Perspectives from working in a boundary organization

Before becoming a California Sea Grant State fellow, I had often heard the phrases “at the interface of science and policy” and “within the science-policy nexus”. I understood the idea of using the best available science to inform policy and find innovative solutions - after all, this was the work I aspired to do. But I wondered, what would it mean to work in that space? What would a typical work day look like? I had all these questions in mind when I started my fellowship at the California Ocean Science Trust. Six months into my fellowship, I’d love to share what I’ve learned about working at the intersection of science and policy. 

What is the California Ocean Science Trust (OST)?

OST is a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating progress towards a healthy and productive ocean future for California. OST was created by state legislation to serve as a boundary organization. Simply put, OST bridges the gap between cutting-edge scientific research and sound ocean management serving as Science Advisor to the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC). OST creates a nexus between managers, scientists, and coastal community members to address some of California’s most pressing ocean concerns: climate resilient fisheries, sea-level rise, ocean acidification and hypoxia, to name a few. 

Keeping up to date with the latest news   

As with any position in science, I knew to expect a lot of reading. Most of my mornings are spent skimming Twitter and various listservs to read up on the latest science and policy news. Sharing cool new articles, publications, and blog posts on our team Slack channel has been a great way to start my day and get excited about the work that we do. 

Communication is key   

At OST, we want to make sure that the work we do is accessible. Everyday, I get to put my skills to the test by providing website edits and social media content, and contributing to literature reviews, project proposals, and technical reports (such as this one on monitoring techniques for ocean acidification). OST is a small shop and relies heavily on teamwork, so you can be sure that there is always something to draft, edit or finalize. 

Teamwork 

Speaking of teamwork, it would be hard to tackle the issues facing our coastline and ocean if we were working alone! OST was established on the principle of partnership: we work closely with the academic community to deliver actionable scientific advice to OPC and other state agencies. At OST, this culture of partnership and teamwork is fostered internally as well. During my time as a fellow, I have had the opportunity to work with almost everyone in the organization by supporting staff on various projects (such as the  Academic Roadshow, the MPA Decadal Evaluation Working group, and the OAH Science Task Force), as well as working closely with leadership on programmatic development work spinning up a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative.  In a world where working in your bedroom or living room is the new normal, I never feel like I’m doing all of this alone and I am beyond grateful for the support I receive from the OST staff everyday.

Why working at the interface of science and policy is for me 

Whether it is by guiding science investment, informing legislation, or supporting policy, the work of OST and its collaborators demonstrates the key role boundary organizations play in ensuring innovation and progress. At OST I love that every day is different, that I am always learning something new, and I truly enjoy working as part of a team that celebrates and values diverse experiences and perspectives. I am grateful for opportunities to connect with our many partners and advance top priorities for the protection of our ocean and coast. I have grown into a confident facilitator and an organized coordinator - all skills that will serve me well in the future. At the halfway mark of my fellowship, I can say with confidence that the science and policy nexus is the right space for me.