Migramar website and social media

Barcelona, 2010

Migramar - www.migramar.org - is a network of marine research and conservation intitutions working together to understand the dynamics of sharks and other pelagic species in the Eastern tropical Pacific.

Recognising that an international coordinated effort is key for policy making across borders, Migramar brings together some of the most experienced scientists, managers of marine protected areas and dive guides of the region to expand the knowledge of the lives and habits of these magnificent animals.

The network spans six countries across North, Central and South America, and includes some of the most renowned marine research and conservation organisations and individuals in the region.

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New Migramar website and social media

About a year after the launch of the very successful first version of the website, I was asked to take it to the next level.

Making the most of the available budget, I was able to:

• design and develop an updated look,
• install and configure a dynamic-content platform,
• design and manage the development of an interactive map,
• expand all areas of content, and
• create Migramar's first social media platform accounts.

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Interactive map

The new website's most significant addition was an custom-programmed interactive map displaying the tag information.

Fed by an Excel file controlled by researchers, the map brings together data from all partners to form a coherent, regional picture. As more data becomes available, more meaningful patters are expected to emerge, and the interactive map will make them clearly visible.

The interface is considered to be one of the best of its kind, and is at once a research tool and a public communications device.

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Photo essays

A number of photo essays or slideshows were produced, without which a website of this nature cannot be complete.

They bring the more exciting parts of this kind of research to life, allowing the public a close look into marine field research.

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Extended content

I spent a fair amount of time editing and producing text, photographs and diagrams to explain the research methods employed by Migramar in a way accessible to the general public yet with enough detail to interest a more specialised audience.

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Facebook and Twitter

I set up and populated Migramar's Facebook page and created its Twitter account.

Unfortunately, a number of factors has prevented the proper formulation and application of a social media strategy for the organisation, which means these channels are mostly dormant – a shame considering the subject matter and the amount of up-to-the-minute information that could in principle be shared with the world.

A Migramar general assembly in late 2011 will give me an opportunity to highlight the need for such a strategy, so hopefully things will pick up soon.