Slide Stories A collection of perspectives and updates from our team highlighting the challenges and successes of fostering innovative solutions to ocean and coastal problems in today’s world.

Ocean Side Chats: Kiya Bibby

Senior Science Office Kiya Bibby discusses her journey to OST and behind-the-scenes of horizon-scanning project development
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Photograph of Elkhorn Slough wetlands on a clear day. The blue sky reflects off the water, and low hills are visible in the background.

Coalescing a Blue Carbon Brain Trust

A recent workshop advanced conversations about blue carbon science and policy in California
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Photograph of the late afternoon beach in Humboldt Bay. The sky is reflected on the wet sand, and dense trees are visible in the background. People dot the beach with their dogs, surfboards, and toys.

Policy Clinic Examines Insurance and Coastal Resilience

UC Davis graduate researchers team up with the CA Dept of Insurance and OST
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A photo overlooking the remaining gray infrastructure from the closed abalone farm. The gray of the Pacific Ocean is visible in the background, with a mountain peeking out below the fog to the left of the viewer.

Agriculture in the Ocean

An upcoming project seeks to catalyze sustainable aquaculture for a range of different species, but sustainable commercial aquaculture is not its only goal.
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The viewer looks down a bridge, most of which is hidden underwater. Waves wash across the road and trees loom against a gray sky on the opposite side of the flood.

Insurance Can Be Sexy

Senior Science Officer Kiya Bibby reflects on a recent science-policy convening of insurance and nature experts and shares a new report
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Aerial view of the La Jolla Children's Pool, with white-capped waves crashing against the dark gray stone of a seawall. The dark brown shapes of sea lions dot the protected beach.

Webinar: Opportunities for Reducing Coastal Risk with Nature and Insurance in California

Join OST and partners for a discussion on building resilience with nature and insurance
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Photograph of a young white woman wearing a wetsuit. She stands on a beach with gray clouds in the background.

Ocean Side Chat: Monica LeFlore

Science Officer Monica LeFlore discusses the her path to the nexus of science and policy and the joy of connection in boundary spanning.
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1997 view of the Southern California Bight from the International Space Station. Image courtesy of NASA.

Ask an Expert: Briefing on the Sea Grant DDT+ Research Needs Assessment

Join OST and expert panelists to discuss the Sea Grant DDT+ Research Needs Assessment
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A low wave cresting towards a distant shore. A long line of whitecaps is visible, as are dunes along the horizon.

2022 Highlights: A Landmark Year for OST

Our top highlights, initiatives, and future directions for the OST Team
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Photograph of a presenter speaking to a room of people at the West Coast Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia Symposium

Reflections from the OA Alliance West Coast Ocean Change Symposium

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Photograph of the California Capitol Building from in front. The sky in the background is pale in predawn and there are trees to either side of the cupola.

State Leaders Update Founding Ocean Science Trust Legislation

Reaffirming our commitment to accelerate science-based action
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Cliffs and a beach on a clear day along the Mendocino coast. Dark patches of kelp are visible in the turquoise water.

Join the Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team

Join an interdisciplinary team of scientists working with state leaders to address pressing ocean and coastal challenges. Learn more here.
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A school of closely-packed sardines swim past, bathed in bright blue light

Climate-Based Flexible Fisheries Management

Researching case studies, management plans, and conducting stakeholder engagement as an OST intern.
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Aerial photograph of a whale surrounded by deep water. A small spray refracts the light above it into a faint rainbow.

Ocean and Social Science

Exploring ocean policy and crafting the Indigenous Peoples and Territories Acknowledgement statement
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Photograph of two sea otters floating among the kelp in bright blue waters

New Report: The Social Science of Sea Otter Reintroductions

Perspectives and recommendations to advance considerations of sea otter reintroduction
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An aerial photograph of Cardiff Beach in Encinitas. A river flows out under a bridge, while a wide sandy beach curls under it and waves break beyond.

Where Nature-Based Coastal Adaptation and Equity Meet

OST staff Kiya and Hayley share reflections on the development of a new report
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A path leads between tall grasses towards the ocean. The sky is blue and mostly cloudless. Footprints are visible in the sandy path.

New Report on Taking Action for DEI in California's Ocean Sciences

Proceedings and Recommendations from our Roundtable Series
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Photograph of muted gray-green waves crashing on a beach

In Memoriam of Dr. Kenneth Coale

Remembering Dr. Kenneth Coale, one of OST's founding board members
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Photograph of a young Black man smiling at the camera. He stands on a hillside overlooking a beach and further hills.

Ocean Side Chats: Dom Kone

Senior Science Officer Dominique Kone discusses the peculiarities of being an expert generalist and its necessity in a boundary spanning organization
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2020 Aerial Of The Newly Completed, Freshly Colonizing Marsh Restoration Site Hester Marsh, Elkhorn Slough – Photo By J Haskins

Ask an Expert: An OST Briefing on Equitable Living Shorelines

Join OST and expert panelists as they discuss improving social equity outcomes within nature-based coastal adaptation in California.
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A young white man with dirty-blond hair leans into a large tank illuminated by a red light.

