Ocean Science and Public Policy · 1 Ocean Science and Public Policy CAS NS 320 (3 credits) Course Catalog Description: Culture, history, economics, political systems, and science

SEASemester®:CaribbeanReefExpedition

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OceanScienceandPublicPolicyCASNS320(3credits)CourseCatalogDescription: Culture,history,economics,politicalsystems,andscienceshapeoceanpolicy.Practicecurrentstrategiestobuild,analyze,andcommunicatediversepolicies.Examinethepower,use,andlimitationsofscienceandthescientist'svoiceindeterminingoceanpolicy. Instructor(s):SeaEducationAssociationMaritimeStudiesfaculty,visitingscholarsandguests. Location:SEAcampusinWoodsHole,MA,atfieldstationinU.S.VirginIslands,atseaonSEA’ssailingschoolvesselCorwithCramer,andashoreduringseveralislandportstops. Prerequisites:AdmissiontoSEASemester.Sophomorestandingorconsentofinstructor. CoursePhilosophyandApproach: OceanScienceandPublicPolicy(OSPP)isathree-creditcoursetaughtbySEAMaritimeStudiesfaculty,augmentedbynumerousvisitingscholarsandguestlecturers.Mostoftheworkofthiscoursewillbecompletedduringthesix-weekshorecomponentatSEA’scampusinWoodsHole,althoughadditionalworkextendsthroughoutthesecondhalfoftheprogramintheU.S.VirginIslandsandatseaontheSSVCorwithCramer.IntheOSPPcourse,studentsobserve,monitor,andaskquestionsaboutcurrentcoralreefuses,threats,ecosystem-basedmanagement,marineprotectedareas,andmarinespatialplanningastheygettoknowhowscienceinformsandshapesthesecutting-edgemarinemanagementtechniquesfromtheinsideout.Coralreefsprovidediverseecosystemservicessuchasstormbuffering,habitatforfoodfish,speciesspawningandnurseryareas,andtourismandresource-harvestjobs,andprotectingthembolstersthehealthofnatureandeconomies.Promotingcoralreefbiodiversityprobablyisoneofourbestdefensesagainstclimatechangeeffects;ahealthyreefcommunityhasthebestchanceofsurvivingwarming-inducedcoralbleachingeventsandoceanacidification.GiventheCaribbean’srelianceontourismandextractiveindustries,governmentsintheregionwanttomanagereefseffectively.Numerouschallengestoreefhealthstemfromclimatechange,oceanacidification,overharvest,pollution,andcarelessmaritimeandcoastalpractices.StudentscomplementandbuildontheirscientificsurveysofreefscompletedaspartofotherCaribbeanReefExpeditioncourseworkwithinterviewsandacensusoflocalhumanoceanandcoastaluses. OSPPalsointroduces,throughplace-basedcasestudies,thefundamentaldriversoflocal,U.S.,andinternationalpolicyaddressingcoralreefs.Theagendasofstakeholderssuchasscientists,resourceusersandmanagers,policymakers,industry,propertyowners,andothersinfluencethescience-policydialectic;marineenvironmentalpolicy;internationaloceanlaw;communicationofpolicyoptions;andpoliticsandpracticesintheeasternCaribbeanregion.Understandinghistoryanddebatingtheidealsofethics,justice,fairness,law,liberty,effectivegovernment,propertyrights,andgoodjobscanbringustowisemanagementofresources.Expertsandfieldtripswillilluminate:marineconservation;scientistsin


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policymakingandthelaw;coastalmanagement,development,andresilienceeconomics;andpowergeneration.Thiscourseconsistsof19lecture/discussionsessions(1.5hourseach),threefieldtrips(3hourseach),threeworkshops/symposiums(3hourseach),andseveralresearchgroupmeetings.SomeofthesesessionsarejointactivitiesintegratedwithotherCaribbeanReefExpeditioncourses,andtheweeklycontacthoursgiveninthepreliminarycoursecalendarbelowreflectsonlytheportionallocatedtoOSPP.

