Ocean Outlaw Project

Image source: Ocean Outlaw Project

As engineers and researchers who work in the tenuous space between policy and science, we are always thinking about how we can get our research out in the most effective way possible. Today’s JEDI moment took the case study of the Outlaw Ocean Project, a non-profit journalism organization based in Washington D.C. that produces investigative stories about human rights, labor, and environmental concerns on the oceans. In addition to traditional reporting, the organization uses music, animation, mural art, stage performances, and a podcast to spread the word. This prompted a larger discussion on the role and effectiveness of investigative journalism in our field. It also got us thinking about the roles of regulatory versus market based solutions, and how localized impact and global policy go hand in hand to create change.