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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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.
Q&A With the 2023 Open Quantum Initiative Fellows
Eight OQI undergraduate fellows recently completed quantum research experiences that contributed to Q-NEXT R&D.
Students Discover the Mathematics Within Dragonfly Wings
A new example of math in nature has been discovered by researchers who found that the “golden angle” exists in the vein pattern on dragonfly wings.
A Community Approach to Fixing Biology’s Big Data Problems
The National Microbiome Data Collaborative is training ambassadors to spread best practices in data collection & processing for scientific discoveries

University and Stakeholder News

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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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Three UC Irvine Engineers Involved in Energy Earthshot Initiative
The DOE-funded projects will accelerate innovations toward more clean energy solutions.
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Physics Professor Wins $650,000 Grant for Quantum Computing Research
St. Olaf College Associate Professor of Physics Prabal Adhikari has been awarded a Funding for Accelerated, Inclusive Research grant by DOE.
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UGA's Dewey Selected as DOE Outstanding Graduate Student
University of Georgia student Nicholas Dewey is one of 60 graduate students selected for DOE's Office of Science Graduate Student Research program.
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Recently Featured Articles

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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