Learning together: navigating the interconnected waters of storytelling, nitrogen pollution, and codesign in coastal communities across three watersheds

Abstract Nitrogen pollution is a complex 21st century environmental challenge with profound negative effects on coastal communities. Engineering solutions alone are insufficient for addressing this. Here we describe an innovative approach to making nitrogen pollution, its causes, and solutions understandable to those most affected by it through an interactive web-based platform, videos, storytelling, art exhibits, and documentary films. A critical aspect of the project structure was identifying and collaborating with local community leaders from the outset. Their experiences as environmental advocates and their community connections fundamentally shaped the direction of the project, benefitting both advocates (referred to as ‘Alliance members’), their organizations, ‘underestimated communities,’ and the research team. Codesigning the research project with community leaders ensured the research aligned with community priorities, thereby enhancing the applicability of the research. Working across geographies, disciplines, backgrounds, and experiences can be challenging. The team took numerous steps, including multiple site visits to each location, workshops on systems thinking for team members, community arts and film screening events, and regular virtual meetings, to address these challenges. The success of the project and the codesign approach underscore the importance of looking to expand beyond traditional engineering approaches to encompass humanistic approaches such as storytelling and visual media to connect with ongoing community efforts.