Our Mission

DOE’s Office of Science has a mission to deliver scientific discoveries and major scientific tools to transform our understanding of nature and advance the energy, economic, and national security of the United States. We are the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences and are a major supporter of research in such key scientific fields as physics, materials science, computing, and chemistry. We are also the lead federal agency supporting fundamental scientific research related to energy.

To keep America in the forefront of discovery and innovation, we sponsor research at hundreds of universities, national laboratories, and other institutions across the country. We also build and maintain a vitally important array of large-scale scientific facilities at the DOE national laboratories, which are used by thousands of researchers every year.

About the Office of Science

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The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science is the nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, the steward of 10 DOE national laboratories, and the lead federal agency supporting fundamental research for energy production and security. Our job is to keep America at the forefront of discovery. This video is an overview of the Office of Science’s mission, people, and resources.
Video courtesy of DOE's Office of Science

Science Headlines

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Sourcing Success: Meet Kelli Kizer, a Driving Force Behind Advanced Photon Source Procurement
Kizer and her team work with vendors to purchase the pieces that will make the APS’ X-ray beams shine 500 times brighter following the upgrade.
A Promising Pairing: Scientists Demonstrate New Combination of Materials for Quantum Science
Researchers combined two nanosized structures — one made of diamond and one of lithium niobate — onto a single chip and obtained 92% efficiency.
Newly Released Roadmap for Particle Physics Includes Support for Berkeley Lab Projects
The 2023 P5 Report lays out a 10-year plan for federal investments in particle physics, with support for Berkeley Lab projects.
The A+ Team Tackles AI and Quantum Computing Hardware
Jefferson Lab leads a multidisciplinary team selected by DOE to advance a superconducting approach to advanced computer chip technology.

University and Stakeholder News

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Illinois Researchers Create Copper Molecule That Exhibits Fastest Ever Electron Transfer Rates
The transfer rates seem in opposition to a fundamental hypothesis that blue copper proteins do fast electron transfer because they are rigid.
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Plants' Secret to Surviving Shorter Days
New research from Michigan State University shows how plants have adapted to deal with losing daylight.
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Unusual Alloys Are a Key Step in Next-Gen Nuclear Energy
Alloys are good at resisting irradiation because their lattice structures are distorted, making it difficult for irradiation-driven defects to form.
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Nanoparticle Quasicrystal Contsructed with DNA
Nanoengineers have created a quasicrystal—a scientifically intriguing and technologically promising material structure—from nanoparticles using DNA.
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Science Highlights

Dept. of Energy Office of Science delivers scientific discoveries, tools for the nation via programs in Advanced Scientific Computing Research; Basic Energy Sciences; Biological & Environmental Research; Fusion Energy Sciences; High Energy Physics; Nuclear Physics. Also supports Accelerator Research; Isotope Research; Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer; 5 national quantum centers; 2 energy innovation hubs. Stewards 10 DOE national labs. 100-plus Nobel Prizes, $8.1 billion budget.

The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Image courtesy of the Department of Energy Office of Science