National Academies, CCST Partnered on State S&T Advice Convocation

July 24, 2007 | Beyond California | Contact: M. Daniel DeCillis

The first in a planned series of convocations, the October 2007 meeting focused on energy, environment, and economic opportunity. The summary document is available from the National Academies Press and can be read online free (see below).

The National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, the National Association of Academies of Science, and the California Council on Science and Technology co-sponsored a convocation on science and technology policy at the state level.

The convocation, State S&T Policy Advice: Issues, Assets, and Opportunities,was held at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center, Irvine, CA on October 15-16, 2007.

This convocation was designed to bring together state policy makers with the many sources of science and technology advice including those at universities, in industry and federal laboratories, and through various national and state scientific organizations. Participants explored the issues that have complicated information flow and established a vision for building a network and action plan to improve state S&T policy advice.

State decision makers heard from S&T policy providers about:

The value of S&T advice for decision-making
The various sources and models of information
Ways to identify and mobilize a state’s S&T assets

S&T information providers heard from policy makers about:

Time and other constraints on policymakers
Their wish list on how scientific information can best be presented and distributed

Envisioned as an ongoing series, this first convocation focused on the topics of energy, environment, and economic opportunity. It was followed by the October CCST Council meeting, which took place on October 16 and 17.