Our Living Glossary captures an evolving, collaborative process of defining key concepts. The video below captures how our workshop participants explored what the term ‘Resilience’ means, questioning not only its definition but also its implications. In particular, the shifts in their conversations probe the context in which this term might be used, posing questions such as resilience to what, for whom, and who gets to decide?
The animation reflects this dynamic and sometimes messy dialogue, making visible the shifting, living nature of the glossary. Building on these very dynamics, the Coast-R Living Glossary brings together the evolving definitions and discussions generated through the workshop.
Each entry in the documents below captures the results of a key term being used, questioned, and reshaped by participant conversations. We have used this as our basis to craft a three part format, featuring:
- A series of concise definitions drawn from the workshop outputs
- Etymologies to prompt deeper reflection on where each term comes from and how its meaning might travel
- A short bibliography capturing a range of current thought on each term (some applied to the specific context of coastal resilience and others in a more general sense) offering the opportunity to continue engaging with work that draws together diverse meanings into a multifaceted whole
Just like the process shown in the video, our Living Glossary grew out of a particular context, animating just one series of ways in which ‘Resilience’ (and by extension its companion terms) can be understood. We warmly invite you to use our resource to start new conversations about words, and to explore the worlds they create.
Jenna Kirk, Josie Baker, Larissa Naylor, Stephanie Jones – the Living Glossary Team
List of resources
Further reading: work that shaped our thinking
As we began analysing and synthesising the outputs of our Living Glossary workshop, we simultaneously explored work that adopts a range of approaches to the task of capturing shared understanding in a glossary format. We have gathered these pieces here to acknowledge their influence on our thinking, and also to share them with you. If you are curious to read further on how a Living Glossary might be formed by reviewing how others have approached similar challenges, this bibliography is well worth investigating.
Ackermans, H. (2025) ‘Let’s Build a City: Introducing the Living Glossary of Digital Narrative’, Electronic Book Review. Available at: https://electronicbookreview.com/publications/lets-build-a-city-introducing-the-living-glossary-of-digital-narrative/
Centre for Digital Narrative (2023) Living Glossary of Digital Narrative. Available at: https://glossary.cdn.uib.no/
Community Knowledge matters (n.d.) The Living Glossary: exploring words people and power. Available at: https://www.communityknowledgematters.com/living-glossary
Gebauer, C. and Sommer, R. (eds.) (2023) ‘Migration and Narrative: A Living Glossary Version 2.0’ Available at: https://www.ernaehrungs-umschau.de/fileadmin/Ernaehrungs-Umschau/pdfs/pdf_2021/10_21/EU10_2021_PR_Jordan_en_neu.pdf
Jaeger, S., Alexander, K., Atkinson, D., Bevan, A., Burdon, D., Gilbert, J., Gormley, K., Harland, J., Kerr, S., Lee, D., McCarron, A., McGrane, S., McWhinnie, L., Potts, T., Shapovalova, D. and Thomas, A. (2026) ‘Transitions in Energy for Coastal Communities over Time and Space (TRANSECTS) Interdisciplinary Glossary 2024-2028’ Available at: https://transects.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Interdisciplinary-glossary-report_updated_30.03.2026.pdf
Jordan, I., Heil, E. and Keding, G. (2021) ‘Coming to terms with terminology in agriculture-nutrition research projects: an interactive glossary’, Ernahrungs Umschau, 68(10), pp.198-203. Available at: https://www.ernaehrungs-umschau.de/fileadmin/Ernaehrungs-Umschau/pdfs/pdf_2021/10_21/EU10_2021_PR_Jordan_en_neu.pdf
Newstead, S., Jesurasa, A., Jenkins, B., Lavans, A., Woodall, A. and Wallace, C. (2024) ‘Speaking the Same Language – The Development of a Glossary of Terms for Social Prescribing in Wales’, International Journal of Integrated Care, 24(3). Available at: https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.8591
