CCST Annual Report 2010-2011: Science and the Public Trust

Release Date: August 31, 2011 | Last Updated Date: February 24, 2015

Release date: August, 2011

Public policy issues involving science and technology are often daunting in scope and complexity. Many of the most important problems facing state government and business leaders can only be effectively addressed by drawing on scientific and technological expertise. CCST was created by the California Legislature in 1988 to help provide this expertise, tapping into distinguished experts from California’s academic and industrial communities for nonpartisan information and analysis. We have been asked to provide analyses on intellectual property rights, nanotechnology, agriculture, and education, to name just a few: science and technology pervade many facets of public policy. In fact, it is hard to think of a component of our lives that is not affected by science and technology. Having access to a source of independent and unbiased perspectives on these issues is an important asset for California, and one which enables state policymakers to make more informed decisions.