GSO has extensive outreach programs that include the Office of Marine Programs and Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting, Rhode Island Sea Grant Extension, the Coastal Resources Center and the Coastal Institute.
Office of Marine Programs & Metcalf Institute
The Office of Marine Programs (OMP) is a major education and outreach arm of the Graduate School of Oceanography. Collaborating with scientists and graduate students from GSO and oceanographic research institutions worldwide, OMP targets a wide range of audiences including scientists and engineers, K-16 educators and students, the general public, journalists and the media, and alumni, donors, and friends of the Graduate School of Oceanography. The mission of OMP outreach efforts is to enhance marine and environmental education and science communications through a range of initiatives within Rhode Island, throughout the U.S., and around the globe.
The Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting is managed within OMP. Its mission is to promote clear and accurate reporting of scientific news and environmental issues; to strengthen understanding and working relationships between members of the scientific community and members of the news media; and to provide opportunities for beginning journalists to learn, on both a formal and an informal level, how to improve their skills in marine and environmental reporting.
Rhode Island Sea Grant
The Rhode Island Sea Grant Program is a federal-state-university partnership, based at the University of Rhode Island, that designs and supports research, outreach, and education programs that foster coastal and marine stewardship. The Program focuses its efforts in two core thematic areas: Sustainable Coastal Communities & Ecosystems (SUCCESS) and Sustainable Fisheries. The SUCCESS Extension Program works to assist coastal communities with natural disaster preparedness, to help urban communities manage their coastal resources, and aid in the development of coastal and waterfront smart growth principles. The Sustainable Fisheries Extension Program conducts applied research on fisheries issues, engages stakeholders in fisheries management, and creates a neutral platform for discussing innovative fisheries management ideas. In addition to its Extension efforts, Sea Grant supports adult learning, as well as graduate and undergraduate education opportunities and offers publications, websites, and other products on coastal and marine topics through its Communications Program
Coastal Resources Center
The Coastal Resources Center (CRC) is dedicated to advancing coastal management worldwide. In addition to assisting in the development and implementation of coastal management programs in Rhode Island and the United States, the Center is active in countries throughout the world promoting the sustainable use of coastal resources for the benefit of all. Implementing coastal management projects in the field, building capacity through education and training, and sharing information and lessons learned throughout the coastal community are the foundation of CRC's work.
Coastal Institute
The mission of Coastal Institute (CI) is to advance the knowledge of and develop solutions to environmental problems in coastal ecosystems. The purpose of the Institute is to increase our understanding of the relationships between human activity and the condition of the coastal environment and its resources. The CI works in partnership with local, state, federal, and international agencies to use this understanding to contribute to the solution of the complex problems of human use and development in coastal environments. The Coastal Institute is a neutral setting where issues are discussed, information synthesized, and solutions developed for the sustainable use and management of coastal ecosystems. The Coastal Institute works across and beyond traditional structures to encourage new approaches to problem solving.
