UT-Battelle’s plan for ORNL is guided by the commitment to achieving Simultaneous Excellence in the areas of Science and Technology, Laboratory Operations, and Community Service.

 

Science and Technology

  • Expanded Research Capabilities – Expand ORNL’s research capabilities in the areas of neutron science, energy, high-performance computing, systems biology, materials science at the nanoscale, and national security
  • Stronger University Partnerships – Establish additional relationships with major research universities to generate more joint appointments, collaborative research, graduate student opportunities, and regional support for ORNL
  • Support DOE Mission Areas – Ensure that ORNL maintains a contribution of relevant and impactful programs to DOE’s mission areas

Laboratory Operations

  • Integrated Safety Management – Plan and perform Laboratory operations in a reliable and effective manner to protect the
    environment, safety, and health of our staff and the public
  • More R&D per Dollar Spent – Optimize research facilities while minimizing operational costs and shutting down facilities in which safe operations or adequate mission support work cannot be sustained
  • Revitalization of ORNL Facilities – Provide new facilities as a commitment to the Lab’s future:
    • Chemical and Materials Sciences Building
    • Joint Institute for Neutron Sciences
    • User Housing Facility
    • Cafeteria for Spallation Neutron Source and Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences

Spallation Neutron Source

  • World-Class Staff – Develop a world-class in-house research staff
  • Education Outreach – Promote neutron scattering education across the U.S.
  • SNS User Program – Promote outreach and provide for effective and convenient access for all potential SNS users

Physical and Computational Sciences

  • Advanced Materials – Be a leading center for the design, synthesis and characterization of advanced materials and the processes that lead to future energy technologies
  • Materials Leadership – Maintain a leadership role in materials and chemical sciences and position ORNL for leadership in nanoscale science and technology
  • Key Capabilities – Enhance key capabilities in materials, chemical, and physical sciences with particular emphasis on synthesis, characterization and theory
  • Ultrascale Computing – Become the world leader in using computing as a tool for scientific discovery
  • Computing Leadership – Maintain leadership in scientific computing by rapidly deploying the most powerful open computing resources
    Climate Change Simulation – Play an expanded role in modeling climate change

Energy and Engineering Technologies

  • Energy Research – Become the world’s leading multi-program energy research and development laboratory
  • Innovative Technology – Provide technology that will enhance the nation’s energy production, distribution, and use
  • Nuclear Research and Development – Expand and strengthen ORNL’s science and technology role in nuclear fission and fusion energy, and nonproliferation
  • Energy Supply – provide leadership in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, bio-energy, fossil energy, and electricity transmission

Biological and Environmental Sciences

  • Bioenergy Focus – Develop a world-leading research program in the biosciences and build on our leadership position in the environmental sciences to develop a world-leading climate change R&D program
  • Environmental Change – Apply our world-leading research program and field research facilities to the study of the effects of environmental change
  • Systems Biology – Develop partnerships and collaborations that promote increased scientific understanding in the areas of genomics, structural biology, computational biology, and technology

National Security

  • Distinctive Support – Provide support for nonproliferation, arms control, and national and homeland security programs
  • National Resource – Become a preferred national resource for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives research, development, testing, and evaluation
  • Infrastructure Support – Solidify and expand ORNL’s role in sustainable infrastructure support and security training

Communications and External Relations

  • Education Partnerships – Enhance our role as the region’s premier supporter of science education
  • Economic Partnerships – Establish ORNL as an active participant with state and regional economic development groups
  • Civic and Cultural Partnerships – Coordinate a program of corporate outreach that includes robust community volunteerism and highly visible legacy projects

Partnerships

  • Strategic Partnerships – Promote partnerships with industry, economic development organizations and academia
  • Industrial Outreach – Expand our already robust intellectual property management, commercialization and sponsored research activities
  • Lab of the South – Enhance ORNL’s position as the “Lab of the South” by strengthening existing partnerships and cultivating new ones
  • Science and Technology Park – Link with new Oak Ridge Science & Technology Park businesses in ways that benefit both ORNL and our partners