As we enter of the 21st century, many of the most pressing public policy issues have a strong science and technology component. How can we develop clean sources of energy that reduce our dependence on Middle East oil and the emission of greenhouse gases? Will the rapid proliferation of advanced biotechnologies increase the chance of biological attack against the United States? How can we use information technology to reduce medical errors and the administrative cost of our healthcare system?

Unfortunately, elected officials and their staff often lack the technical expertise to make the informed decisions on these issues. Furthermore, scientists and engineers rarely engage in the political and policy process. They may not have the training to communicate effectively with a lay audience. They may not understand the decision-making process, the nature of political institutions, and the tools of governance.

UC Berkeley is in a unique position to help bridge this divide because of the depth and breadth of its excellence in science, engineering, social science, and public policy. Multidisciplinary initiatives such as CITRIS (Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society) seek to develop new technologies that address major societal challenges. The newly formed Science, Technology and Society Center seeks to advance understanding of scientific and technological practice and knowledge in their domestic, national and international settings.

To encourage greater interest in science and technology policy issues, UC Berkeley students are committed to organizing a white paper competition and conference on "Science, Technology and Engineering Policies."

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