Reports
Provided below is a listing of reports that address the status of important research areas and enabling infrastructure that help identify strategic directions in support of a decades-to-century energy strategy. Reports included on this page are either directly supported by BES, or jointly with other Office of Science programs.
| Longer abstracts of these reports | [PDF file requirements] |
Basic Research Needs for Accelerator-Based Instrumentation
This brochure is based on a BES workshop on Basic Research Needs for Accelerator-Based Instrumentation, which was held on October 19-20, 2023. The workshop explored the frontiers of instrumentation that will advance accelerator-based tools with the goal of identifying priority research opportunities for novel beam instrumentations, transformational advances in beam-based characterization tools, detectors, and optics, and common areas that have a potential to significantly impact multiple accelerator science and technology domains.
BES Network Requirements Review Final Report
This report is the result of a requirements review conducted between March and September 2022 and organized by BES and the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), DOE’s high-performance network and user facility stewarded by the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program. The review’s case study methodology reveals the current and future digital workflow processes of science – the integrated data, computational, and networking requirements -- for numerous high priority science use cases for the BES program, including its 12 scientific user facilities. This deep evaluation of major science experiments and facilities, processes of science, and volume of data resulted in a wide range of findings with recommendations for the next 5-10 years, informing strategic planning for network operations and upgrades, including DOE’s Integrated Research Infrastructure and computing investments.
Foundational Science to Accelerate Nuclear Energy Innovation
This report is based on a BES Roundtable on Foundational Science to Accelerate Nuclear Energy Innovation, which was held July 20-22, 2022. The roundtable was organized by the office of Basic Energy Sciences in coordination with the offices of Nuclear Energy, Fusion Energy Sciences, and Advanced Scientific Computing Research. The roundtable report identifies five priority research opportunities to address the scientific and technical challenges for advanced nuclear energy and to accelerate progress toward the realization of next-generation fusion and fission energy systems. Building on the foundation established by previous BES workshops, these opportunities encompass recent advances in fundamental knowledge and focus on the experimental and computational methods needed to resolve major technical challenges for nuclear energy technologies.
Foundational Science for Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies
In March 2022, the US Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Sciences, in coordination with the DOE Technology Offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, and Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), convened a roundtable on “Foundational Science for Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies” to discuss the scientific and technical barriers for dilute carbon dioxide capture, conversion, and storage. The roundtable identified 5 priority research opportunities that could address these scientific and technical challenges and accelerate progress toward the realization of zero carbon emissions.
Supply Chain Risk Mitigation for Scientific Facilities and Tools
In November 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science (SC) convened a roundtable on “Supply Chain Risk Mitigation for Scientific Facilities and Tools” to gather information about current supply chain challenges in key technology areas unique to SC or critical to its mission. The roundtable brought together technical, project management, and procurement experts from DOE national laboratories, industry, academia, and other government agencies. Panelists explored opportunities, possible partnerships, and mechanisms to strengthen the domestic supply chain for critical SC technologies.
Basic Energy Sciences Roundtable on Research Opportunities in the Physical Sciences Enabled by Cryogenic Electron Microscopy
This report is based on a BES Roundtable on Research Opportunities in the Physical Sciences Enabled by Cryogenic Electron Microscopy, which was held May 4-6, 2021. The goal of the workshop was to articulate research opportunities, key science drivers, and research strategies for the BES physical sciences portfolio in the area of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM). The full impact of cryoEM in advancing the scientific understanding of matter and chemistry has not yet been fully realized. The roundtable identified 4 Priority Research Opportunities that could enable physical sciences research to take better advantage of cryoEM in addressing fundamental energy science challenges and knowledge gaps.
International Benchmarking Study Report on Critical Research Frontiers and Strategies: Can The U.S. Compete In Basic Energy Sciences?
