Title: Ocean Place, Ocean Space: the human science side of the ocean off the coast of Oregon
1Ocean Place, Ocean Space the human science side
of the ocean off the coast of Oregon
- Flaxen Conway
- Marine Resource Management
- Oregon Sea Grant / School of Public Policy
College of Oceanic Atmospheric Sciences at
Oregon State University http//www.coas.oregonstat
e.edu
2- What types or kinds of science do you think I am
referring to when I use the words human
science?
3- This course Exploring the Deep
- Biological science aspects of the ocean
- Physical science aspects of the ocean
- You folks are not ocean scientists.
- Neither am I.
- I am a social scientist and I am interested in
the human science side of the ocean off of the
coast of Oregon.
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9- Working out the technical kinks is critical.
- Having the best available data and management
practices about the environmental dimension is
vital. - However, permitting processes rarely fail on
technical or scientific grounds. Rather, because
of a failure to pay attention to the human
dimension. - Decision makers need an understanding of how
people experience and relate to the ocean.
10- The emerging wave energy industry has the
opportunity to be developed in a socially
responsible manner. - What does developed in a socially responsible
manner mean? - What are the steps it should take to assure
this? - Who needs to be involved to assure this?
11Our research program studied
- Publics knowledge and values and their opinions
re wave energy. - Link between knowledge/understanding and
acceptance or lack of support re wave energy. - Wave energy information sources.
- Wave energy and community well being.
12- Six research projects in four thematic areas
- Socioeconomic and Sociopolitical Influences on
Permitting and Planning - Comparison of Wave Energy to other forms of
Electricity Generation - BMP for Permitting and Management
- Perceptions of and Effects on Communities of
Place and Interest
13Why is studying the human dimension important?
- Inform research, decision makers, developers,
stakeholders, and the public - Design research and policy processes to meet
citizen / community concerns and maximize policy
input - Create effective public education and engagement
efforts.
14Lessons Learned re
- Governance
- Socioeconomic and Sociopolitical Influences
- Sustainability and Acceptability
- Outreach and Engagement putting perceptions and
perspectives to work
15Governance
- Sound planning is critical.
- Testing projects was the greatest area of
support and agreement among stakeholders and
policy actors. - Demonstrations projects
provide an opportunity to
obtain scientific information
upon which more fully informed decisions can be
made.
16- Greater capital flow private and government
is the thing that can aid deployment. - Investments should advance the greater body of
science about wave energy. - Environmental data should remain public.
17Socioeconomic and Sociopolitical
Influences Public Perceptions
- Regional differences in attitudes and familiarity
with wave energy exists coastal residents hold
more defined and intense opinions. - Positive attitudes, yet not enough info to form
an opinion. - Those very familiar get info from
universities, ODE, utilities, local leaders, and
the internet.
18Socioeconomic and Sociopolitical
Influences Communities of Interest
- Ally networks exist within government and b/t
conservation and scientists, and local government
and ocean users. - Opponent networks exist b/t ocean users and the
energy industry, technical experts, federal and
state government. - Interest groups are in different stages of
understanding and action.
19- Primary source of information were the energy
industry, utilities, and scientists/engineers. - Most trusted source of information were
scientists/engineers, energy industry, and local
government. - Least trusted source of information were energy
industry, scientists/engineers, and the media.
20Socioeconomic and Sociopolitical
Influences Communities of Place
- Perceptions not based on demographic group or
place. - Threats/opportunities were shaped as much by
imaginations as by empirical evidence. - Misconceptions fueled by mutual distrust.
- Community well-being is important and it remains
to be seen how it will be impacted. -
21Sustainability and Acceptability
SUSTAINABILITY SCORES SUSTAINABILITY SCORES SUSTAINABILITY SCORES
Types of Types of Sustainability Types of Sustainability Types of Sustainability
Energy Environmental Economic Social OVERALL
Geothermal 8 7 8 23
Solar 9 1 9 19
Hydro 5 6 6 17
Wind 7 3 5 15
Wave 6 2 7 15
LNG 3 9 2 14
Petroleum 2 8 3 13
Biomass 4 4 4 12
Nuclear 1 5 1 7
22Sustainability and Acceptability
- Geothermal Considered promising acceptability
depends on how the development managed locally. - Hydro Surface water needs, aging
infrastructures and publics knowledge determine
the acceptability. - Biomass Can enhance economy environmental pros
and cons need to be considered social acceptance
is not certain.
23- Wind Transmission capacity b/t east and west
and costs affect the acceptability. - Solar Abundance of resources/systems economic
questions. - Wave Tremendous resources large transmission
capacity more environmental research needed
locally more economic incentives needed advance
public knowledge. - LNG Receives environmental opposition not as
economically feasible as regular NG concerns
about environmental impacts.
24- Overall lesson learned from this human science
research program are - and how do you put them to work?
25Coastal communities of place and of interest are
- Interested
- willing to accept some change, but
- they feel the Oregon coast is worth slowing the
wave energy process down so that they can work
with others to reach a desired,
mutually-beneficial future.
26So if you want to reach and engage community
members
- Public meetings are important BUT few utilized
them to gain new info or learn about wave energy. -
- Focus outreach efforts on local newspapers/media.
- Avoid pre-determined locations and commercial
scale projects. - Use local and state government as political
mediators.
27- Foster cooperation.
- Design the outreach and
- engagement process.
- Engage early and often.
- Expect challenges and successes. Use both to
create progress in - Systems for working together
- Listen, listen, listenthen speak
- Create a myriad of possible solutions for
lasting agreements
28Questions?
Flaxen Conway fconway_at_coas.oregonstate.edu http//
nnmrec.oregonstate.edu/ http//ir.library.oregonst
ate.edu/jspui/handle/1957/13499 541-737-1339