The Oceans Protection Council (OPC) welcomes expressions of interest in joining the OPC Science Advisory Team (OPC SAT)
About the Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team
The Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team (OPC SAT) provides scientific analysis and advice to the OPC and works to ensure that OPC policy and funding decisions are informed by the best available science. The OPC SAT was established in 2008 to help meet the goals of the California Ocean Protection Act, and offers a critical venue to bring state leaders and scientists together around pressing ocean and coastal challenges. The OPC SAT takes on a range of topics with emphasis on state priorities to address issues impacting coastal and marine ecosystems in California.
The OPC SAT and its members engage in four principal work modes: Expert Taskforces, Advisory Committees, Expert Panels, and as individuals. The work of the OPC SAT is funded by the OPC and Ocean Science Trust serves as Secretariat.
Role and Mission of the OPC SAT
Established in 2008 to help meet the goals of the California Ocean Protection Act (COPA), the OPC SAT provides scientific analysis, advice, and expertise needed to assist the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) – the State of California’s cabinet-level ocean policy body. The OPC SAT works to ensure that OPC policy and funding decisions are informed by the best available science and provides a critical venue to bring state leaders and scientists together around pressing ocean and coastal challenges. The OPC SAT may take on a range of topics with emphasis on OPC goals and priorities to address issues impacting coastal and marine ecosystems in California. The California Ocean Science Trust (OST), a non-profit organization dedicated to using science to accelerate progress towards a healthy and productive ocean future for California, convenes and coordinates activities of the OPC SAT on behalf of OPC.
To carry out its work, the OPC SAT has several core functions:
● Identifying emerging environmental challenges and scientific issues;
● Serving as a conduit to the broader scientific community;
● Providing advice and translating scientific knowledge on state priorities and challenges; and
● Evaluating the scientific underpinnings and technical merit of proposals, projects, and documents.
The OPC SAT is committed to taking actions that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within its membership, its leadership, California’s ocean science community, and its work. To learn more about the OPC SAT, please visit the OPC-SAT webpage.
Member Commitments and Expectations
OPC SAT members are asked to serve an initial three-year term, with the possibility of renewal. Members are expected to actively engage in activities to the best of their ability and consistent with their area of expertise. Service may include:
● Advising OPC on their policy activities and priorities via quarterly virtual meetings
organized around the goals of the OPC Strategic Plan;
● Providing in-depth scientific guidance on a range of topics by serving on expert panels;
● Attending annual in-person meeting(s) with the full OPC SAT; and
● Supporting the hosting of convenings across California’s UC, CSU, and private institutions to discuss an institution’s research programs and technologies.
Compensation
OST and OPC strive to uphold values of fair and equitable compensation and participation. According to COPA, “Scientists selected as members of the science advisory team shall serve without compensation, except for reimbursement of expenses and subject to the terms of an existing contract with the state.” Members may receive honoraria for participating in expert panels and other extensive work modes, and will be reimbursed for other reasonable expenses related to participation (e.g. travel, other direct costs).
Desired Expertise & Eligibility
The OPC SAT recognizes that the most legitimate science advice will come from a community of scientists that reflect California’s diversity and elevates equity and inclusion. We welcome expressions of interest from individuals with a broad range of identities, career stages, expertise, and experiences. We encourage expressions of interest from individuals with expertise in, but not limited to, Environmental Justice and Equity, Economics, Native American Studies, Sociology, Natural Resource Policy and Governance, Urban Planning, Engineering, and Hydrology. We also encourage expressions of interest from individuals with experience in the following policy priority areas: Offshore Wind, Climate-ready Fisheries, or Sea-level Rise. Prospective OPC
SAT members should meet the following eligibility criteria:
● Be an active researcher based at a California institution/organization with a strong scientific record (e.g. publications, presentations) and/or participation in panels, leadership, and decision-making bodies; and
● Express an interest in contributing to the advancement of the OPC Strategic Plan and/or policy priority areas (i.e. offshore wind, climate-ready fisheries, sea-level rise).
Submit Expressions of Interest
Please submit expressions of interest via this survey by November 4, 2022. OST will review all expressions of interest, and bring forward recommendations to OPC. Incoming members will be formally appointed by the Ocean Protection Council during the Council’s public meeting in December 2022, but may begin to provisionally serve on the SAT as soon as logistically feasible. If you have any questions,
please reach out to Dominique Kone [email protected]
Learn more about the OPC-SAT here https://www.opc.ca.gov/science-advisory-team/
