Confluence, a new magazine highlighting the work of Oregon Sea Grant, makes its debut this week, both in print and online.

Produced by Sea Grant Communications, the magazine will be published three times a year, each issue focusing on how the program integrates research, education and public engagement tools to address a specific ocean or coastal topic.

The first issue looks at Oregon Sea Grant’s efforts in coastal earthquake and tsunami preparedness, with feature stories about Extension Coastal Hazards Specialist Patrick Corcoran’s work helping communities prepare for seismic disaster and Lori Cramer’s Sea Grant-supported research into how disadvantaged populations are affected by such events.

Additional stories look at the program’s latest research grants, its Summer Scholars student internship program, and a major, NSF-funded research project examining how people learn in aquariums, museums and other non-classroom settings.

The online edition, available at seagrant.oregonstate.edu/confluence, includes video, resource links and additional articles produced specifically for the Web, as well as instructions for subscribing to both the print and online editions.

Confluence is edited by Rick Cooper and designed by Patricia Andersson; the Web version is produced by Pat Kight. The inaugural issue features articles by Nathan Gilles, 2011 Sea Grant science communication fellow. Joe Cone, Sea Grant assistant director and communications leader, conceived of the project and guided its development.