Outreach and Communications

A primary goal of Washington Sea Grant (WSG) and the National Sea Grant College Program is to share knowledge developed for use in the marine and coastal environment. National policies and evaluation criteria provide strong incentives for WSG and other state programs to ensure Sea Grant-funded researchers publish their project findings and distribute them to as wide an audience as possible.

Principal investigators are invited to discuss project activities and results with WSG outreach, communications, and education staff. Our staff are available to share their expertise and investigators are strongly encouraged to work with WSG to reach stakeholders, resource managers, media, and the public. The resulting exposure can be valuable to both WSG, project researchers, and students, and has become an increasingly important gauge for WSG program success.

It is critical to WSG’s visibility and funding outlook that investigators clearly acknowledge Sea Grant support in all materials produced and in conversations with outside constituents.

Outreach Support

WSG outreach specialists welcome opportunities to work with research teams on their engagement plans at all stages, from project award through post-completion. As an investigator, you are encouraged to contact WSG for assistance with outreach meetings or activities that you may wish to initiate yourself. Investigators also are likely to be asked to participate in WSG-planned workshops, seminars, and other meetings to share information and expertise relevant to projects.

WSG Communications

 WSG invites Principal Investigators to discuss their project activities and results with WSG outreach, communications, and education staff. WSG staff is available to share their expertise and Investigators are strongly encouraged to work with WSG to reach stakeholders, resource managers, media, and the public. The exposure can be valuable to both WSG, project researchers and students, and has become an increasingly important gauge for WSG program success.

WSG outreach specialists welcome opportunities to work with research teams on their engagement plans at all stages, from project award until after completion. Investigators are encouraged to contact WSG for assistance with outreach meetings or activities that they may wish to initiate themselves. Investigators also are likely to be asked to participate in WSG-planned workshops, seminars, and other meetings to share information and expertise relevant to their projects.

WSG Communications keeps the public informed about your funded research projects and actively promote projects through the Sea Star newsletter, the WSG website, news releases, and social media opportunities. As a research project progresses, investigators will be contacted by WSG communications staff to contribute photo updates and postings for social media channels and to provide the latest research findings for Sea Star articles and the website. WSG communications staff also may help the research team prepare magazine articles and news releases about their work and assist in preparing for and interacting with news media.

If contacted by the media, investigators should notify the WSG Assistant Director for Communications immediately to coordinate and make most effective use of the media opportunity. If requested, staff also will assist investigators in preparing materials for professional papers and presentations, publicizing conferences and workshops, and providing photography or videotaping. WSG welcomes opportunities to attend investigator and student presentations on their WSG-funded work, with advance notification.