This report from the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee examines U.S. competitiveness in critical research areas in basic energy sciences, in major research facilities and tools, and in funding mechanisms. The focused assessment considered Science for Energy Applications, Matter for Energy and Information, Industrially-relevant Science for Sustainability, Quantum Information Sciences, and Advanced Research Facilities. It provides suggested strategies that could enhance the U.S. position in comparison to its global competitors: Better integrate energy sciences research across the full spectrum—from basic to applied to industrial research; Boost support for early-career and mid-career scientists to better attract and retain talent; Increase investment in basic energy sciences research, including research and advanced research facilities and instrumentation at both universities and national labs; and Enhance opportunities for staff scientist development and research at user facilities for staff retention and to advance facility capabilities.
Foundational Science for Carbon-Neutral Hydrogen Technologies
This report is based on a BES Roundtable on Foundational Science for Carbon-Neutral Hydrogen Technologies that was held August 2-5, 2021. The roundtable was organized by the office of Basic Energy Sciences in coordination with the offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, and Nuclear Energy. The goal of the roundtable was to identify the basic science priority research opportunities (PROs) that could enable a carbon-neutral, hydrogen-based energy and chemical infrastructure. The roundtable participants were informed by the Technology Status Document, which overviewed the limitations and challenges of selected technologies for hydrogen production, storage and transport, and utilization.JPG | Brochure | Report | Technology Status Document
Office of Science User Facilities Lessons from the COVID Era and Visions for the Future
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Office of Science user facilities responded with innovations that modified many operations to create safe working conditions for staff while providing support for users and enabling facilities’ science programs to continue. To capture lessons learned, the Office of Science convened facility staff, user executive committee chairs, and users from across its user facilities in a virtual roundtable. This report summarizes the roundtable findings and identifies opportunities to provide even stronger, more resilient, and more enabling user facilities in the future, encompassing topics including user research and facility operations in virtual and physically distanced contexts; user training and engagement; computation, data, and network resources; and crosscutting issues.
The Scientific Justification for a U.S. Domestic High-Performance Reactor-Based Research Facility
The Basic Energy Science Advisory Committee (BESAC) was charged with forming a subcommittee to assess the scientific justification for a U.S. domestic high-performance reactor-based research facility in order to continue providing the U.S scientific community with leading neutron capabilities in support of DOE's missions in science, energy, environment, and national security. The assessment included consideration of current international plans and existing domestic facility infrastructure. The subcommittee held a series of meetings from August 19, 2019 to April 24, 2020 that included DOE senior officials, leaders of national and international neutron facilities (SNS, HFIR, NIST, ILL, FRM-II), chairs of the NAS and POPA HEU-LEU committees, and outside experts on important areas of science, technology, and industry where high flux nuclear reactor facilities make important contributions. Also included were tours of neutron facilities (SNS, HFIR, NIST, BR2 reactor, and the planned Jules Horowitz Reactor). This July 2020 (revised 10-28-2020) report describes scientific use cases, brief summaries of existing and planned neutron facilities in the US and Europe, a comprehensive review of HFIR, a comprehensive discussion of the current state of progress on HEU-LEU conversion, user information from NIST and ORNL, and three recommendations to DOE for moving forward.
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Basic Research Needs Workshop for Transformative Manufacturing
This report is based on a Basic Research Needs workshop for Transformative Manufacturing that was held March 9 -11, 2020. The focus of the workshop was to identify the basic science priority research directions (PRDs) that could accelerate innovation to transform manufacturing in the future. The identified PRDs provide a basic science strategy that underpins applied technology research. As manufacturing processes become increasingly data driven and fully networked, integration of autonomous sensing and control will enable greater productivity and competitiveness, requiring co-design of systems driven by science. Scientific advances will also support the design of circular processes that minimize waste and reduce the use of critical materials. Research based on these priorities will lay the scientific foundation to go beyond incremental improvements to create new, transformative technologies for manufacturing that are energy efficient and sustainable.
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Basic Energy Sciences Roundtable on Producing and Managing Large Scientific Data with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
This report is based on a BES Roundtable on Producing and Managing Large Scientific Data with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, which was held October 22-23, 2019. The goal of the roundtable was to identify coordinated, long-term AI/ML research challenges that will drive major advances in neutron, photon, and nano-based sciences.