Ifweeachdoalittle,we’llachieveonlyalittle.–DavidMacKay,SustainableEnergywithouttheHotAir

LearningOutcomes:

1. Recognizewhatpublicpolicyis:anadaptingbodyof“processesandplayersinvolvedinmakinggovernmentaldecisions,thefactorsthatinfluencetheirdecisions,andthemannerinwhichthosedecisionsarecarriedout”or“thebestcourseofactionforaddressinganissueofpublicconcern.”(Neal,Smith,andMcCormick,2011)

2. Criticallyevaluatewhetherpolicyisbasedonscientificknowledge.3. Assessanarrayofcoralreef-relatedcommunicationsmaterial(readings,film,

discussions,etc.)andposequestionsaboutthem:questionsofexegesis(whatdoestheauthormean?),application(howdotheideasinthematerialapplytomarineenvironmentalissuesinourresearch?),andevaluation(whatarethestrengthsandweaknessesofastrategy?).

4. Assimilateresourcemanagementstrategiesandsuggestwaystoapplythemviamultimodalcommunicationmethods.

5. Beableandinclinedtoevaluatethecostsandbenefitsofmarinepolicythatsupportshumanandecosystemneeds.

Evaluation:

CoralReefConservationPlan(50%) • PolicyTimelinePresentation(groupproject) • AnnotatedCriticalBibliography,10entries(individual) • Topic/QuestionandOutline(group) • Peer-reviewedandEditedDraft(group) • PeerReviewcommentsonclassmates’draft(group) • Presentation(group) • FinalDocument(group)

10% 5% 5% 5% 5% 10% 10%

CaribbeanCruiseTourismMeetingTestimonyandOutline 15%

Participation/Engagement&FinalExam 20%

Atsea:AddendumtoCoralReefActionModuleorPodcastStory 10%

Atsea:ReflectionBlog 5%


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Assignments:

CoralReefConservationPlan:Workinginteams,ourclasswillresearchandproduceoneintegratedandcomprehensivedocumentthatrecommendsbiodiversity-conservationandcoastal-risk-managementstrategiesforcoralreefpreservationinthefaceofthreatssuchasland-basedpollution,tourism,resourceharvest,oceanacidification,andclimatechange.Ourworkwillbeguidedby:localleaders’descriptionsofchallengesandsuccessesincoralecosystemconservation;ImprovingtheOutlookforCaribbeanCoralReefs:ARegionalPlanofAction2014-2019(CoralReefPlanofAction);TheU.S.NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration’sCoralReefConservationProgramSocialScienceStrategy2016-2021;AMarineManagementProposalfortheSargassoSea;andcurrentacademicthoughtandpracticalcasestudiesfromotherlocations.Asweevaluateexistingreefmanagementdocuments,wewillask,“doesitintegratemarinemanagementforaspecificplace;doesitcontain1)ecosystem-basedmanagement,2)marineprotectedareas,3)marinespatialplanning,4)stakeholderengagement,and5)strategiesbasedinbehavioraleconomics?”WewillthenformulateandaskquestionsforCaribbeanleadersand,finally,proposeaCoralReefPlanofAction. Tocompletethisproject,studentswillidentifyandchooseplace-basedinformationsourcesthatinformtheresearchprojectandmakeconnectionswithbroaderconcepts.Thisisforthemostpartagroupproject.Onlytheinitialtopicselectionandannotatedbibliographystepswillbeindividual.Forthegroupcomponentsofthisproject,eachgroupmemberwillreportontheircontributionstotheproject,andallgroupmemberswillreceivethesamegrade.ThecomponentsoftheCoralReefConservationPlanassignmentinclude:

• Topic:Eachindividualwillchooseoneofthesetopicsaffectingcoralreefhealth:land-basedpollution,tourism,resourceharvest,oceanacidification,andclimatechange.

• AnnotatedCriticalBibliography:Eachindividualwillcompletetheirownannotatedbibliographyinphases.

• ReefPolicyTimelineStoryPresentation:Eachresearchgroupwillpresenttotheclassthebackgroundstoryoftheproblemreflectedinitschosenpolicytopic,usingcreativecommunicationmethods.Eachindividualwillemailtotheinstructorareflectiveessayonhowtheresearchgroupdividedtasks,howindividualstookleadership,anddifficultiesandsuccessesencountered.

