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Short abstract

This paper examines how ASTS collaborations are practiced within the FAMOS project. Using VR simulations and Personas of the Seas as boundary objects, we navigate the relational labour between engineering and civic engagement to co-create situated and resilient maritime futures.

Long abstract

The UN Ocean Decade marks a stabilization of the ocean’s role in global science and economy. As nations turn toward maritime territories, we face a pivotal transition in human-ocean relations. We ask: how can integrating artistic epistemologies transform collaborative research practices? We examine this through a process of making and doing within the FAMOS project, which develops a blueprint for Offshore Floating Multi-Use Energy Platforms.

In FAMOS, we engage in boundary work to navigate the interface between engineering and society. We utilize Art as boundary objects for cross-disciplinary communication in two ways: First, through embodied VR simulations, participants physically inhabit a digital representation of a floating island. This experience "materializes" a non-existent technology, triggering creativity and allowing stakeholders to identify regional needs incorporated into the "open island" design. Second, we developed Personas of the Seas to represent non-human actors, ensuring ecological agency is integrated into early design stages.

Our work reveals that sustaining such third epistemic spaces requires intense relational labour. We act as mediators between conflicting worldviews: translating the technical focus of engineers, the financial logic of business (CAPEX/EROI), the preservationist stance of NGOs, and the diverse local communities' perspectives. By navigating these practical and value-based choices, we demonstrate how ASTS practices foster dialogue among stakeholders, bridging epistemologies to generate situated knowledge. Through art and inclusive dialogue, FAMOS moves beyond technical blueprints, contributing to more imaginative and resilient maritime futures.