Ocean Side Chats: Kevin Travis

Science Officer Kevin Travis talks about transferable skills for a career in science policy
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Gold-colored seaweed fronds waving against a bright blue background

New Project Launch: Seaweed Farming in California

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An aerial view of the Sacramento Capitol Building at sunrise

A Year of Providing Science Advice to Lawmakers

What we've learned from a year of bringing science advice to the Legislature
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Photograph of a young woman making the OK gesture while SCUBA diving

Ocean Side Chats: Melissa Abderrahim

Science Officer Melissa Abderrahim talks about bringing DEI to the core of the science-policy nexus
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Aerial photograph of a river winding through green marshes to the sea

Reimagining Career Pathways at the 2021 CalCOFI Conference

A panel discussion on modern careers in ocean science
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Photograph of a volunteer in an orange vest cleaning an oil spill

Science Recommendations and Future Directions of Offshore Oil in California

Highlighting new and past work following the recent 2021 oil spill
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California Invests in Science Informed Decision-making

The OPC Science Advisory Team provides a critical venue to bring state leaders and scientists together around pressing ocean and coastal challenges.
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Three tugboats push a container ship in towards cranes in a port.

Navigating a Boundary Spanning Organization

A reflection on the importance of boundary spanning organizations
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Spots of particulate matter refract under a murky green wave

Tackling the Complexities of Ocean Contaminants

A brief look at deep sea contamination off the Southern California Coast.
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Cliffs and a large rock rise out of the shallow water of a beach at Shark Fin Cove. Late afternoon sunlight casts long shadows.

Support our work and join us for an Ocean Celebration!

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A close-up photo of sea foam on a white sand beach

Reflections of an OST Intern

Reflections from a summer intern and her time at OST
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Aerial photo of a rocky coast with houses overlooking the water

Reframing Ocean-Climate Science and Solutions

We partnered with COMPASS to convene 20 leaders in ocean and climate science to discuss issues at the intersection of their collective experience.
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Offshore windmills on a cloudy day, looking over the North Sea in Scotland

Ask an Expert: An OST Science Briefing on Offshore Wind in California

Join OST and expert panelists as they discuss the science & technology of offshore wind development in California.
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Photo of a sign saying "Dune Restoration Area" at Morro Bay. Morro Rock stands clearly against a blue sky behind the fence and low dunes

New Project Launch: Making Living Shorelines Equitable

Delivering science guidance to ensure nature-based coastal adaptation in California benefits everyone
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Aerial photograph of Point Dume, Malibu

Searching for Resilience in 2020

Reflections on leading a climate resilience working group for California’s MPA network during the height of the pandemic (and how it helped us persevere through a challenging year).
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Aerial photograph of CA Highway 101 and the coastline. Waves are visible in the water and green hills roll away to the east.

New reports guide adaptive management of California's MPA network

Final reports from two parallel working groups are helping to inform MPA network evaluations and advance our understanding climate change resilience
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Gloved hand holding a set of dirty plastic pack rings on a cloudy beach

Leading through Uncertainty

A scientific working group paves a path forward to address microplastic pollution
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White and copper plastic bottles tangled in a net on the beach

New Report: Microplastic Pollution Risk in California

OST convened a scientific working group to develop a risk assessment framework for microplastic pollution in California
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A group of sea otters float in Elkhorn Slough

Sea Otter Reintroduction in Federal Spotlight

Congress expresses interest in assessing the feasibility of sea otter reintroduction to U.S. West
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Fish swim through a murky kelp forest with shafts of sunlight coming through the water above

Ask an Expert: An OST Briefing on California's Kelp Forest

Join OST and expert panelists as they discuss the ecological role, socioeconomic importance, and future restoration strategies of our kelp forests.
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Late afternoon over the beach, with a line of five gulls flying in front of some high clouds

OST Joins the UN Decade of Ocean Science

We are excited to participate in international collaboration at the ocean science-policy interface in support of the UN Sustainable Development goals.
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A woman and child walk on a beach towards the ocean

Minimizing Microplastics as a New Mom

A new parent's reflections on working to address plastic pollution
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View of the Sacramento Capitol Building down a street lined with trees, with a blue sky and light clouds behind the dome

Continuing to commit to antiracism

A message from the OST team on the events of January 6, 2021
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Several pairs of black rubber boots and brown waterproof pants face away from the viewer, standing ankle-deep in floodwaters

Community Engagement microsymposium

We convened a symposium on community engagement to hear from researchers and experts working across California and West Coast institutions.
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Plastic debris, including water bottles, shoes, and nets on a beach

Making Progress in an Unprecedented Year

2020 was an unprecedented year, but we’re happy to finish this project and inform the state in a timely manner so they may address this emerging issue.
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View over a highway and town towards the ocean

Reflections on the Academic Roadshow

Challenges, and successes from our efforts to strengthen partnerships with California's academic community amidst a global pandemic
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A seated person wearing a yellow sweater and bracelets typing on a laptop

Adventures in Accessibility

The road to improvement isn’t always smooth, but sometimes it’s funny! A small speed bump on our journey to more accessible practices
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Photo of the California coastline and ocean

New Board members and new directions

As we tackle pressing issues facing our coast and ocean, we look forward to leaning on the guidance of new Board members, Dr. Nielsen and Dr. Jackson.
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A wide beach during the golden hour just before sunset, with houses in the foreground and cliffs stretching away to the north

Ocean solutions to guide economic recovery

The OPC-SAT released a statement on the importance of marine resources to economic recovery post-COVID and environmental justice in the Blue Economy.
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