• Outline(orConceptMap):Eachgroupwillpreparea2-pageresearchprojectoutlineorconceptmap.

• DraftandPeerReviewComments:Eachgroupwillexchangeitsfulldraft(~8-12pages,single-spacedmagazine-articleformat,includingimagesandfigureswithcaptionsandsources,andreferences)forthedraftofanothergroup(its“partnergroup”),reviewthepartnergroup’sdraftfromtheperspectiveof"thecommonreader"(whatemotionsandreactionsdoesthewritingevoke?),andwritecommentsforthepartnergroup.

• PresentationofRecommendationsatCoralReefConservationSymposiumPartI:aprofessional,15-minutegrouppresentationfeaturingresultsofyourteam’son-shoreresearch.


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• FinalCoralReefConservationPlan:Buildingoncoursematerialsandplace-basedinvestigationseachstudentgroupwillproduceanoriginal8-to-12page,magazine-formatdocumentanalyzingcontemporarycoralreef-relatedcoastalandoceanconservation/managementissuesandsolutionsaswellasplansforevaluationandadaptationofstrategiesforthespecifiedplace.WeencouragetelephoneandE-mailinterviewsandrequireuseofstandardacademicprotocolsforstudyofhumanresearchsubjects.Theclass’sfinalCoralReefConservationPlanwilladdressthedelicatebalancesandmultiplefacetsofecosystemhealthandsustainablehumanuse.

CaribbeanTourismMeetingTestimonyandOutline: Howshouldhumanuseofmarineandcoastalspacelook,intheCaribbean?Doeseconomicsrulethefieldofconservation?Ifso,whataretheimplications?Theclasswillsimulateameetingtoconsidermethodsforpromotingreef-conscioustourismintheCaribbean.Eachstudentwillproduceasummaryoftheirmeetingtestimonyinoutlineform. ParticipationandExam:Thisclassrequiresthoughtfulengagement.Studentsareexpectedtocompleteallreadingsandassignments,activelyparticipateinclassdiscussions,andpromptlyaskquestionsaboutreadings,classexperiences,andtroublesomeideas.Officehoursandclasstimeshouldbeusedformaximumacademicbenefit.StudentsshouldstudytogetherfortheexamgiveninWeek5oftheshorecomponent,coveringenvironmentalattitudesandmarinepolicytopicsfoundinthereadings. AtSea:CoralReefConservationPlanAddendumorPodcast

1)PerformaHumanUsesofOceanSpaceSurvey

2)DiscussCaribbeancoralreefpolicywithexpertsfrom,forexample:

• UnitedStatesFishandWildlife

• UnitedStatesGeologicalSurvey

• NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration

• UniversityoftheVirginIslands

• GovernmentoftheUnitedStatesVirginIslands

3)Eachstudentwilleither:a)buildanAddendumtotheirCoralReefConservationPlanthatdrawsontheCoralReefConservationPlan,theiron-the-groundresearchresultsfromtheHumanUsesofOceanSpaceSurvey,anddiscussionswithexpertstoexplainadditionalrecommendationsbasedontheirnewfield-basedunderstanding;OR, b)writeandrecordapodcasttellingthestoryofcoralreefconservationandnextstepsinSt.Croix,basedontheirCoralReefConservationPlanresearch,theirHumanUsesofOceanSpaceobservationsinSt.Croix,andtheirdiscussionswithmarinepolicyexperts.

4)Policypresentations:10minutespergroup,withhighlightsfromfindings


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AtSea:CoralReefConservationReflectionEssayfortheShip’sBlog:Inportstopsandwhileatsea,studentswillkeepapersonaljournaltoenhancetheirexperience,noteobservationsandthoughts,andplanthefinalassignmentproduct:a1-pagereflectionessayofcoralreefpolicyobservationspreparedasanentryfortheship’sblog.Eachwatchgroupwillproduceoneblogentry.MusicforExtraCredit:Studentsmayresearchandpresenttotheclassasongoftheseaorseachanteyanditshistory.Lyricsandmusicalstyletellstoriesaboutmaritimeindustry,trade,practices,lifestyle,andmarineplaces.Understandingmusicoftheseaaddscomplexityandhumanitytothestudyofmarinepolicy. References: CommonwealthofAustralia,ImprovingtheOutlookforCaribbeanCoralReefs:ARegionalPlan

ofAction2014-2019,2014

AveryandMadin,ProtecttheScientificDeliberativeProcess,2012

Bertness,MarineCommunityEcologyandConservation,2014

Brizan,Grenada:IslandofConflict,1998

Craig,ComparativeOceanGovernance:Place-basedprotectionsinaneraofclimatechange,2012