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Basic Energy Sciences Roundtable on Liquid Solar Fuels
This report is based on a BES Roundtable on Liquid Solar Fuels, which was held August 20-21, 2019. The goal of the roundtable was to identify research opportunities to overcome scientific and technical barriers in the generation of liquid solar fuels via artificial photosynthesis.
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Basic Energy Sciences Roundtable on Chemical Upcycling of Polymers
This report is based on a BES Roundtable on Chemical Upcycling of Polymers, which was held April 30-May 1, 2019. The goal of the roundtable was to identify the fundamental challenges and research opportunities that could transform discarded plastics into higher value fuels, chemicals, and materials.
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Basic Research Needs Workshop for Microelectronics
This report is based on a workshop on Basic Research Needs for Microelectronics, which was held October 23–25, 2018, and sponsored by ASCR, BES, and HEP. The goal of the workshop was to identify basic research needs associated with advanced microelectronics technologies for applications relevant to the DOE mission, including computing, power grid management, and science facility workloads.
BES at 40: A REMARKABLE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH
This report by the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) is intended to highlight outstanding examples of major scientific accomplishments emerging from 40 years of BES research support, including how these discoveries have helped fulfill the Department of Energy’s mission and have led to new technologies and industries that contribute to American innovation and prosperity. By examining past successes, this report seeks to illuminate guiding strategies and approaches that will be critical to ensuring future U.S. leadership.
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Individual stories:
Link to Short Summaries
BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES ROUNDTABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BASIC RESEARCH AT THE FRONTIERS OF XFEL ULTRAFAST SCIENCE
This report is based on a BES Roundtable on Opportunities for Basic Research at the Frontiers of XFEL Ultrafast Science, which was held October 25 -26, 2017. The goal of the roundtable was to explore research opportunities that would leverage current and imminent ultrafast XFEL capabilities and advance the broader BES science mission.
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BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES ROUNDTABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUANTUM COMPUTING IN CHEMICAL AND MATERIALS SCIENCES
This report is based on a BES Roundtable on Opportunities for Quantum Computing in Chemical and Materials Sciences, which was held October 31 – November 1, 2017. The goal of the roundtable was to identify opportunities for quantum computing (QC) to enable significant and impactful advances in understanding of important fundamental challenges in chemical and materials sciences, including major science challenges for BES that would be prime targets for future QC, common computational or algorithmic challenges in addressing these science challenges; and computational characteristics of current and future quantum computers relevant to addressing these challenges.
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BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES ROUNDTABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BASIC RESEARCH FOR NEXT-GENERATION QUANTUM SYSTEMS
This report is based on a BES Roundtable on Opportunities for Basic Research for Next-Generation Quantum Systems, which was held October 30-31, 2017. The goal of the roundtable was to define the unique roles for BES in quantum information sciences and to provide input on future research opportunities for basic materials and chemical sciences that will enable major advances in quantum-based science and technology.
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BASIC RESEARCH NEEDS WORKSHOP FOR CATALYSIS SCIENCE
This report is based on a BES workshop on Basic Research Needs for Catalysis Science to Transform Energy Technologies, which held on May 8-10, 2017. The purpose of the workshop was to identify basic research needs for catalytic processes that underpin energy resource conversion or utilization, with a focus on new and scientifically challenging areas that have the potential to significantly impact science and technology.
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BASIC RESEARCH NEEDS WORKSHOP FOR FUTURE NUCLEAR ENERGY
This report is based on a BES workshop on Basic Research Needs for Future Nuclear Energy, which was held on August 9-11, 2017. The workshop goal was to identify high priority basic research to enable future generations of nuclear energy systems.
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BASIC RESEARCH NEEDS WORKSHOP ON ENERGY AND WATER
This report is based on a BES workshop on Basic Research Needs for Energy and Water, which was held on January 4-6, 2017. The workshop goal was to define priority research directions for: (1) enhancing the efficiency of water use in energy-intensive processes; (2) minimizing water use for energy production; and (3) increasing the availability of fresh water through new developments and improvements in energy-intensive water purification and distribution processes.
