Oregon Sea Grant

Selecting locations for large energy facilities represents a land use dilemma: While such facilities are often beneficial to society at large, they can create concentrated local impacts. As a result, local opposition groups often form in response to such proposals; and, although opportunities for public participation are built into the process, questions remain as to their effectiveness.

Since 2004 a number of interrelated controversies have surrounded proposals to site a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal near Astoria. While public participation has impacted the decision-making process surrounding these proposals, we do not know how such public participation processes have been perceived by those who participated. Using content analysis from local newspapers and regulatory documents and 19 semi-structured interviews with active participants, I investigate the opportunities provided for public input in the Oregon LNG project.

When communities suffer the impacts of a natural disaster, damage to the local economy can keep the community in a state of crisis long after the disaster itself. Although this threat has considerable implications for communities, it is unclear which organizations or entities have the responsibility and capacity to address economic vulnerability to hazards.

This series of 16 videos is a behind the scenes look at the people and industry that rely upon the working waterfronts of the Oregon Coast. These online videos can be found on YouTube at the following links:

Oregon's Working Waterfront Tour trailer

Oregon's Working Waterfront Tour: Charleston 

The appropriate use of disaggregated economic data not only improves the accuracy and robustness of economic analyses, but also extends the existing economic models to address new aspects of the issue. This dissertation consists of three essays: two essays use disaggregated economic-engineering data to address spatial heterogeneity in economic losses and regional interdependencies for Tsunami impact assessment and resilience planning in State of Oregon.

Commercial fishing research often focuses on ecological (gear, stock assessment, traceability) or economic factors. Truly understanding the social-ecological system requires considering the entire “human dimension” and this includes the social, cultural, and legal/policy aspects as well. An understudied yet important factor is women’s contribution to fishing at the family and community level.

Funding agencies, specifically the National Science Foundation (NSF), are placing particular emphasis on the societal relevance and broader applications of scientific research, otherwise known as Broader Impacts (BIs). Scientists are required to address the BIs merit review criterion in their research proposals or they will not get funded. However, many scientists perceive the BIs criterion to be confusing and daunting, and developing activities to meet these requirements is often not within their expertise.