The Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans is an academic consortium that conducts research to advance understanding of the coastal ocean within the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem and inform management and policy.
Interdisciplinary Research Team
Led by faculty from four universities along the US West Coast, PISCO's long-term study of ecosystem change and engagement with decision-makers is accomplished by postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, research technicians, and many collaborators.
Partnerships
Collaborations with a number of public agencies and other organizations support our long-term ecosystem study and enhance the value of our scientific endeavors and applications to policy and management.
Accessible Data
Our goals are to provide a well-managed, long-term archive of the many data collections and make those data widely accessible. We partner with DataONE for archival and access.
New Findings
Our research is published in journals, presented at meetings, and shared with partners on an on-going basis.Check out some of our highlighted work.
Resource Library
Outreach materials, scientific publication library, and sampling and training protocols are all available online.
Nearshore Ocean Focus
Where do we study? Our work focuses on the strip of coastal ocean within approximately 10-miles, or 16-kilometers, of shore along the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem.
Long-term Study
We combine experimental research questions with long-term monitoring across sometimes large spatial scales to examine causes and consequences of ecological changes relevant to species and their conservation and management.
Outreach and Engagement
Our scientific research is designed to be responsive to the informational needs of management, policy, and the public-- a goal that can only be realized through effective communication.
Training and Mentoring
PISCO investigators advise, mentor, and train students of multiple levels. We also partner with other organizations to offer training on kelp forest and intertidal monitoring methods.