With a membership that includes over 125 of the state's top science and technology experts, CCST has established itself as the premier source of objective, nonpartisan analysis on issues pertaining to science and technology in California, and has continued to work closely with government, industry, and academic leaders on a number of fronts.

"Promoting science and technology literacy for all our citizens, from students to policymakers, is a central part of our focus, and vital to California's future as a science and technology leader." Susan Hackwood Executive Director

During the past year, CCST translated the results of its analysis of California's science and technology education system into action, helping to facilitate greater coordination among the state's educational organizations, and planned a follow-up study on the production and retention of math and science teachers. Our 2002 Critical Path Analysis education report has been widely cited, nationally and internationally; the governments of Mexico and Costa Rica are preparing reports modeled on CCST's work.

CCST is conducting new projects at the request of the state, including an analysis of nanotechnology's implications for the state's economy, and a second independent review of California's Public Interest Energy Research program.

CCST has also been assisting California in its counter-terrorism efforts, helping identify scientific experts and industrial leaders with California specific expertise. The potential impact of agricultural bioterrorism on California's economy is one of the state's current areas of concern, and CCST is working on analyzing and relaying relevant research performed by the National Academies into conclusions and recommendations that California's government can use.

In the coming year, CCST will continue working to effectively inform state leaders on science and technology issues, developing ways to use the most current research from the National Academies to benefit California and provide guidance on how best to implement this knowledge. Promoting science and technology literacy for all our citizens, from students to policy makers, is a central part of our focus, and vital to California's future as a science and technology leader.

It is a testimony to the strength of California's science and technology sector that, in 2002, the state managed to add high-tech jobs at a time when nearly every other state in the country saw a decline. California still leads the nation in most current high-tech industry indices, and clearly has technological leadership in leading-edge fields such as nanotechnology, biotechnology and information technology.

However, hard choices have to be made in the coming year. Although stronger than in other states, many sectors of California's high-tech industries have seen lower returns and layoffs. California has also had to cope with the largest state budget deficit in the nation, along with increased demands on its leaders and infrastructure to prepare counter-terrorism measures, decisions on R&D areas to support, and strategies to address the flagging performance of the state's K-12 system. This would be a considerable public policy challenge under the best of circumstances; California must tread carefully as it both deals with the crises at hand and prepares sound strategies to preserve its technological leadership in years to come. The California Council on Science and Technology is uniquely situated to leverage the state's scientific community to aid the state in this process.