Strategies for Fostering Productive Science-Policy Dialogue in Sustainable Resource Management
Challenge
The NEXUS-NESS project is committed to fostering sustainable and equitable resource management within the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus. Central to its success is effective communication between scientists, stakeholders, and policymakers.
To support this, the project introduced the “Science-Stakeholder-Policy Dialogue for WEFE Nexus Transition” initiative, aimed at facilitating clear, actionable dialogue among these groups. As part of the initiative, training materials were developed to simplify and convey the complex concepts of the WEFE Nexus. These initial drafts, created by the Eni Enrico Mattei Foundation (FEEM), included infographics and content. However, they needed to be more visually engaging and optimized for training purposes. Design & Data was entrusted with refining the materials to enhance their design, making them both impactful and user-friendly for educational contexts
Idea, solution
Design & Data built upon the existing materials to develop a PowerPoint presentation that effectively streamlined complex project information, making it more accessible and engaging for stakeholders. This presentation was subsequently transformed into a reusable 10-slide PowerPoint template, specifically designed for consortium members to use in future NEXUS-NESS presentations.
Furthermore, an A4 template was created in Canva, incorporating the same design elements to standardize the format of PDF-based training materials. These templates ensured a consistent and professional appearance across all project communications, significantly strengthening the overall communication strategy of the NEXUS-NESS project.
Result
Redesigned training materials, featuring the PowerPoint and A4 templates, that played a crucial role in facilitating the Science-Stakeholder-Policy Dialogue within the NEXUS-NESS project.
With a visually engaging and cohesive design, these materials significantly improved stakeholder understanding, advancing the project’s mission to develop sustainable, equitable solutions for managing natural resources in the Mediterranean region.
Beyond enhancing the project’s professional appearance and visibility, the templates streamlined communication across all participants. By offering a consistent format, they made it easier for audiences to quickly grasp key content, fostering stronger collaboration between scientists, policymakers, industry experts, and the public.