GlobalCoralReefMonitoringNetwork,InternationalUnionfortheConservationofNature,andUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme,StatusandTrendsofCaribbeanCoralReefs:1970-2012,2014

Goodwin,InternationalEnvironmentalLawandtheConservationofCoralReefs,2016

Honychurch,TheDominicaStory:AHistoryoftheIsland,2009

JacksonandJohnson,WeCanSavetheCaribbean'sCoralReefs,Op-Ed,NewYorkTimes,2014

LifeandDebt,2001(film)

MassachusettsExecutiveOfficeofEnergyandEnvironmentalAffairs,MassachusettsStormSmartCoastswebsite

NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,CoralReefConservationProgramSocialScienceStrategy:2016-2021,2016

NelsonandVucetich,OnAdvocacybyEnvironmentalScientists:What,Whether,Why,andHow,ConservationBiology,2009

OceanFrontiersIandII,2013(film)

Pielke,TheHonestBroker,2007

ReddyandCamilli,ScienceoutofContext,BostonGlobe,2012

Revkin,FreshViewsonClimateScientistsasAdvocates,TheNewYorkTimes,2014


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U.S.NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,CoralReefConservationProgramSocialScienceStrategy2016-2021

WaittInstitute,BlueHalo

Williams,FromColumbustoCastro:TheHistoryoftheCaribbean,1970

WorldBank,NatureastheFirstLineofDefenseAgainstFloods,2016 ExpectationsandRequirements:

• Punctuallyattendeveryclassmeeting. • Participateactivelyinclassdiscussion. • Toearncreditforassignments,submitthemonorbeforetheirdeadlines. • WewillfollowSEA’spolicyonacademicaccuracy,quotedbelow.

Weexpectthepapersthatyousubmitinthiscourseareyouroriginalwork.Youmusttakecaretodistinguishyourownideasandknowledgefromwordingorsubstantiveinformationthatyouderivefromoneofyoursources.Theterm“sources”includesnotonlypublishedprimaryandsecondarymaterial,butalsoinformationandopinionsgaineddirectlyfromotherpeopleandtextthatyoucutandpastefromanysiteontheInternet. Theresponsibilityforlearningtheproperformsofcitationlieswithyou.Quotationsmustbeplacedproperlywithinquotationmarksandmustbecitedfully.Inaddition,allparaphrasedmaterialmustbeacknowledgedcompletely.Wheneverideasorfactsarederivedfromyourreadingandresearch,thesourcesmustbeindicated.(HarvardHandbookforStudents,305)

• Considerationsforuseofinternetsources: Asyoubrowsewebsites,assesstheirusefulnessverycritically.Whopostedtheinformationandwhy?Canyoutrustthemtobecorrect?Authoritative?Unbiased?(It’sokaytouseabiasedsourceaslongasyouincorporateitknowinglyandtransparentlyintoyourownwork.)Keeptrackofgoodsourcesthatmightbeusefulforsubsequentassignments,andannotateinyourbibliographyanysitesyoucite.Yourannotationshouldincludethenameoftheauthorororganizationoriginatinganymaterialthatyoureference.Ifyoucan’tidentifythesource,don’tuseit!

CourseCalendar:

Topic Readings/AssignmentsDue Week1–Whatismarinepublicpolicy?(10hours)–onshoreinWoodsHole

IntroductiontoCaribbeanReefExpeditionprogramandOceanScienceandPublicPolicy(OSPP)class;Overviewofcoursegoals&assignments

Lecture/DiscussionTopics:• HowisPublicPolicyMadeinthe

CaribbeanandtheU.S.?

