California Council On Science And Technology

In February 2024, CCST's 7th annual Science & Technology Week brought together policy leaders, science and technology experts, CCST champions, and network of Partner Institutions to discuss some of the state's biggest challenges and opportunities. The kickoff "Blue Sky" panel for Science & Technology Week convened together a diverse group of experts to explore the untapped potential of AI technologies to mitigate the impact of disasters, particularly in the context of California's unique challenges and the escalating impacts of climate change. CCST's Science in Public Service Award acknowledges public servants with clear track records of advancing science and technology issues. 2024 awardees included Asm. Eduardo Garcia, Sen. Anthony Portantino, and CA Department of Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw. A portion of the week was dedicated to a Science Translators Showcase, where trained graduate students and postdoctoral researchers had a chance to discuss their research with legislative staffers, agency managers, and senior policy leaders at the California State Capitol. Finally, an in-person Expert Briefing explored opportunities to build more robust connections between forest management and public health with the goal of making California's communities more smoke resilient.In April 2024, CCST released an updated edition of "Key Challenges for California's Energy Future", our foundational energy primer. With input from our expert Steering Committee, and in response to a request from the Governor's Office, we expanded our coverage of distributed energy resources and updated key sections to reflect recent legislation and current events. This work was brought to life at a special in-person briefing at the Capital, co-hosted with three partners: the California Latino Capital Association Foundation, the California Legislative Black Staff Association, and the Asian Pacific Islander Capitol Association.CCST launched the AI Policy Initiative in 2024 to help equip decision-makers with the latest scientific evidence needed to navigate the complexities and harness the potential of artificial intelligence and other emerging data technologies.In May 2024, CCST provided key support for a landmark event: the Joint California Summit on Generative AI. Responding to Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-12-23, the event brought this conversation to scale, highlighting the importance of collaboration across sectors and the impact of GenAI on California's workforce, educational institutions, and innovation ecosystem. The Summit led to the Governor convening the Joint California Policy Working Group on AI Frontier Models, whose report was released in June 2025.In October 2024, CCST and the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) brought together leaders in science and policy from CCST's Partner Institutions, nonprofits, and the State for our second annual Science Day. With more than 350 registrants in-person and online, panelists and attendees shared ideas to build partnerships addressing the many challenges facing California, particularly as we seek to decarbonize our economy in response to climate change. This annual event fosters collaboration and removes barriers to partnership between research institutions and the State. The 2024 event kicked off with opening remarks from Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot and featured two panel discussions, brainstorming breakout sessions, a Science Translators session, and a networking mixer.In November 2024, CCST hosted a two-day, invitation-only workshop in Sacramento, "Aligning California's Hydrogen Research & Innovation Agenda" that included experts from national labs, labor unions, state agencies, academia, and the nonprofit sector. This event served to facilitate better connection between policymakers and scientists working in different sectors of California's hydrogen economy. CCST also doubled down on efforts to support science-informed solutions addressing both immediate fire risks and long-term resilience for communities, ecosystems, and public health. Much of the work built on our September 2023 peer-reviewed report, "The Human Health Benefits of Improving Forest Health in California". CCST partnered with Conservation X Labs to support their Grand Fire Challenge, a two-year collaboration focusing on scaling stewardship solutions and amplifying the voices of those who have cared for the landscapes across the Western U.S., Canada, and Mexico for generations.