Possibility Ocean
Possibility Ocean brings science, policy, investment, and technology into a shared conversation about ocean intelligence. Big Dreams worked with Giant Shoulders and Earth House Fund to develop the initiative as more than a summit: a platform for collective inquiry, cross-sector exchange, and future collaboration, grounded in the economic development opportunities of Rhode Island’s Ocean Tech Hub.
Role: Strategic foresight, research, programming, and hybrid-event production.
2025 · With Giant Shoulders and Earth House Fund
The Possibility Ocean hybrid broadcast connected a live panel with remote contributors.
Ocean observation data crosses borders and disciplines, yet remains fragmented and disconnected from many economic and climate decisions. The ambition was to connect Rhode Island’s emerging ocean technology ecosystem with a wider international conversation. Rather than begin with a fixed event format, the team sought a credible shared challenge that could bring research institutions, businesses, investors, and public agencies together.
Big Dreams applied strategic foresight and systems thinking to explore the forces shaping the ocean economy. The Ocean Futures Toolkit mapped social, technological, environmental, economic, and political change. Interviews and monthly conversations with an advisory group helped identify ocean data exchange as a shared priority. Working closely with Giant Shoulders, the team developed programming and an inclusive hybrid experience. Big Dreams produced a live panel broadcast from Innovate Newport, connecting in-person gatherings with remote discussion through Slack. The event was filmed and edited for online distribution, extending the conversation beyond the live session.
Printed summit material framing ocean data as a shared opportunity.
A discussion prompt at the Possibility Ocean event focused on the cost of ocean data.
The summit offered a practical setting to test shared language and priorities across sectors. The published account describes new working groups and expanded institutional engagement, alongside continuing work on future programming and pilot use cases. It also inspired a Rhode Island School of Design course, giving students access to the conference and industry contacts. Big Dreams contributed as guest speakers and critics.
NEXT PROJECT · Polish Pavilion · Expo 2020