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BASIC RESEARCH NEEDS WORKSHOP ON NEXT GENERATION ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE
This report is based on a BES workshop on Basic Research Needs for Next Generation Electrical Energy Storage, which was held on March 27-29, 2017. The workshop goal was to define priority research directions that outline scientific advances to usher in a new era of electrochemical energy storage with significantly higher performance, lower cost, greater reliability, and increased safety.
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BASIC RESEARCH NEEDS WORKSHOP ON INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY OF TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIMENTAL TOOLS
This report is based on a BES workshop on Basic Research Needs for Innovation and Discovery of Transformative Experimental Tools, which was held on June 1-3, 2016. The workshop goal was to define priority research directions for the instruments and associated techniques needed to address grand challenges in energy sciences.
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BASIC RESEARCH NEEDS WORKSHOP ON SYNTHESIS SCIENCE FOR ENERGY RELEVANT TECHNOLOGY
This report, which is the result of the Basic Energy Sciences Workshop on Basic Research Needs for Synthesis Science for Energy Technologies, lays out the scientific challenges and opportunities in synthesis science. (more).
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BES WORKSHOP ON FUTURE ELECTRON SOURCES
The DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) sponsored the Future Electron Sources workshop to identify opportunities and needs for injector developments at the existing and future BES facilities. The workshop was held at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory on September 8-9, 2016. (more).
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BES COMPUTING AND DATA REQUIREMENTS IN THE EXASCALE AGE
The DOE SC Exascale Requirements Review for Basic Energy Sciences brought together key computational domain scientists and DOE planners and administrators to determine the requirements for an exascale ecosystem that includes computation, data analysis, software, workflows, HPC services, and the full range of computer requirements to support forefront scientific research in basic energy science through 2025. (more).
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BASIC RESEARCH NEEDS WORKSHOP ON Quantum Materials for Energy Relevant Technology
This report is based on a BES workshop on Basic Research Needs on Quantum Materials for Energy Relevant Technology, which was held on February 8-10, 2016. The workshop goal was to define priority research directions that would lay the foundation to better understand quantum materials and harness their rich technological potential. (more).
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Sustainable Ammonia Synthesis – Exploring the scientific challenges associated with discovering alternative, sustainable processes for ammonia production
The Office of Science, through its Offices of Basic Energy Science (BES) convened a roundtable, held on February 18, 2016. Participants in the Roundtable discussions concluded that the scientific basis for sustainable processes for ammonia synthesis is currently lacking, and it needs to be enhanced substantially before it can form the foundation for alternative processes. The Roundtable Panel identified an overarching grand challenge and several additional scientific grand challenges and research opportunities:. (more).
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Neuromorphic Computing – From Materials Research to Systems Architecture Roundtable
The Office of Science, through its Offices of Basic Energy Science (BES) and Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR), convened a roundtable consisting of 20 national lab, university and industry experts to evaluate computing architectures that go beyond Moore's Law and mimic neuro-biological architectures. The focus was on both advanced materials and scientific computing research opportunities to support development of a new paradigm for extreme and self-reconfigurable computing architectures. (more).
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Basic Research Needs for Environmental Management
This report is based on a BES/BER/ASCR workshop on Basic Research Needs for Environmental Management, which was held on July 8-11, 2015. The workshop goal was to define priority research directions that will provide the scientific foundations for future environmental management technologies, which will enable more efficient, cost-effective, and safer cleanup of nuclear waste. (more).
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Challenges at the Frontiers of Matter and Energy: Transformative Opportunities for Discovery Science
In 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science charged a panel of ranking experts with identifying key questions challenging our ability to control matter and energy,... While fully meeting these five Grand Challenges is still years down the road, significant advances have been made... In consideration of this changed landscape, the Office of Science charged the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) with assessing the progress that has been made on all five Grand Challenge fronts and identifying what new knowledge opportunities exist to advance energy science.
(more).
