Connecting Science to Policymakers, Managers, and Citizens

Twenty years ago, the creation of a new scientific program, the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), funded by the Packard Foundation, provided the opportunity to integrate—from the outset—research, monitoring, and outreach to the public, policymakers, and managers. P...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lubchenco, Jane, Menge, Bruce A., Barth, John A., Carr, Mark H., Caselle, Jennifer E., Chan, Francis, Fulton-Bennett, Heather K., Gaines, Steven D., Kroeker, Kristy J., Milligan, Kristen, Palumbi, Steven R., White, J. Wilson
Other Authors: Integrative Biology, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University. Sea Grant College Program
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
unknown
Subjects:
Pisco
Ocean acidification
Online Access:https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/1831cr38d
Description
Summary:Twenty years ago, the creation of a new scientific program, the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), funded by the Packard Foundation, provided the opportunity to integrate—from the outset—research, monitoring, and outreach to the public, policymakers, and managers. PISCO’s outreach efforts were initially focused primarily on sharing scientific findings with lay audiences, but over time they evolved to a more interactive, multi-directional mode of engagement. Over the next two decades, PISCO science and scientists significantly influenced local, state, federal, and international decisions about many topics, but especially marine protected areas, hypoxia, ocean acidification, fishery management, and marine diseases. PISCO scientists’ long-term data and understanding of key ecosystem processes also enabled them to detect anomalies, investigate rapidly, and inform others about novel developments such as hypoxia, acidification, warming, and disease. Especially during a time of dynamic changes in ecosystems, long-term data like PISCO’s have proven invaluable. Moreover, PISCO’s dual focus on understanding fundamental processes and finding solutions (not just identifying problems) has resulted in rich opportunities to co-create knowledge with citizens and translate that knowledge into action by citizens, managers, and policymakers. PISCO has delivered on its goal to serve society through science.

Similar Items