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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Rubin Observatory Will Unlock Fossil Record of Galaxy Cluster Evolution
Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s fast-moving telescope & huge digital camera will illuminate the faint glow of free-floating stars within galaxy clusters.
Using Supercomputers to Help Companies Advance Clean Energy Technologies
Argonne’s high performance computing systems and expertise will help industry address challenges in manufacturing and materials development.
New Carbon Material Sets Energy-Storage Record, Likely to Advance Supercapacitors
Chemists designed a record-setting carbonaceous supercapacitor material that stores four times more energy than the best commercial material.
X-rays Reveal Unexpected Protein Function in Plants
A team of scientists has revealed an unexpected function of a transport protein and its role in plant regulatory mechanisms.

University and Stakeholder News

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MSU Researchers Secure Significant DOE Grant to 'Unfold the Mystery of Enhanced Brightness' in LEDs
Researchers will study tailoring the brightness of lead halide perovskites, which show promise in LEDs, solar cells, and photodetectors.
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Yale Awarded Energy Earthshot to Study Natural Carbon Capture
A Yale professor is leading a DOE study that explores promising methods to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change.
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NIU Physicist Lands $600k Grant to Investigate Accelerator Technology
DOE awards Professor Bela Erdelyi with a $600,000 grant over three years to study a new type of particle accelerator to be used in discovery science.
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Liangbing Hu is Key PI of New Energy Earthshot Research Center
Materials science and engineering professor Hu joined a new research center aimed at developing processes that will reduce greenhouse emissions.
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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