Oregon Sea Grant

Shedding light on ocean and coastal science and issues

Sea Grant Communications creates publications, multimedia and Websites that inform and engage the public in learning, discussing and acting on important ocean and coastal issues.

Effective communication is the key to everything Sea Grant does. Sound science is essential, but unless it's communicated successfully to, and with, those who can benefit, the full benefit may go unrealized. Our communication professionals play two critical roles in the program's efforts:

• They collaborate with program leaders, researchers, Extension and education faculty, contributing their expertise to conceiving and producing communication products that address the program's goals and objectives.
• They engage in communication research initiatives, from conducting state and national stakeholder surveys on topical issues to testing on-the-ground communication strategies such as community-based social marketing.

Over four decades, we have produced and distributed more than 3,000 publications, videos and other items - from calendars and posters to full-length books, radio programs and video documentaries - on ocean, coastal and related topics. Most current products can be purchased or downloaded via this Website; older and out-of-print items are archived at the National Sea Grant Library.

We have a strong, active presence in social media, produce a number of marine science-related blogs and podcasts, and conduct and publish research on effective science communication practices and tools.

For a full list of our current products and how to get them, see Publications & Multimedia.

People and projects

Program leader: Joe Cone

• Rick Cooper, managing editor
• Pat Kight, Web developer and photographer
• Patricia Andersson, graphic/information designer
• Steve Roberts, videographer
• Cindy Newberry, product distribution coordinator; program support

(Sea Grant faculty and staff: Resources for your communications support needs can be found here.)

Communications Initiatives

Current initiatives include:

• Communicating Climate Change (Joe Cone) - Oregon Sea Grant is engaged in several grant-supported state and regional projects that seek to understand the barriers and opportunities in communicating with the public about climate change and other scientifically complex subjects. The projects include surveys and evaluation components that seek to address the question "how do we know when we succeed?"
• Public Science Communication and Practice (Joe Cone) - A series of short publications on science communication, group behavior and decision making.
• Gems of the Oregon Coast (Steve Roberts) - Short videos highlighting some of the Oregon coast's hidden - and not-so-hidden - special places.

News media

Oregon Sea Grant has experts on a variety of ocean and coastal issues, from tsunami preparedness to climate change, seafood safety and wave energy. For help setting up interviews, or for background material for ocean and coastal stories, contact Joe Cone or Pat Kight. After hours or on weekends, contact OSU News and Research Communications.