Prince William Sound Science & Technology Institute

What it reported doing in 2024

Government Programs: EVOSTC New FacilitiesThe Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council is supporting the development of new facilities for the Prince William Sound Science Center. The new facilities include warehouse, office, and research and education spaces. Over $23 million has been pledged to cover costs associated with the new campus. The funds are being administered by the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. CORaL NetworkThe Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council is supporting an education and outreach program titled, Community Organized Restoration and Learning [CORaL] Network. The purpose is to create and maintain an ongoing framework that builds the capacity of existing resources withing the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill impacted region to ensure that current scientific information, skills, and activities are publicly accessible and serve ongoing needs as identified by local communities. These funds are being administered by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.BSEE Herder/BurnerThis is a Joint Industry Program that uses funding from OSRI, ExxonMobil, Shell, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and Clean Caribbean Americas for the development of new oil spill response technology. A remotely operated surface vessel is being developed that can apply chemical herders and ignite herded slicks for in-situ burns. The system will carry remote sensing capabilities and can be controlled locally or through a satellite link.AOOS - Alaska Ocean Observing SystemThis project, funded by NOAA via the Alaska Ocean Observing System, continues implementation of the Prince William Sound (PWS) Observing System (PWSOS). The PWSOS collects ocean, atmospheric and biological observations for use by stakeholders. PWSOS supported tracking of marine organisms using the passive acoustic Ocean Tracking Network, salinity measurements at the Cordova tide station, and the maintenance of the SNOTEL meteorological stations. AOOS Intuitive model-driven particle tracking toolsA team of researchers is developing a particle tracking tool that can be overlayed on oceanographic circulation models to allow users to visualize trajectories of drifters, disabled ships, oil spills, and larvae. The focus is connecting the tools to the Cook Inlet Operational Forecast System model used by NOAA.AKSSF Run timing, spawning distribution, and survival of Copper River sockeyeThe Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund provided support to radio tag sockeye salmon traveling up the Copper River. The tags were detected at towers along the river and using aerial surveys. The aerial surveys allowed the determination of the final spawning grounds based on the time the fish entered the system and were tagged.NPRB - Automation of Sockeye Salmon Scale EstimationThis project examines the ability of using machine vision and deep learning to automate the reading of Sockeye Salmon scales to determine their age. Automation has the potential to improve management of salmon fisheries. Precise age information is critical to the evaluation of escapement goals, the generation of pre-season forecasts, and the long-term monitoring of population structure.NPRB Seabird use of spatially-predictable tidal ripsThis project adds a bird and mammal component to a physical oceanography project that is separately sponsored by BOEM. The purpose is to discover if birds and mammals are preferentially using tide rips in Cook Inlet. By understanding how birds and mammals use oceanographic features we can better predict potential impacts of oil spills.NOAA Climate adaptation and resilienceThis project addresses the critical need for fishing communities in the Gulf of Alaska to formalize fisheries resilience strategies in adaptation plans, focusing on three of the most highly dependent and divers fishing communities in the region Cordova, Kodiak, and Sitka. The project will advance integrated scientific research and build partnerships between scientists, fishermen, Tribes, and Tribal

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 88.4%; rating input score 88
• Program expense ratio: 82.5%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $67.85 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Pass
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 99%; rating input score 99; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -6.3%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.9; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.4%; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -0.3% per year; rating input score 0; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.8% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 17.6% per year; rating input score 100; 80th percentile among comparable filings