Calling California Grad Students and Postdocs: Apply for the CCST Climate Science Translators Showcase!

The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is excited to seek scientists and engineers in training for the CCST Climate Science Translators Showcase, held in conjunction with the Global Climate Action Summit hosted by Governor Jerry Brown in San Francisco in September 2018.

The invited presenters will partake in an evening of science policy engagement with distinguished global guests attending the Science to Action gala event of the Global Climate Action Summit. These “Climate Science Translators” will get to practice their budding craft for communicating science in a conversational, open- networking setting during the gala. The goal of this experience is to improve a trainee’s skill and savvy in conveying the relevance of their research to an audience of senior researchers, leaders, and policymakers – offering impartial, nonpartisan science advice while proudly representing their home campus.

Applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

1. You must be a current Master’s or PhD student or postdoc at a public or private university located in California. Graduate students and postdocs at NASA and U.S. Department of Energy laboratories in California are also eligible. Early-career faculty (within three years of first hire) from California Community Colleges are also invited to apply.
2. You must be available to travel to and be present in San Francisco on Tuesday, September 11 th , 2018. Chosen presenters will receive reimbursement for mileage or airfare and ground transportation, with option for lodging. You must also commit to three separate training webinars ahead of the event (tentatively scheduled August 10 th , 17 th , and 24 th at noon PDT).

Showcase applications are due by 11:59 p.m. PDT, Sunday, July 29, 2018. Instructions and application form can be accessed at the following link:
https://goo.gl/forms/WZwN9hvAMfxpip2i1

Additional program information is available in this FAQ:
http://bit.ly/CCSTPress-Showcase201809

A critical component of the application process is a 60-second audition video. In it, applicants must explain their research and how it helps inform potential policy solutions for climate change adaptation and planning, either here in California or at the national or global scale. This is the applicant’s chance to demonstrate their ability to engagingly and concisely translate technical information, tailoring their message and delivery to a senior policymaking audience. Selection will take place in late July, and candidates will be chosen based on the quality of their audition, and to represent a diversity of research topics, personal experiences, and home institutions.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for any research trainee interested in a policy engagement experience, especially those not yet qualified to apply for our CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellowship program,” says Sarah Brady PhD, CCST Interim Deputy Director. “CCST is honored to be a participating partner in Governor Brown’s historic Global Climate Action Summit, and we look forward to showcasing the brilliant talent and innovation from California’s leading institutions on this important world stage.”

CCST debuted its “Science Translators Showcase” event series in February 2018 at the California State Capitol during CCST Science & Technology Week – where 15 graduate students and postdocs from California campuses networked with legislators and staffers for an afternoon session, discussing topics spanning biomedicine, wildfires, earthquake hazards, and surface physics.

About the California Council on Science and Technology

The California Council on Science and Technology is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established via the California State Legislature in 1988. CCST engages leading experts in science and technology to advise state policymakers – ensuring that California policy is strengthened and informed by scientific knowledge, research, and innovation.

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