Oregon Sea Grant Biennial Research Competition

Oregon Sea Grant Biennial Research Competition

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Oregon Sea Grant
Amount: Approximately US $125,000
Last Updated: October 10, 2025

Summary

The Oregon Sea Grant Biennial Research Competition aims to address critical issues faced by Oregon’s coastal communities through research. Emphasizing environmental literacy, biodiversity, and resilience strategies, this program encourages projects that incorporate community knowledge and prioritize the needs of underserved populations. Research objectives include understanding coastal ecosystems, integrating traditional knowledge, and promoting sustainable practices. Grants are available biennially, contingent on federal funding, to support innovative and impactful research initiatives.

Overview

Oregon Sea Grant (OSG) directs resources to the most pressing problems of Oregon’s coastal communities, often identified by local community members. Current topics include environmental literacy and workforce development; coastal ecosystem function, biodiversity, and services; wildcaught fisheries and local aquaculture; and resilience strategies to address coastal and marine hazards, stressors, and their impacts. The results of this research are developed and shared with interested parties through various pathways, often via OSG’s integrated engagement, extension, and outreach program, which brings together the collective expertise of on-the-ground extension agents, educators, and communications specialists. Oregon Sea Grant is committed to “engaged research”, with a goal to ensure that research is developed with and/or in response to the needs of those impacted, and that vital research results are shared with people who need it most and in ways that are timely, relevant, and meaningful. Every two years, competitive research grants are available, assuming Congressional authorization and appropriation. Research Objectives for 2026-28 Competitive Projects Understand and assess the knowledge, perceptions, and priorities of coastal residents, visitors, and communities with ties to the coastal zone. Preference given to projects focused on:the new blue economy (see definition in OSG’s strategic plan)marine renewable energy, including integration into larger energy systems and resilience of coastal communitiesissues impacting underserved communities integration of traditional, indigenous, and local knowledge research approaches.Collaborate with interested parties to co-develop knowledge about the functioning and resilience of coastal, coastal watershed, and marine ecosystems. Preference given to projects focused on:improved stewardship and community sciencepriorities that reflect the interests of a diversity of coastal communities effectiveness and tradeoffs of existing and new strategies for promoting resilience and health of coastal ecosystemsintegration of traditional, indigenous, and local knowledge research approaches.Understand the ecological status and socio-economic value of Oregon’s commercially, recreationally, and culturally important coastal and marine species. Preference given to projects that address:emerging fisheries, industries, or techniqueschallenges and needs of underserved community members, including communities of interest and of placesustainable or restorative coastal aquaculturenatural, social, and economic ramifications of competing ocean and coastal space and use pressurescommunity benefits of local and sustainable seafood production and consumptionintegration of traditional, indigenous, and local knowledge research approaches.Within coastal, coastal watershed, and marine ecosystems, understand the causes and impacts of acute and chronic hazards and stressors and develop, implement, and assess community resilience and adaptation strategies. Hazards and stressors may include, but are not limited to acute hazards, such as earthquake or tsunami, or chronic stressors, such as changing ocean conditions or sea level rise. Preference given to projects focused on:local resilience needs that use or adapt culturally responsive toolsidentifying and reducing disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communitiesintegration of traditional, indigenous, and local knowledge research approaches.

Eligibility

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