The Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) is a research consortium involving marine scientists from four universities along the U.S. West Coast:

Oregon State University

Stanford University

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Santa Cruz

PISCO scientists collaborate on integrated studies of the nearshore ecosystems of the West Coast. By conducting large-scale studies over many years and at many sites, PISCO is developing a comprehensive understanding of how coastal marine ecosystems function. PISCO takes an interdisciplinary approach to answering key research questions. A major goal of PISCO is to train students in the marine sciences and to communicate accurate scientific knowledge about coastal ecosystems to policy makers, environmental managers, the media, and the general public.

The Consortium has the following primary goals:

1. conduct a novel program in interdisciplinary training and research,
2. determine the processes underlying the dynamics of the nearshore portion of the coastal ecosystem along the U.S. West Coast,
3. establish the scientific basis for the effective design, monitoring and evaluation of marine reserves, ecosystem-based management, and other conservation measures, and
4. begin to integrate this knowledge into the public and policy arenas.