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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Putting an End to Plastic Separation Anxiety
Researchers have developed a process to break down the mixture of conventional and bio-based plastics that ends up at recycling centers.
Argonne Receives Funding to Advance Diversity in STEM
The funding is part of a new initiative aimed at fostering diversity in STEM and advancing innovative research opportunities.
DOE to Deploy Advanced Observatory to Alabama
A major study will seek to unravel complexity of how forestland-atmosphere interactions impact weather and climate in Southeastern U.S.
DOE Office of Science Director Visits ORNL Climate Research Facilities
The first climate scientist to head the Office of Science, Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, visited two field research facilities in Minnesota and Alaska.

University and Stakeholder News

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Making More Magnetism Possible With Topology
MIT researchers show how topology can help create magnetism at higher temperatures.
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Revolutionizing Predictive Approaches for the Performance of Rechargeable Batteries
Researchers at Texas A&M and PNNL have discovered how the solid–electrolyte interphase critically governs the performance of rechargeable batteries.
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U.S. Dept. Of Energy Funds $800K Groundbreaking CCNY Plasma Research
CCNY’s Grove School mechanical engineer Yang Liu leads a DOE-supported project to develop critical processes in plasma-based research.
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ODU Physicist’s Research into Quarks, Gluons Gets Boost from $875,000 Federal Grant
Felix Ringer recently received the distinguished Early Career Research Award from the U.S. Department of Energy.
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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