CCST's collaboration with the National Academies has entered a new phase as former National Academy of Sciences President Bruce Alberts joined the CCST Board.

"CCST plays a unique role as the first organization of its kind to provide S&T public policy advice to a state government in a way similar to the National Research Council" said Alberts. "High-quality science and technology advice is crucial for policymaking, and CCST is in a position to help California policymakers access that advice much more effectively."

Alberts, who stepped down from the presidency of NAS and chairmanship of the National Research Council after serving two six-year terms, returned to his faculty position at the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco in the summer of 2005.

"It is great to return to my wonderful life of research and teaching at UCSF," said Alberts. "But I am also glad that CCST will offer an opportunity to continue some of the work begun during my time at the National Academies."

During his tenure at the National Academies, Alberts led the effort to develop the landmark National Science Education Standards, which provides a vision for excellent science learning for all students. He initiated the National Academies' Teaching About Evolution and the Nature of Science, a book aimed to help U.S. science teachers improve the teaching of fundamental principles of biology. Alberts also is a lead author of the preeminent textbook, The Molecular Biology of the Cell, now in its fourth edition.

"Science education was a cornerstone of my NAS presidency," said Alberts. "This commitment continues as I return to California. I am pleased to see that CCST is championing the California Teacher Advisory Council, which is modeled after the National Academies' National Teacher Advisory Council, established in 2002. Creating a mechanism to bring the voices of experienced teachers to policymakers is a critical element of a larger strategy to understand what's happening in our science and math education system, and then communicate what works to policymakers."

As president of NAS, Alberts also served as chairman of the National Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academies that conducts independent science, engineering, and health policy studies.

"CCST has been an important bridge between policymakers and the science and technology community in California," said Alberts. "California benefits from the connection with the National Academies, but over time, it also will be beneficial for the National Academies to develop stronger connections at the state level."