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Operationalising accessibility in marine pollution science communication: the Zeropol Hub case study

Abstract

Marine pollution is a major environmental challenge, and effective communication of scientific evidence is important for supporting public engagement, environmental governance, and evidence-based decision-making. Yet marine pollution communication resources are often fragmented across platforms and vary in language, format, audience orientation, and accessibility. This implementation case study describes the development and early deployment of the Zeropol Hub, an accessibility-oriented digital repository designed to curate validated science communication and educational resources on microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), nutrient pollution, and underwater noise. We document the repository workflow for resource identification, screening, scientific validation, metadata classification, accessibility-oriented organisation, maintenance, and early monitoring. During the initial implementation period, the repository expanded from 71 to 103 resources, representing more than 20 languages and multiple communication formats. Web analytics provide descriptive indicators of early use and geographic reach, but do not measure user comprehension, inclusivity, discoverability, behavioural outcomes, or science-policy-society impact. The case study therefore demonstrates how accessibility principles can be operationalised as repository design and governance features, rather than demonstrating that these intended outcomes have already been achieved. The study offers a documented implementation approach that may inform development and evaluation of comparable environmental science communication infrastructures, while identifying user-centred and longitudinal evaluation as priorities for future research.
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Category

Academic article

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Kathrin Kopke
  • Sonya Agnew
  • Thomas Heising
  • Lisa I. Devriese
  • Nina Vaupotič
  • Thomas Maes
  • Rian Ruhl
  • Sabine Pahl
  • Andy Booth
  • Thomais Vlachogianni

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Ocean / Climate and Environment
  • Flanders Marine Institute
  • Greece
  • University College Cork
  • Wageningen University
  • United Kingdom
  • University of Vienna
  • GRID-Arendal

Year

2026

Published in

Frontiers in Communication

Volume

11

Page(s)

1 - 16

View this publication at Norwegian Research Information Repository