California Council on Science and Technology - CCST

05/06/2026

Warm congratulations to Kathy Yelick on her appointment as Director of Berkeley Lab! In the words of CCST CEO Julianne McCall, "The UC Regents couldn't have selected a better leader to step into that significant role."

“I am honored to serve as director of Berkeley Lab, an institution that has long stood at the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation.” – Kathy Yelick

📌 UC Names Katherine Yelick to Head Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory – Full story via first link in comments below

University of California
U.S. Department of Energy

12/02/2025

Today’s the day! 💚🌍

For nearly 40 years, CCST has served as a trusted source of science and technology expertise for California policymakers. This year, thanks to supporters and partners like you, we:

▪️Equipped policymakers to meet the moment on AI
▪️Expanded our Disaster Resilience Initiative
▪️Placed 14 more PhD scientists in Legislative and Executive offices

Across our network of academic institutions, national laboratories, state policymakers, and current and former CCST Science Fellows, we are committed to building partnerships that keep California at the cutting edge.

Your gift fuels our ability to provide reliable, timely, and actionable expertise to state leaders on some of the most urgent challenges facing California today.

🎁 Give today and contribute to a stronger, healthier California for all: https://ccst.us/donate/donate-now/

Donate now to help CCST provide independent, nonpartisan science and technology advice to California policymakers on the most urgent challenges facing the state.

11/20/2025

🎉 We're delighted to welcome Henriette Canino to the CCST team!

Henriette is our new Partnership and Impact Officer, bringing deep experience in science and technology policy, strategic partnerships, and evaluating research impact. She has worked across government, research institutions, and international organizations — experience that will strengthen CCST’s ability to connect scientific expertise to California policy.

Henriette says she was drawn to CCST because:

"Our work allows all of California to benefit from the extraordinary science and technology expertise across the state. At CCST, with its legislative mandate and decades of experience, we give State policymakers access to world-class innovators and experts the policy impact they deserve."

What is she most excited about? "I want to visit every one of CCST’s partner institutions! Each partner brings something unique to the table — I studied and worked at three of our partner institutions — and I look forward to seeing their diverse insights change the world, starting in Sacramento."

We're grateful for Henriette's passion, creativity, and big-picture vision. 🌟 Learn more about her and reach out to explore ways to partner with CCST.

As Partnership and Impact Officer, Henriette Canino builds and manages CCST’s strategic relationships across California’s science, technology, innovation, and policy ecosystem.

11/19/2025

🎉 Please join us in welcoming Bailey MkNelly to the CCST team!
Bailey is our new Program Associate, supporting communications across CCST. She comes to us after serving as a California Climate Action Corps fellow at California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), where she contributed to environmental justice communications and supported the development of the 2024 California Climate Adaptation Strategy.

Bailey says she was drawn to CCST’s commitment to science-informed policy: "The state of California is massive and the breadth of topics legislators must consider is daunting. Connecting the governor’s office, legislature, and state agencies to scientific experts and research institutions is necessary to create stronger and more responsible California policy."

When she's not working, Bailey is enjoying the transition to colder weather by knitting: "As someone who likes to multitask, I love to listen to an audiobook, podcast, or watch a show while knitting. Plus, now is the time to get a jump on some holiday gifts!"

We’re delighted to have her on board and look forward to the energy and insight she’ll bring to the team.

Bailey MkNelly is a Program Associate with CCST, supporting the organization's communications team.

10/24/2025

🌟 CCST is hiring! We’re looking for a highly organized, detail-oriented Executive Assistant to join our team in Sacramento. This position provides vital support to CCST’s CEO and senior leadership, helping coordinate high-level meetings, manage complex schedules, and facilitate communication across teams and external partners.

The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic, mission-driven environment and is eager to contribute to CCST’s work connecting science and policy to strengthen California’s future.

📍 Location: Hybrid position based in Sacramento, CA
🗓️ Deadline to Apply: Open until filled, with review beginning Oct. 31
🔗 Learn more and apply: https://californiacouncilonscienceandtechnology.applytojob.com/apply/AJl2MAp6Ue/Executive-Assistant

Join us in advancing evidence-based policy for a resilient California.

Executive Assistant position for California Council on Science and Technology. CCST is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization looking for administrative support

10/24/2025

🚀 The California Council on Science and Technology is !

