Oregon Sea Grant

Public engagement: At the core

Outreach and public engagement are integrated into nearly everything Sea Grant does; they are the tools we use to ensure that our work is not only relevant to society, but directly connected with it.

While our Extension and Communications teams are our primary means of engaging with stakeholders and the broader public, we also require scientists who seek Sea Grant support to include public outreach/engagement elements in their research proposals.  Many researchers find that working directly with the people whose lives and livelihoods are most affected adds new depth and understanding to the science they pursue.

Sea Grant Extension faculty are connected to the OSU Extension Service, but work under the Sea Grant mantle, reporting to our Extension program leader and working closely with each other and with coastal stakeholders. Most of our Extension faculty live and work on the Oregon coast, building on a four-decade history of community relationships and trust. That reputation serves us well when we are called on to help bridge differences between diverse groups and opinions.

Communications develops, designs, publishes and distributes books, fact sheets, videos, Websites and other media interpreting Sea Grant's work and a wide range of related ocean and coastal topics. Our communication professionals also initiate research and information projects, shedding light on such subjects as climate change, environmental history and how communication can change public attitudes and behavior.