CCST Newsroom

(Update: Call Closed) Exploring Alternative Venues for Services Delivery Such as CBOs During a Pandemic Cycle
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Update: This call is now closed. SACRAMENTO, Calif. — CCST is seeking nominations of health and other economists and related experts who would be interested in participating in a working group to explore the economics of alternative venues and personnel, such as community based organizations (CBOs) for services delivery across different phases of the pandemic cycle, such […]
California Policymakers Signify Enduring Value of CCST to the State by Investing in Fellows
The 2022 CCST S&T Policy Fellows standing in front of the California State Capitol dressed in formal attire.
California Invests in CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellows Program, Placing PhD-level Scientists, Engineers, and Social Scientists in the Legislature, State Agencies, and Offices of the Governor. SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Approved by the Legislature and signed by Governor Newsom this week, the 2022 California State Budget allocates $10 million for the California Council on Science and Technology’s […]
CCST Workshop Envisions a More Holistic and Inclusive Public Health System Informed by COVID-19 Response
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  SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) hosted a workshop with leading public health experts on June 14th and 17th to identify opportunities to strengthen California’s public health system.  Participants were challenged with producing actionable, holistic, and equitable recommendations for policymakers. The workshop was part of the CCST Disaster Resilience Initiative COVID-19 […]
(Update: Call Closed) Call for Public Health Perspectives: Forest Health, Wildfire Smoke, and Public Health
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The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) and Blue Forest Conservation are seeking nominations of public health experts for a peer-reviewed report on the connections between forest health, wildfire smoke, and public health. CCST’s Costs of Wildfire in California study assessed the economic impacts of wildfire smoke to public and private health systems in the billions […]
Dr. Ishwar K. Puri Appointed to CCST Board of Directors as USC Representative
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SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Dr. Ishwar K. Puri, Vice President of Research and Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at University of Southern California, has been appointed to the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) Board of Directors by University of California President Michael V. Drake, MD. “Today is a big day for CCST and for California,” […]
The Keyword? Adaptability. Making the Career Transition from Science to Policy.
A photo of Montrai Spikes, PhD, is a 2022 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow with the title of his blog post and CCST logo on a blue background
  The last few months have introduced a lot of new things into my life. I moved from the Midwest, where I had lived most of my life, to California with my partner and our menagerie of animals. I began working nine to five instead of the sporadic hours of an academic. Most notably I […]
WATCH: Decarbonizing with Hydrogen: Challenges and Opportunities
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Toward a Disaster Resilient California: Decarbonizing with Hydrogen: Challenges and Opportunities California has made significant strides in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, but there remain many challenges to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. Many experts believe that hydrogen could be key to decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like cement and steel production, agriculture, and heavy-duty transportation. As […]
Berkeley Lab’s Carol Burns Appointed to CCST Board of Directors
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SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) Deputy Director for Research and Chief Research Officer Dr. Carol Burns has been appointed to the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) Board of Directors by University of California President Michael V. Drake, MD. “Participation on the California Council on Science and Technology is an important public […]
Watch: Managing Salinity in the California Delta in a Changing Climate
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  Toward a Disaster Resilient California: Managing Salinity in the California Delta in a Changing Climate   The Delta supplies freshwater to two thirds of all Californians, a $50 billion agricultural industry, and critical habitat for many protected species. Increasing drought and sea level rise is making it more challenging for water managers to meet […]
(Update: Call Closed) Call for Experts: Unresolved Questions About California’s Energy Future
A banner with CCST's logo and "Seeking Expert Nominees" in white text on an orange background
    UPDATE: This call is now closed. SACRAMENTO, Calif.—CCST is interested in working with a graduate student or postdoc to develop an accessible primer on policy and technological issues relevant to California’s clean energy future, to help inform interested stakeholders and direction for CCST’s future work. The aim of the primer would be to […]
CCST Annual Report 2021: Toward a Resilient California
