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Behind the scenes: Co-Creating the BiodivOcean Video

Submitted by juanizorr on
Co-Creating the BiodivOcean Video

How can we promote a project of ocean literacy in a way that inspires action, inclusion, and curiosity? 

At SUBMON, this question guided us throughout the creation of the BiodivOcean presentation video, a short but powerful piece that brings the project’s essence to life. Beyond the final images and script, the video represents the culmination of weeks of collaboration among scientists, communication professionals, designers, and educators. It’s a reflection of how co-creation can deliver a scientific initiative into a shared narrative that resonates with diverse audiences. 

From concept to script: Finding the voice of BiodivOcean 

Every great video begins with a great idea, but for us, it started with a shared purpose. Together with our project partners, we aimed to create a tool that directly addressed teachers and educators, demonstrating that marine science is not something distant or complicated, but rather something they can easily incorporate into their classrooms with creativity and enthusiasm. 

The script became our foundation. We drafted and redrafted, always asking: What do we want teachers to feel after watching this? The final version was simple, practical, and hopeful. It highlighted the accessibility, flexibility, and inclusivity of the project:

BiodivOcean is the solution… based on the proven VIRTUE method… giving teachers everything they need to explore ocean biodiversity

This message was developed collaboratively between designers and SUBMON, with everyone contributing a piece of the puzzle, whether it was ensuring scientific accuracy, emotional connection, or visual coherence.

Figure 1. Storyboard for review. It is a critical step before animation to verify that the elements align with the script and support the scientific team's ideas for the animation.  

Co-Creation in action: Where science meets creativity 

Turning a script into a living, breathing story is not easy.  It means bringing together different languages, experiences, and concepts with the analytical precision of science and the emotional storytelling of design and video. This is where collaboration truly flourishes or collapses. 

Our communication team collaborated closely with Notable Studio, the video producers, to carefully select every visual element, from the rhythm of the narration to the iconography, colours, and transitions. Inclusivity became a guiding principle, and biodiversity was a central theme, depicted not only as living animals but also represented in colours that merged these three aspects.  

  • Accessibility: ensuring that visuals, voiceovers, and subtitles reach a wide range of audiences.
  • Representation: showing diversity in both people and perspectives.
  • Belonging: creating a tone and imagery that invite everyone to feel part of the BiodivOcean community

Each decision, from the colour palette to the music, reflected these values. Even subtle design choices, such as circles and flowing lines, were intended to evoke the ocean’s diversity, openness, and connectivity. 

Figure 2. Bringing biodiversity to life with colours: choosing the tone palette 

The power of process 

The video production process was not a linear path. We held brainstorming sessions, established feedback loops, and experienced moments of creative tension that ultimately strengthened the outcome. The scientists ensured that the content remained rigorous, while the designers and producers pushed for clarity and emotional impact. 

Through this process, we learned that communication is not an afterthought; it is an integral part of the science itself. 

When scientists and creatives co-create, they build bridges that make knowledge accessible, relatable, and inspiring. The experience showed us that storytelling in science is not about simplification, but rather about amplifying meaning. 

Working on this video reminded us of the power of communication when it’s truly collaborative. Each professional, whether from a scientific, creative, or educational background, contributed something essential to the project. We didn’t just make a video; we built understanding together. 

In a way, this mirrors the spirit of BiodivOcean, which encourages teachers and students to explore marine biodiversity through hands-on experiments. We, too, experimented with how to make science engaging, inclusive, and emotionally resonant. 

The result is more than just a promotional tool; it’s a shared story of what occurs when we listen, adapt, and create together, particularly for ocean literacy at the BiodivOcean project. 

Figure 3. A snippet from the result: check out the final video on the ABOUT page! 

References 

No formal references were used in this post, but the video and methodology are based on: 

About the blogger

Juanita Zorrilla

She is a biologist who completed her PhD thesis on environmental education for conservation in Colombia's National Parks. Juanita serves as head of projects at SUBMON, leading Ocean Literacy initiatives at local, national, and international levels. Science communication is one of her main interests. She loves to create and promote synergies and networks among institutions and initiatives to support marine conservation, as exemplified by the BiodivOcean Project.