We’re excited to announce a new opportunity to join our senior leadership team as a Managing Director. This role serves as strategic partner to the CEO and the leadership team, driving organizational excellence across operations, board governance, culture, and financial sustainability. The ideal candidate will bring deep knowledge of California's public policy and science and technology landscape to identify opportunities, cultivate stakeholder relationships, and position CCST as a trusted science-policy connector.

📍 Location: Hybrid position based in Sacramento, CA
🗓️ Deadline to Apply: October 31, 2025
🔗 Learn more and apply: https://ccst.us/managing-director/

Join us in building bridges between science and policy to strengthen California’s future.

CCST's Managing Director serves as a strategic partner to the CEO and a key member of the leadership team, responsible for ensuring organizational excellence across all dimensions of CCST's work.

10/10/2025

We’re excited to share highlights from Science Day 2025, where scientists and policy experts came together to forge meaningful partnerships across sectors. Check out the recap: https://ccst.us/scientists-and-policy-experts-cut-across-sectors-toward-successful-partnerships-at-science-day-2025/

Our 3rd annual Science Day, co-hosted with Secretary Wade Crowfoot and the California Natural Resources Agency, was a shining example of what drives us at CCST – connecting state-level science and policy with the incredible research happening in universities, labs, and other research institutions across California in order to build partnerships that strengthen our state’s resilience.

Want to stay updated on future opportunities to engage? Sign up for our monthly Spotlight newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/e61Lg0Z/Spotlight

Science Day is a shining example of what drives us, connecting state-level science and policy with the incredible research happening in universities, labs, and other research institutions across California

10/01/2025

We're proud to share that NSPN CEO, Dr. Tepring Piquado, contributed a letter to Issues in Science and Technology in response to “15 Years of California’s Science & Technology Policy Fellowship.” Dr. Piquado highlights the value of science policy fellowships and their impact on society and how NSPN is building on the strong foundation that the California Council on Science and Technology - CCST helped establish to expand opportunities nationwide.

Read the letter here: https://issues.org/science-policy-fellowships-impact-alberts-forum/

09/04/2025

Wildfire smoke isn’t just a seasonal nuisance - it’s a growing public health crisis.

The California Council on Science & Technology (CCST) recently released its Wildland Fire Smoke and Public Health Convening Report, bringing together scientists, health experts, and community leaders to address how wildfire smoke impacts Californians. With fire seasons intensifying, the convening served as a critical forum to discuss the disproportionate risks faced by children, older adults, outdoor workers, and frontline communities. Wildfire smoke is costing our healthcare systems billions of dollars while placing the greatest burden on disadvantaged and frontline communities. The impacts on respiratory and heart health are severe, making equitable solutions and cleaner air protections more urgent than ever.

From gaps in statewide health data to the need for cleaner indoor air access, the report highlights strategies that can help protect communities as fire seasons intensify:
• Equitable protections for disadvantaged and frontline communities
• Stronger science-policy collaboration to inform clean air solutions
• Public health at the center of wildfire resilience

Check out California Council on Science and Technology - CCST’s latest convening report to explore how we can better protect communities as fire seasons intensify: https://ccst.us/reports/wildland-fire-smoke-and-public-health/

08/28/2025

With the 2025 wildfire season impacting large portions of the United States and Canada, millions of people are once again being exposed to unhealthy air quality due to wildfire smoke.

Exposure to wildfire smoke causes acute and chronic health impacts to people living near and far from the wildfires themselves. The costs of this exposure accumulate to individuals and to the health system, including health insurance providers.

Blue Forest's 2023 report 'The human health benefits of improving forest health in California,' completed with partners at the California Council on Science and Technology - CCST, explored the economic costs of wildfire smoke to public and private health systems. It identifies research gaps needed to better quantify these costs and to clarify the connection between healthy forests and healthy communities.

In a future where smoke is inevitable, better collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies with interested healthcare partners is a pathway to building healthier forests and communities. Opportunities and incentives for health system organizations, such as insurance, to get involved with forest restoration could reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire—and the healthcare costs of wildfire smoke exposure.

Read the full report here: https://www.blueforest.org/science/reports-resources/the-human-health-benefits-of-improving-forest-health-in-california/