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We will remember 2021 as a year of crucial, often frustrating challenges. Science and technology helped us to cope. A historic rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters protected many from severe symptoms and death. Yet, growing numbers of Americans grew skeptical of guidance from medical science and weary of government mandates to protect public health. […]
Watch: The Role of Microgrids in Providing Reliable and Equitable Access to Electricity
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Toward a Disaster Resilient California: The Role of Microgrids in Providing Reliable and Equitable Access to Electricity   Communities across California are designing and installing microgrids to improve their resilience during disasters and to meet their climate change and environmental justice goals. What are microgrids and how can they help ensure all Californian’s have access to […]
(Update: Call closed) Request For Proposals: DEI Consultant to Help Reassess Definition and Metrics for “Scientific Expertise”
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SACRAMENTO, CA—The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is reassessing what it means to be considered an “expert” in the STEMM fields, and the body of expertise needed to effectively make policies stronger with science. As part of its ongoing efforts in this area, CCST seeks to partner with a diversity, equity, and inclusion […]
Making the Move (Literally): From Science to Science Policy in Sacramento
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  Hannah Frye, PhD, is a 2022 CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow placed with the California State Senate Business, Professions, & Economic Development Committee. From Missouri, Hannah studied the role of genetics and sex on memory mechanisms underlying opioid use disorder risk. She earned her PhD in Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis […]
(Update: Call Closed) CCST Seeks Expert Participants for Workshop on “Reimagining a 21st Century Public Health System”
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SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is seeking a diverse pool of candidates interested in participating in an upcoming interactive workshop focused on reimagining the public health system. The workshop will be held virtually during the mornings of June 14th and 17th (8am – 12pm Pacific Time). Interested participants may see the summary below, […]
Alumni Encourage Future Science Policy Talents on Fellowship Celebration Day
Screen shot of photo tweet by CCST Science & Technology Policy Fellow alum Meron Tesfaye PhD. She is seen with short hair, an ample scarf, and smiling in front of a California State Senate framed commendation on a wall. It's hashtag CCST week & yesterday was at CCSTFellows Day! My experience as a CCST fellow at CAlegislature has changed the trajectory of my career. It's also hashtag Black History Month   & I'm beyond grateful for all the Black fellows that came before me! hashtag SciPol at Black In Sci Pol at BlackInSciComm
Our annual CCST Science & Technology Weeks (S&T Week) are a celebration of science-informed policymaking in the great state of California — how scientific expertise can play an important role as we guide the future of California’s economy, society, and environment. So naturally, any #CCSTweek would have to give a big shoutout to our CCST […]
Watch: Science Policy for a More Resilient California: CCST Sessions at the 2022 AAAS Annual Meeting
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SACRAMENTO, Calif.—From extreme heat to wildfires, California faces a variety of complex, interacting scenarios in adapting to climate change. The type of science policy advice and resources required to plan and act on these disaster resilience scenarios was the focus of CCST events during the 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement […]
Watch: Announcing the 2022 “CCST Science in Public Service Award” Recipients
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SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2022 CCST Leadership Awards for Science in Public Service. The CCST Science in Public Service Award is given to public servants who have clear track records of championing science and technology issues, and who value efforts to connect science to policy. This year’s awardees […]
Watch: Establishing a Data Infrastructure to Effectively Respond to the Next Disaster
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Toward a Disaster Resilient California: Establishing a Data Infrastructure to Effectively Respond to the Next Disaster     In the fight against COVID-19, the scientific community worked together to provide answers to the policy community and the public as rapidly as they could, yet difficulties in sharing data complicated their ability to do so.  What […]
Mace and Bando in Issues: States as Laboratories for Science Policy Innovation
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In a global society whose challenges require innovative and effective policy solutions, states are pathfinders. CCST CEO Amber Mace, PhD, and Senior Advisor Jun Bando, PhD, contribute to a national conversation about The Next 75 Years of Science Policy with a new essay in Issues in Science and Technology on the roles of states and […]
Watch: How Climate Change Impacts Renewable Energy Production
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Toward a Disaster Resilient California: How Climate Change Impacts Renewable Energy Production   How is climate change impacting California’s renewable energy supply? Watch our CCST Expert Briefing to learn more about how renewable energy sources can be impacted by changing environmental conditions such as cloud cover, smoke plumes, wind speeds, and precipitation levels. Held February 7th, 2022. […]