Message from Horst Simon
Dear Colleagues:
As 2020 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on a roller coaster year.
Despite the challenges we faced this year, we have accomplished much. We are actively participating in research that addresses the pandemic. Our recent research successes are too numerous to name, but many have been recognized by internal and external awards, including the recent Lab Director’s Awards, the R&D 100 Awards, and the Falling Walls international competition. We successfully won bids to lead or co-lead very significant research initiatives that can change the world: the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI), the Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA), the Liquid Sunlight Alliance (LiSA), and the Next-Generation Cosmic Microwave Background Experiment (CMB-S4). Congratulations to all!
And we continue to focus on strategic initiatives that build on the Lab’s unique strengths. As an example, the Office of National Homeland Security is working to expand our opportunities with the Department of Defense and security agencies. Below, you will read a story about how the Lab is exploring negative emissions technology opportunities. The lab also recently hired Noël Bakhtian as the Executive Director of our Energy Storage Center in order to leverage our deep expertise in energy storage into new and emerging opportunities. This includes research and development in all types of energy storage, extending beyond batteries and fuel cells to encompass a broad range of storage technologies, including chemical and thermal storage, mechanical storage, flexible generation and loads, and more.
There are other priorities that we will continue to work on. Research integrity is an area of critical importance to each of us; stay tuned for news on this front. I expect us to do more outreach and training with initiatives led by a new head of the Research Integrity Office who will be joining us shortly. And while we still have work to do, we are taking the right steps to improve our diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.
To ensure that we are maximizing the use of our resources for strategic work, we need to continue to be good stewards. For example, we must make wise use of our funds. In the past months my office has received requests for funding to cover expenses like unapproved relocation costs and unallowable office expenses (unallowable per our contract with the DOE). Such expenses directly reduce the funds we have available for discretionary research activities. I want to encourage all of you to be good stewards of the projects entrusted to you, and watch expenses carefully.
Next year is the Lab’s 90th Anniversary. I feel that we are emerging from a challenging time stronger than ever and focused on the things that maximize our contribution to science and to society. I am extremely proud of what we have all accomplished together and look forward to next year. My deepest thanks to each of you for all your hard work and perseverance and wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season.
Best regards,
Horst Simon
Deputy Laboratory Director for Research
Chief Research Officer
New Website for the Office of the Deputy Lab Director for Research
The Office of the Deputy Lab Director for Research (ODLDR) has a new website! Check this site for information about the services provided by the Office, contacts, links related to funding opportunities, training and development, policies and guidance, news and past editions of Research News, and more.
Negative Emissions: Exploring Opportunities for the Planet and the Lab
Negative emissions has been an area of growing interest as a potential area of strategic growth at the Lab. A group at the Lab named the Negative Emissions Exploratory Technologies (NEXT) Working Group has been thinking about the Lab’s role in this space. This can include the exploration of new approaches for long term carbon sequestration in ecosystems and in deep geological reservoirs, securing geological confinement, adsorption via direct air capture, bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration, and systems engineering, among others. Read more about this emerging initiative.
Advisory Committees and Working Groups Supporting Lab Research
Have you wondered about the various committees and working groups that support the Office of the Deputy Laboratory Director for Research? Learn more about the Conflict of Interest Advisory Committee (COIAC), the Lab Staff Committee (LSC), the Research Opportunity Assessment and Development (ROAD) working group, and the Strategic Partnership and Intellectual Property Advisory Committee (SPIPAC).
Disclose Your Foreign Government-Sponsored and Affiliated Activities by Nov. 30
The Lab highly values international collaboration and open science. We are also required to protect U.S. government-funded intellectual property. If you are participating in a foreign government talent recruitment program, or a foreign government-sponsored or affiliated activity supported by a country of risk, the Lab requires that you disclose these activities by November 30 to comply with recent DOE Orders. If you are unsure whether the new requirement applies to you, email ForeignTalent@lbl.gov. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action, so don’t delay!
Export Control Requirements for International Shipments
Are you shipping something overseas? All outbound international shipments must undergo export control review before shipment. Learn how to expedite the processing of your international shipment.
Safe Utility Use at the Lab
Some of the most underrated hazards in a lab involve utilities such as water, gas, and electricity. Our current shelter in place environment increases the threat of unattended equipment failure. For example, recently, a connection failure between a piece of experimental equipment and the building water caused approximately 1,000 gallons of water to flood a building, resulting in extensive damage and loss of the use of the labs.
Read more about how to use utilities properly and protect Lab colleagues, research, equipment, and infrastructure.
Lab Launches Experts Directory for Media
Strategic Communications responds to dozens of media inquiries every month. In addition to inquiries about Lab research, reporters may also be looking for scientists to comment on other researchers’ studies or events in the news. Now the Lab has launched an Experts Directory intended to assist news reporters looking for scientists to interview on a given topic. It currently has more than 120 experts in 30+ topic areas.
Discussing your research with the media can enhance the Lab’s reputation as a global leader in science. If you have interest and experience in speaking to the media, review the Lab’s media interactions policy and these resources and contact communications@lbl.gov.