CCST has launched a new fellowship for professional scientists and engineers to spend a year working in Sacramento with the California State Legislature.

The California Science and Technology (S&T) Policy Fellowships provide a professional development opportunity that will enable members of the scientific community to contribute to scientific and technical issues facing California through their interaction with the legislative process. Fellows will learn about the legislative process while contributing their expertise and experience to help the Legislature effectively address complex science and technology issues.

To be eligible for the California S&T Policy Fellowship, candidates are required to have a Ph.D. or equivalent level degree in a physical, biological, or social science, or an M.S. in an engineering discipline with at least three years post-degree experience.

"With increasingly complex science and technological issues facing society today, the effective interface of science and public policy is becoming ever more important," notes the Fellowship description. "Fellows will learn the intricacies of the California legislative process and will provide legislators and their staff with clear and unbiased advice, answers to technical questions, and clarification of policy options for issues with science and technology related attributes."

An important logistical hurdle was overcome when Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 573 in August 2009, a bill that enables placement of CCST paid fellows in the Legislature. Strong bipartisan support in the Legislature for the new fellowship program was evident with the passage of AB 573 in the Assembly and the Senate with unanimous support from both houses.

Up to 10 fellowships will be awarded each year. Fellows will attend a three-week training program developed by CCST to prepare them for the unique environment of the California Legislature before their placement in various legislative offices. Funding is being provided by a coalition of nonprofit foundations that include: the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the Kingfisher Foundation, Gen-Probe Inc, the Heising Simons Foundation, and the TOSA Foundation.

The California S&T Policy Fellowships are adapted for California from a similar fellowship offered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in the federal policy arena. The AAAS Fellowships have been successfully offered for 35 years, and AAAS Fellows have become sought-after resources in the federal policy community.