Readings:Craig(2012):Chapters1,4&5Goodwin(2016):Selectedportions JacksonandJohnson(2014) Researchtopicchoicesdue


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• GovernanceandEconomicsofCoralPreservation

• InternationalLawoftheSea• EnvironmentalLawTimeline

ResearchGroupMeetings

WoodsHoleScience&PolicyFieldTrip

Week2–CoralReefPolicy:Howdoscience&policyinteract?(8hours)–onshoreinWoodsHole

Lecture/DiscussionTopics:• MarineBiodiversityPolicyExpertsPanel

Discussion• ScienceandPolicyDialectic• TheRoleofScientistsinMakingPolicy• Skills:Research&PeerReview;Survey

Design&Practice

PolicyTimelinePresentationsbyStudents

Readings:AveryandMadin(2012)Bertness(2014):SelectedportionsGoodwin(2016):SelectedportionsNelson&Vucetich(2009)Pielke(2007)ReddyandCamilli(2012)Revkin(2014)

PolicyTimelinePresentationandOutlinesdue

Week3–AddressingCoralReefThreats,theBigThree:Pollution,CoastalUses,ClimateChange(8hours)–onshoreinWoodsHole

Lecture/DiscussionTopics:• ReefEcosystemDecline–Impactson

SmallIslandDevelopingStates&ConservationEfforts

• FieldTripSurveyFollow-up

AgriculturalRunoffandWaterTreatmentFieldTrip&Survey

WoodsHoleHumanUsesandTourismFieldTrip&Survey

Readings:Bertness(2014):SelectedportionsGoodwin(2016):SelectedportionsBlueHalo WorldBank AnnotatedBibliographydue

PreparequestionsaboutOrganizationsreadings

Week4–MarinePolicyToolstoAddressVulnerability(8hours)–onshoreinWoodsHole

Lecture/DiscussionTopics:• WoodsHoleSeaGrantandCaribbean

Sea-levelRise/StormSurgePlanning;NaturalBuffers

• OceanFrontiersFilm&Discussion• MarineSpatialPlanningwithMarine

ProtectedAreas• ExaminingHumanUsesandOcean

Health:HowdoU.S.MediaandPolicyReflectUnderstandingofOceanAcidification?

Readings:Craig(2012):SelectedportionsMAStormSmartCoastsOceanFrontiersIandII(film)

Outlinesdue

DraftsduetoPeerReviewPartnerGroups

Preparequestionsonmarineconservationtools


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Week5–CaribbeanBiodiversityMitigation;HumanUsesPast&Present(8hours)–onshoreinWoodsHole

Lecture/DiscussionTopics:• AtlanticWorld;ColumbianExchange• CaribbeanPoliticalHistories;Reasonsfor

StakeholderStruggles• CaseStudy:St.CroixConservation

CoralReefConservationWorkshop

Exam

Readings:Bertness(2014):SelectedportionsGoodwin(2016):SelectedportionsNOAACoralReefConservationProgram

PeerReviewsdue

EditedDraftsdue

PublicMeetingtestimony&briefingoutlinedue

Week6–ResearchandConservationintheCaribbean(8hours)–onshoreinWoodsHole

Lecture/DiscussionTopics:• TheLastWords:Research,Adapt,

Mitigate,Evaluate,Adapt

CaribbeanCruiseTourismMeeting;TourismSimulationbyStudents

PolicySymposiumPartI

Readings:Craig(2012):Conclusion

Weeks7-8–CoralReefPolicyImplementation(12hours)–atfieldstationintheU.S.VirginIslands

CoralReefConservationWorkshopsandSymposiumPartIIwithlocalexpertsinSt.Croix

CoralReefConservationPlanAddendumorPodcastdue Symposiumpresentationsdue

Weeks9-12–CoralReefUses:culture,history,economics(4hours)–atseaandduringportstops

Coralreefconservation:observationsatseaandinportstopsincludingGrenadaandDominica

Readings:Brizan,1998:Selectedportions Honychurch,2009:Selectedportions CoralReefConservationReflectionsBlogdue

Documents

Ocean Science and Public Policy · 1 Ocean Science and Public Policy CAS NS 320 (3 credits) Course Catalog Description: Culture, history, economics, political systems, and science