Program on the Environment

One of the largest barriers to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals within the fisheries science community is the underrepresentation of marginalized voices and experiences. To create environments of inclusivity, it is imperative that these institutions critically examine whose stories are privileged and whose are not through official community platforms such as physical exhibits. The purpose of this study was to perform such an examination on the current exhibit for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Ship Miller Freeman at NOAA‚ Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), and determine the best practices for using storytelling as a tool for social justice within the agency moving forward. I first conducted a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) on the current exhibit to understand the gaps and affordances within current storytelling at the AFSC. I then conducted interviews with professional storytellers who specialize in underrepresented narratives to investigate how storytelling can best serve marginalized groups. As part of my internship, I helped curate materials and develop storylines for a new exhibit for the Miller Freeman that centers social justice. My findings point to a four-stage approach of 1. auditing current storytelling, 2. investigating marginalized stories, 3. developing a holistic storyline, and 4. focusing delivery on education and engagement. I use the Miller Freeman project as a case study for this approach in practice at NOAA Fisheries. This approach offers a strategy for the agency to advance its DEI goals through storytelling and foster a more inclusive and multicultural environment.