CCST Newsroom

On October 27, 2026, the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) co-hosted the California AI Defense & Response Summit at Cal OES Headquarters in Mather. The invitation-only, full-day event brought together about 100 AI experts, state and local government leaders, and critical infrastructure partners […]

Message from CCST’s CEO On October 5–6, we hosted our 4th annual Science Day with the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), expanded this year to two days. Sincere thanks to the 300+ participants who joined us at CNRA Headquarters for rich discussions, collaborative learning, and fruitful connection. As keynote panelist Liz Whiteman emphasized, at a […]

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rachel Segalman, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Research at UC Santa Barbara, to its Board of Directors. Appointed by UC President James B. Milliken, Dr. Segalman is one of three representatives of the University of California System on the Board. […]

In September, CCST launched its Legislative Staff Academy on Artificial Intelligence in Sacramento, bringing California legislative staff and AI experts together for weekly sessions on AI’s technical foundations, use in government systems, and societal impacts. The sessions are hosted by CCST Senior Science Officer Héctor Corzo, a specialist in AI, data privacy, and computational hardware […]

Overview About the Academy CCST and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) are partnering to launch the State Staff Academy on Emerging Technologies—a first-of-its-kind professional development program designed exclusively for staff within California’s Executive Branch. The Academy will provide participants with foundational knowledge across three strategically selected “Bet” Sectors: Artificial Intelligence (AI), […]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is expanding its AI Science Residency Program, launched in June 2026, with the placement of a new AI Science Advisor at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). The AI Science Residency Program is placing a cohort of highly qualified AI experts within the […]

Description As the federal share of U.S. research funding continues to decline, state governments are taking on new roles supporting the applied research, commercialization, and workforce development that turn discoveries into industries. As a scientific leader and home to many technical sectors, California has a direct stake in the innovation ecosystem. This event presented  lessons […]

By Fernando Romero Galvan, CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow, California Department of Water Resources. California’s Central Valley was once a shifting mosaic of wetlands and floodplains, where rivers spread across the land each winter and drew back each summer. That rhythm fed young salmon and sustained a way of life for the Native American […]

Position type: Full-time. Permanent position. Salary range: $105,000 – $135,000 annually. Location: Sacramento, California. Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled. Apply link: Apply. About CCST The California Council on Science & Technology (CCST) is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization established via the California State Legislature in […]

Position type: This position is currently a limited-term role through December 2027, with an opportunity for extension pending funding availability. Salary range: $70,000 – $90,000 annually. Location: Sacramento, California. Deadline: Applications received by August 24th, 2026 will be prioritized for review. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Apply link: Apply. About CCST […]

Position type: This position is currently a limited-term role through December 2027, with an opportunity for extension pending funding availability. Salary range: $70,000 – $90,000 annually. Location: Sacramento, California. Deadline: Applications received by August 24th, 2026 will be prioritized for review. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Apply link: Apply About CCST […]

Position type: Full-time. Permanent position. Salary range: $85,000 – $110,000 annually. Location: Sacramento, California. Deadline: Applications received by August 24th, 2026 will be prioritized for review. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Apply link: Apply. About CCST The California Council on Science & Technology (CCST) is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization established via […]

Photo: Strawberry Field | Adobe Stock FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) completed the report Fumigant Use in California and an Assessment of Available Alternatives – Phase II Report on Methyl Bromide and the MITC Generators. This is the fourth and final report released in a multi-part study requested by […]

New program embeds independent AI expertise directly within California state government to support evidence-based decision-making on frontier AI safety and risk management. SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) announced the launch of its AI Science Residency Program, a new initiative that places highly qualified AI experts directly within California state […]

Description As California faces mounting threats from extreme heat, flooding, drought, wildfire, and sea-level rise, its natural capital—resources such as forests, wetlands, watersheds, and coastlines—play an essential role in the State’s climate resilience. This expert briefing explored the role of natural capital in policy, planning, and public investment decisions as infrastructure alongside traditional gray infrastructure. […]

Overview The CCST Legislative Staff Academy on AI is an educational initiative created to strengthen AI literacy and policy fluency among California legislative staff. The initial programming introduced policymakers to a broad spectrum of AI-related issues. Through a variety of educational and experiential formats, participants developed a practical understanding of California’s rapidly evolving AI ecosystem. […]

Imaginary Cats Close your eyes and imagine a workplace Professional Development day – maybe one you’ve sat through yourself in the course of your career. Do you see a panel of speakers, a powerpoint presentation, a training on refreshing your LinkedIn presence?  You probably don’t envision your supervisor miming throwing an imaginary cat at you. […]

Global Influence, Direct Dialogue California’s technology policies carry global influence. Supporting that leadership means ensuring the people writing and analyzing those policies have access to grounded, nuanced perspectives — including direct dialogue with the experts developing emerging technologies like AI. That’s the premise behind the CCST Legislative Staff Academy on Artificial Intelligence. Launched in October […]

Originally published in “Inside Cal OES.” Written by Isabella Sardo, Analyst II, Organizational Performance Management, Cal OES About Cara Cara is a Bay Area native, born and raised in Oakland, California. Her parents are immigrants from China, and she is a first-generation college student. Cara attended the University of California, Berkeley for both undergraduate and […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) has published new convening proceedings, the third product in a multi-part study on fumigant pesticide use in California, commissioned by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). The publication, Post-Harvest Commodity Fumigation in California: Roundtable Convening Proceedings, summarizes findings from an expert convening CCST […]

Update 6/4/2026: This position is no longer accepting applications. Position type: One position, limited-term, full-time from May 2026 to June 2027, with an opportunity for extension pending funding availability and programmatic need. Salary range: We expect the salary range to be between $190,000 and $220,000 annually, dependent on expertise and experience. The range can be […]