CCST Newsroom

California, the nation’s leading high-tech state in many respects, is trailing the nation when it comes to support for digital education – the enhancement of education, both in and out of the classroom, with technology. According to a recent assessment by the Digital Learning Now, a project that assesses states’ support and readiness for digitally […]

CCST Board member Bruce Darling, vice president for laboratory management at the University of California, has been selected as Executive Officer of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council. Darling will transition to his new position over the next several months. “I cannot think of a better choice for the position of […]

Parents of autistic children often have trouble finding suitable schooling and treatment providers for their children, and are left perplexed and exhausted by managing all of the separate services for their children’s care. CCST Council member, Fariborz Maseeh, was one such parent. When he wasn’t able to find the combination of services that his son […]

Nobel laureate Burton Richter, a member of the CCST California’s Energy Future (CEF) team and lead author of the 2011 CEF subreport on nuclear energy, has been awarded the Enrico Fermi Award, one of the nation’s most prestigious science awards, in recognition of his eminent career in particle physics and his notable contributions in energy […]

Successful education reform, particularly in STEM disciplines, (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), has been a major concern both for California and the nation in general. The gap between education policy and practice can, however, at times be significant. For educator Peg Cagle, a former member of the California Teacher Advisory Council (Cal TAC), this is […]

The conversion of municipal waste to energy holds potentially significant environmental benefits for California, although more information is needed on real emissions and performance data from operating waste to energy systems in California, according to a CCST report recently presented to the Governor’s office. (Click here to access the report.) “Converting municipal waste to energy […]

A major study in Denmark found no increased risks of cancer among cell phone users, suggesting that there is little evidence that exposure to cell phones is related to tumors of the central nervous system. The study, however, is unlikely to settle the ongoing public policy debate over the safety of electromagnetic emissions from wireless […]

The Space Shuttle Endeavour title transfer to the California Science Center (CSC) was finalized on Tuesday with former NASA astronaut and STS-134 Commander Mark Kelly, the STS-134 crew, NASA Associate Deputy Administrator Richard Keegan and California Science Center President Jeffrey N. Rudolph. The event included more than 400 business, community and philanthropic leaders as well […]

In a not too distant California future, students experience classrooms as a rich, multimedia virtual concept instead of a physical space. They graduate into a workforce and marketplace that thrives on the seamless, constant conversion of intellectual ability into economic power. Part of that workforce successfully applies the latest technology solutions to ensure water quality, […]

CCST’s report California’s Energy Future – The View to 2050 was released at the end of May 2011. The report was discussed in the following: Fusion Power Report (6/13/11) CheckBioTech.org (6/10/11) Bio Refining Magazine (6/9/11) Bio Diesel Magazine (6/9/11) Environmental Energy Technologies Division (6/8/11) Capital Public Radio, Insight (6/7/11) Climate Change Solutions (6/7/11) Energy Efficiency News (6/6/11) Capitol Morning Report (6/5/11) North American […]

A report by the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) released today examines the potential and challenges in developing enough nuclear power to meet a large fraction of California’s electricity demand in the year 2050. “California’s Energy Future – Powering California with Nuclear Energy” was produced as input to the CCST report, “California’s Energy […]

California Council on Science and Technology Report Looks Ahead to 80 Percent Reduction in Carbon Fuel Emissions from 1990 Level “California’s Energy Future – The View to 2050” looks a generation ahead at what’s required to reach that goal and answers the call of S-3-05, the executive order from 2005 to reduce the state’s emissions […]

The final version of “Health Impacts of Radio Frequency from Smart Meters” has been released. This version has been finalized taking into account input and reviews received during the public comment period in January. Comments received as part of this process have also been released. At the request of Assembly Member Jared Huffman (Marin) and […]

California’s innovation ecosystem achieved world leadership in the last century because of its system of higher education, high-talent workforce, advanced technical infrastructure, and enlightened policies. The state must take action if it is to maintain its status as the nation’s high-tech leader, according to a preliminary assessment from CCST. “In the face of a statewide […]

CCST’s analysis of the safety of smart meters was prepared in a matter of months thanks to the many experts who came together to work on the project under the direction of project team chair and CCST Board member Rollin Richmond, president of Humboldt State University. “It was a pleasure to be part of a […]

CCST’s Personalized Healthcare Information Technology (pHIT) Task Force has completed a major component of the pHIT pilot study project, gathering all needed input from a four-member Ontology Panel assembled last Spring based on Panel member expertise in oncology, ontology and information technology. The pHIT pilot study focuses on personalized oncology through development of a clinical […]

The October 2010 CCST Council meeting focused on trust and accountability in science and technology. Two summary documents are now available, with overviews of the discussions from October 18 and 19, respectively. “Issues of trust and accountability in science are both timely and long-standing,” CCST Past Chair Charles Kennel said in his opening remarks at […]

Miriam John, former Vice President of the California Division of the Sandia National Laboratories, has been named the new Chair of the California Council on Science and Technology effective January 1. Council member Peter Cowhey has been named the new Vice Chair. “Mim brings to the position a depth and breadth of experience as a […]

Innovative entrepreneurs are critical to California’s economic well-being. In order to encourage their success, CCST Council Member Fariborz Maseeh has donated $1.03 million to fund the creation of the Maseeh Entrepreneurship Prize Competition (MEPC) for engineering students at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering. “There is no other field like engineering where […]

California must dramatically overhaul its energy systems if the state is to achieve its ambitious goals of reducing total greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and even lower by 2050, according to the California’s Energy Future (CEF) project report being released this fall. “Effective mitigation is going to require that we get down […]

On October 21st, the California Teacher Advisory Council (Cal TAC) brought together teachers and educational experts from around the state to discuss assessment systems in California. The symposium at the Sacramento Convention Center, “Working Towards an Assessment System with Value: Informing and Strengthening STEM Teaching and Learning”, focused on innovative formative assessments both in the […]