Expert Briefings

Register: Lithium Extraction from Geothermal Brine
A photo of the John L. Featherstone Geothermal Power Plant in Imperial County, California.
Lithium Extraction from Geothermal Brine Register Now Friday, Dec. 15th, 10:30am PT (Zoom)   Lithium is a key component of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and is considered critical for the clean energy transition. Join us for this CCST Expert Briefing, a follow up to our recent briefing on the Lithium Supply Chain, where the panel will […]
Watch: Lithium Supply Chains – Charging Our Future with Sustainable Sources
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Lithium Supply Chains: Charging Our Future with Sustainable Sources The degree to which the U.S. lithium battery supply chain relies on foreign imports poses a threat to U.S. national and economic security. California’s efforts to support lithium extraction from geothermal facilities and attract other steps of this supply chain is one piece of a broader […]
Watch: The Human Health Benefits of Improving Forest Health in California
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Watch: The Human Health Benefits of Improving Forest Health in California Download the Full Report (PDF)  |  Download the One Pager (PDF)  |  View the Slide Deck (PDF) With health impacts from wildfire smoke estimated to be one of the largest costs of wildfires, a new study from CCST and Blue Forest shows that improving […]
Watch: The Role of Agrivoltaics in California’s Water-Energy-Food Nexus
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Agrivoltaics is the co-location of solar panels on agricultural lands that results in the co-production of agricultural products and electricity. Globally, it is a growing area of research that has the potential to address challenges in the water-energy-food nexus. In the US, there has been a recent expansion of research into the compatibility of various […]
Watch: Training Tomorrow’s Cybersecurity Workforce
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  Training Tomorrow’s Cybersecurity Workforce The cybersecurity workforce is facing a shortage of trained professionals as we become more computer, data-driven, and network-based society. How can we prepare California’s workforce for the cybersecurity and IT labor market needs of the future? Join us for a CCST Expert Briefing as we discuss opportunities and challenges of […]
WATCH: Innovations in Desalination
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  What is the potential role for desalination in California’s water portfolio? Watch this CCST Expert Briefing, held during CCST S&T Week 2023, for a discussion on innovations in desalination research and opportunities to resolve challenges related to energy intensity and brine disposal. Featuring experts from the UCLA, Cal Poly Pomona, UC Irvine, Stanford University, and […]
WATCH: Cultivating Data Security Practices in Precision Agriculture
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Toward a Disaster Resilient California: Cultivating Data Security Practices in Precision Agriculture To feed a growing population affordably and in a way that minimizes greenhouse gas production, the farming industry will need to rely on innovative technologies such as precision agriculture. Watch this Expert Briefing to broadly explore the benefits of precision agriculture and the […]
California’s 5th Climate Change Assessment Roundtables
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SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research in partnership with the California Council on Science & Technology (CCST) hosted a series of 6 public roundtables to discuss California-specific information and knowledge gaps that will help inform the scope of climate change research conducted as part of California’s Fifth Climate […]
Watch: Decarbonizing Transportation with Hydrogen
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Toward a Disaster Resilient California: Decarbonizing Transportation with Hydrogen   How can hydrogen help to decarbonize long haul trucking and transit? Watch our CCST Expert Briefing to learn how hydrogen fuel cells work, how they are being improved, and how hydrogen safety is being evaluated for use in transportation. Held September 8, 2022. Moderator: Gia Vacin […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Watch: The Many Impacts of Drought in the California Delta
  Floating vegetation, which can clog waterways and equipment, becomes more prevalent during drought in the California Delta. |  Photo by Michael Whiting via Shruti Khanna   Toward a Disaster Resilient California: The Many Impacts of Drought in the California Delta   In the past 50 years California has experienced a significant drought about once […]
Watch: Building a Resilient Electrical Grid
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  Toward a Disaster Resilient California: Building a Resilient Electrical Grid   How can we increase the resilience of our electrical grid to large scale disruptive events such as extreme weather or malicious attacks? Watch our CCST Expert Briefing to learn more. Held August 25, 2021. Moderator: Assemblymember Chris Holden California’s 41st Assembly District Expert Panelists: Charles […]
Watch: The Future of Gases in a Decarbonized California
  Toward a Disaster Resilient California: The Future of Gases in a Decarbonized California Download the One Pager     How can carbon neutral gases help to both improve California’s resiliency to disasters and meet the State’s climate goals? Join us for a CCST Expert Briefing to learn more. Held August 16th, 2021. Expert Panelists: […]
Watch: Technologies for Renewable Energy Storage
Toward a Disaster Resilient California: Technologies for Renewable Energy Storage View the One Pager A CCST Expert Briefing held July 20th, 2021 on energy storage technologies that can help improve California’s resiliency to climate change and meet the State’s SB 100 goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045. Expert Panelists: Janea Scott, Moderator Senior Counselor to the […]
WATCH: Responding to Wildfires amid Compounding Disasters
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Responding to Wildfires amid Compounding Disasters Held Tues. June 8th   A CCST Expert Briefing on how compounding disasters, like COVID-19 and extreme heat, affect wildfire response in California. Moderated by CCST Executive Director Amber Mace. Expert Panelists: Michael Méndez Assistant Professor, UC Irvine Urban Planning and Public Policy Nicole Meyer-Morse Deputy Director FEMA Consolidated Resource […]
Update: Watch Technological Pathways for Carbon Sequestration in California
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A Virtual CCST Expert Briefing Technological Pathways for Carbon Sequestration in California Held Friday, March 12th 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (PST) Watch the briefing now and download the one pager (PDF):   Watch our CCST Expert Briefing with experts on technologies to capture and store carbon to meet California’s carbon neutrality goals: Moderator: David Stout […]
Update: Watch the Virtual CCST Expert Briefing on Blue Carbon Sequestration
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Update 12/10: The briefing is now available to watch. Download the CCST One Pager. Held in partnership with the California Ocean Science Trust and the Office of Assemblymember Mark Stone, this briefing discusses the role of blue carbon sequestration in coastal habitats in meeting the State’s carbon neutrality goals. Blue Carbon Sequestration Along California’s Coast […]