Governor urges focus on lab work

Deirdre Newman

One of the facets of a science initiative that Gov. Gray Davis

announced Friday urges a greater focus on science laboratory work in

public schools.

The initiative primarily focuses on boosting life-saving research

and product development throughout the state. The increased emphasis

on lab work is designed to help ensure a ready supply of trained and

skilled workers.

But some Newport-Mesa officials question how the governor can even

consider asking them to do more in any area when he already proposed

slashing $1.9 billion from the state education budget in mid-year

cuts.

“It’s interesting he would be continuing to give us mandates while

he’s going to cut our budget mid-year,” said trustee David Brooks.

Since the initiative does not specify in which science subjects

laboratory work should be increased, it leaves a lot of unanswered

questions, Brooks said.

But Brooks emphasized that the district already does consider

science instruction a top priority.

“Science is one of the areas we are very concerned with and one we

have put a lot of time, money and effort into, especially in the labs

with the science teachers,” Brooks said.

Other components of the initiative include:

* Davis is directing Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency

Secretary Lon Hatamiya to coordinate efforts with the Labor and

Workforce Development Agency, Department of Education and other

agencies to review existing programs and resources that can be

redirected to support the life sciences industry;

* Davis is also directing Hatamiya to work closely with the

University of California’s Office of the President, and the

Technology Transfer offices of each UC campus, to develop strategies

that accelerate the transfer of technology and its commercialization,

standardize the licensing process for the UC system and give the

local UC Technology Transfer Offices more autonomy;

* To ensure that the industry always has a ready supply of

trained and skilled workers in California, Davis has asked state

community colleges and universities to develop more clinical science

and laboratory programs

* Davis will make California more aggressive in partnering with

the federal government through the six Regional Technology Alliances

and other programs so that California companies can take full

advantage of the several federal grant programs available to fund

life sciences research and commercial development.

“Each of these initiatives can be accomplished within the

resources available to us even in the current budget situation,”

Davis said in a press release. “When it comes to creating jobs,

promoting business and making California prosperous, California will

not wait around for national or international conditions to change,

but will take charge of its own future.”