and communities, prominent at the land-sea interface, face numerous challenges, e.g., changes in environment conditions, pressures on coastal uses and services, and differences in policies and politics. Governments at all levels may respond to these issues, but often slowly or inadequately. Why? What impedes the consideration of the large body of available evidence in policy decisions? Through a series of case studies over two decades, the interdisciplinary Environmental Information: Use and Influence research program at Dalhousie University, an affiliated BoFEP working group, has been investigating factors affecting the use of information in marine environmental decision-making. Working collaboratively with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental organizations, this research identifies factors affecting the often-complex interactions of people, information, and issues at science-policy interfaces. For example, in an initiative to establish a coastal marine protected area, historical legacies of mistrust of government and misinformation influenced the planning processes. In another case, environmental non-governmental organizations filled pivotal roles as boundary organizations facilitating information exchanges among stakeholders. A third case revealed that stakeholder organizations, acting as coordinators, connectors, or information mediators, bridged government, academic, industry, and community groups in a network about marine renewable energy. In other cases, the format of information, e.g., technical reports, briefing notes, and fact sheets, influences knowledge mobilization by difference audiences. These case studies show why understanding information pathways can be instrumental in efforts to ensure that evidence is used appropriately in a timely manner in decision-making and policies about the ocean.

Poster

Citation

MacDonald, B. H., Soomai, S. S., Cadman, R., & Wells, P. G. (2026). Understanding the functions and activities of science-policy interfaces is key to connecting communities and ocean science. ACCESS/BoFEP Conference, Sackville, New Brunswick, 19-22 May 2026.

Related Blog Post

Belen, A., Emery Webster, A., Keast, E., Legault, A., Margeson, K., Martinez Calderon, D., & Toze, S. (2026, June 25). “Connecting Communities to Ocean Science”: ACCESS-BoFEP Conference, 19-22 May 2026. EIUI Blog. https://eiui.ca/connecting-communities-to-ocean-science-the-access-bofep-conference-19-22-may-2026/