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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Urban Climate Research Project Helps Shape Minority Students' Science Identity
Students from across the Chicago region worked closely with Argonne scientists to tackle future urban climate challenges.
A Breakthrough Discovery Could Accelerate the Arrival of Controlled Fusion Energy on Earth
Researchers led by PPPL have unveiled a promising approach to mitigating damaging runaway electrons created by disruptions in tokamak fusion devices.
Nuclear Safeguards, Security in Information Age Requires Integrated Approach
AI approaches like machine learning offer means to manage huge amounts of geospatial data but implementation is complex & requires unique capabilities
Ashley James Wins 2023 Klein Award for Studying Mercury Poisoning
James' research on chronic and acute mercury exposure challenges conventional views.

University and Stakeholder News

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Novel Quantum Speed Limits Tackle Messy Reality of Disorder
Researchers described novel methods for pulling insights from the mess created by disorder and identified new types of quantum speed limits that apply
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Climate Win-Win: Enhanced Weathering
Agriculture releases sizable amounts of soil-derived carbon to the atmosphere as CO2, but silicate rock applied to farmland can capture that carbon.
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Brandenburg Selected for DOE's Early Career Research Program
Assistant professor Daniel Brandenburg will research a recently discovered quantum entanglement effect for studying matter in unprecedented detail.
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Bahar Asgari Receives Department of Energy Early Career Award
Central to Asgari’s research is the concept of merging hardware and software in a manner reminiscent of the intricate processes of the human brain.
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Science Highlights

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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, $7.5 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