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In Deep Water: Designing Contrasting Temporal Modes for Collaborative, Embodied Engagement with Marine Plastic Pollution
Summary
Researchers designed an interactive public installation that translates marine plastic and microplastic research data from Aotearoa New Zealand into embodied collaborative play through a sculpted virtual biorama and custom physical controllers, testing how open-ended versus time-limited interaction modes shape visitor engagement with environmental science.
Marine plastic and microplastic pollution can be difficult to communicate because its impacts unfold slowly, are geographically dispersed, and often remain imperceptible. We address this challenge through In Deep Water, a public-facing interactive installation that translates marine science research into collaborative exploration. The system combines a sculpted virtual marine biorama with custom-built physical controllers that allow players to navigate simulated waterways, locate discarded research beacons, and decode situated data from studies conducted in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The installation is developed in two complementary modes, one designed for open-ended exploration and the other structured around time-limited play, to investigate how different interaction conditions shape engagement and sense-making. Our contribution is a replicable design approach for turning environmental datasets into embodied, social experiences, supporting HCI researchers and practitioners designing data-driven public installations and educators and cultural institutions seeking accessible formats for research translation and environmental engagement.