Both California and Mexico face challenges in assuring that the quality of students' education is consistent throughout their respective educational systems, especially in science and math. A joint blue ribbon commission between Mexico and California has turned to CCST to explore mutual solutions.

The California-Mexico Commission on Education, Science and Technology is comprised of scholars from across California matched with Mexican scholars, industry representatives, and policymakers. The Commission's goal is to pinpoint areas needing research and training, and prepare recommendations on issues of pressing concern. It is co-chaired by Richard Atkinson, president of the University of California (UC), and Jaime Parada, director of the Mexican Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT). The Commission includes several CCST members, including Council Chair C. Judson King, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, the University of California; Council Members Lawrence Coleman, vice provost for research at the University of California, France Córdova, chancellor of UC Riverside, and Hank Riggs, president of the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences; CCST Fellow and Council Chair Emeritus Robert Byer, professor of physics at Stanford University, and Susan Hackwood, CCST executive director.

In California, as CCST documented in its Critical Path Analysis of California's Science and Technology Education System (April 2002), changes are being effected as a result of the intersection of the "New Economy and the New Demography" - increasing dependence on high-tech innovation and industry coupled with a growing population, including a significant percentage of Latinos, which to date has a lower participation and success rate in S&T education. Mexico, in turn, faces challenges in increasing its enrollment in math and science graduate programs, as well as in training and retaining its top S&T degree holders. Traditionally, many of these degree holders have ended up working in Mexico's public academic sector or small-size private enterprises not related to R&D, or have looked for more lucrative opportunities abroad. Recent economic difficulties have significantly curtailed opportunities in the academic sector.

To help provide the Commission with the analyses it needs to move forward and develop strategies for networking and strengthening the scientific community in both California and Mexico, CCST has worked with representatives from CONACYT, the Mexican Academy of Sciences, and Mexico's Ministry of Education on two projects, both of which are scheduled to be completed by fall of 2003.