Convening for ocean memory: An adaptable framework for collaborative inquiry across disciplines

Transdisciplinary research is increasingly recognized as essential for addressing complex, real-world challenges. Collaboration across disciplines is fundamental to transdisciplinary inquiry, necessitating deliberate consideration of the methods used to organize gatherings that enable such collaboration. This article explores the convening methodologies of the Ocean Memory Project (OMP), an initiative blending scientific inquiry with artistic expression and other forms of knowledge. OMP’s framework for structured gatherings goes beyond logistical necessity to function as a core transdisciplinary research methodology. OMP convenings have emphasized place-based experiences, the integration of varied knowledge practices, and the establishment of values fostering inclusivity and collaboration. OMP convening activities, including Story Circles, experiential activities, and interacting in innovative virtual environments, cultivated a culture of listening and epistemological humility, and catalyzed new forms of knowledge and creative exploration, as well as contributed to a growing understanding of how convening can support integrative research and creative communities. The convening methods developed and honed by OMP are living concepts, described and brought forward here for adoption and adaptation by other groups with similar interests in collaborative inquiry. Specific recommendations to other transdisciplinary conveners are to foster early integration of perspectives, create safe and inclusive spaces that explicitly welcome all voices, recruit participants as organizers, reverse the relationship between speaker and audience, encourage emotional engagement, and provide opportunities for unstructured time and space.