Providing Science Advice

To fulfill our core function of Delivering Science Advice to Managers & Policymakers, the Ocean Science Trust serves as the Secretariat of the Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team (OPC SAT), on behalf of the Ocean Protection Council.

Including representatives from the University of California and California State University, the OPC Science Advisory Team is an interdisciplinary team of distinguished and independent scientists created by statute (California Ocean Protection Act, AB 1056) to support OPC in science-based actions and decisions. The OPC SAT provides scientific recommendations for policy and management decisions, translates scientific knowledge related to state priorities, evaluates the scientific underpinnings and technical merit of state actions, and acts as a conduit to the broader scientific community.

The expertise of OPC Science Advisory Team members is harnessed through multiple channels, including:

• Delivering rapid scientific advice and guidance on OPC’s Strategic Plan goals
• Addressing emerging issues and relevant topics via interdisciplinary collaborations (e.g. expert panels, working groups, task forces, etc.)
• Hosting and participating in Academic Roadshow events

On behalf of the Ocean Protection Council, Ocean Science Trust serves as Secretariat of the OPC-SAT, shaping the agenda to serve California’s priorities. Ocean Science Trust guides working groups of the OPC-SAT to provide additional scientific support, reviews, and product development that rapidly respond to the state’s needs, as well as providing essential governance and day-to-day oversight functions. The Ocean Science Trust Executive Director also serves as Co-Chair of the OPC Science Advisory Team.

• Liz Whiteman (co-chair), Ocean Science Trust
• William Sydeman (co-chair), Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research
• Richard Ambrose, University of California, Los Angeles
• Clarissa Anderson, Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System
• Marissa Baskett, University of California, Davis
• Mark Carr, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Daniel Cayan, University of California, San Diego
• Francisco Chavez, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
• Gary Griggs, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Madeleine Hall-Arber, Sea Grant, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (retired)
• Elliott Hazen, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center
• Eunha Hoh, San Diego State University
• Anne Kapuscinski, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Kristy Kroeker, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Arielle Levine, San Diego State University
• Steven Murray, California State University Fullerton
• Carrie Pomeroy, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Laurie Richmond, Cal Poly Humboldt
• Jim Sanchirico, University of California, Davis
• John Stachowicz, University of California, Davis
• Stephen Weisberg, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project