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Controlling Subsurface Fractures and Fluid Flow: A Basic Research Agenda
The Office of Science, through its Office of Basic Energy Science (BES), convened a roundtable consisting of 15 national lab, university and industry geoscience experts to brainstorm basic research areas that underpin the goals of the broader SubTER Technology Team efforts, and are currently underrepresented in the BES research portfolio. The roundtable participants developed a basic research agenda that is detailed in this report. (more)
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Future of Electron Scattering and Diffraction
The goal of the workshop was to identify the frontiers in electron scattering and diffraction that address Grand Challenges in chemistry, material science, physics, and biology. The workshop identified several scientific opportunities and the next generation electron scattering and diffraction instruments that would have transformative impact on many fields of science and technology. (more)
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X-ray Optics for BES Light Source Facilities
This report is based on a BES Workshop held March 27–29, 2013, to identify opportunities and needs for X-ray optics developments at the existing and future BES facilities by identifying gaps in current X-ray capabilities and what developments should have high priority to support current and future photon-based science. (more)
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Neutron and X-ray Detectors
This report is based on a BES Workshop to itemize research directions for neutron and x-ray detectors, held August 1–3, 2012, by characterizing the gaps between detector development and source advances and identifying opportunities to maximize the scientific impact for BES user facilities. (more)
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From Quanta to the Continuum: Opportunities for Mesoscale Science
This Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) report summarizes the results of meetings and web interactions (e.g., www.meso2012.com) sponsored by the BESAC Mescoscale Science Subcommittee to identify the opportunities, the challenges, and the benefits of mastering mesoscale science. (more)
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Data and Communications in Basic Energy Sciences: Creating a Pathway for Scientific Discovery
This report is based on a joint Basic Energy Sciences (BES) facilities and Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) workshop held on October 24-25, 2011 to identify opportunities and needs for data analysis, ownership, storage, mining, provenance and data transfer at light sources, neutron sources, microscopy centers and other facilities. (more)
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Research Needs and Impacts in Predictive Simulation for Internal Combustion Engines (PreSICE)
This report is based on a SC/EERE Workshop to Identify Research Needs and Impacts in Predictive Simulation for Internal Combustion Engines (PreSICE), held March 3, 2011, to determine strategic focus areas that will accelerate innovation in engine design to meet national goals in transportation efficiency. (more)
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Report of the Basic Energy Sciences Workshop on Compact Light Sources
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Compact Light Sources, held May 11-12, 2010, to evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of compact light source approaches and compared their performance to the third generation storage rings and free-electron lasers. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Carbon Capture: Beyond 2020
This report is based on a SC/FE workshop on Carbon Capture: Beyond 2020, held March 4–5, 2010, to assess the basic research needed to address the current technical bottlenecks in carbon capture processes and to identify key research priority directions that will provide the foundations for future carbon capture technologies. (more)
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Computational Materials Science and Chemistry:
Accelerating Discovery and Innovation through Simulation-Based Engineering and Science
This report is based on a SC Workshop on Computational Materials Science and Chemistry for Innovation on July 26–27, 2010, to assess the potential of state-of-the-art computer simulations to accelerate understanding and discovery in materials science and chemistry, with a focus on potential impacts in energy technologies and innovation. (more)
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Accelerator Physics for Future Light Sources
Scientific Grand Challenges: Discovery in Basic Energy Sciences: The Role of Computing at Extreme Scale
New Science for a Secure and Sustainable Energy Future
This Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) report summarizes a 2008 study by the Subcommittee on Facing our Energy Challenges in a New Era of Science to: (1) assimilate the scientific research directions that emerged from the BES Basic Research Needs workshop reports (below) into a comprehensive set of science themes, and (2) identify the new implementation strategies and tools required to accomplish the science. (more)
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Science for Energy Technology:
Strengthening the Link between Basic Research and Industry
This Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) report summarizes the results of a Workshop on Science for Energy Technology on January 18-21, 2010, to identify the scientific priority research directions needed to address the roadblocks and accelerate the innovation of clean energy technologies. The full report (August 2010) is at left; the initial report (April 2010) is at right. (more)
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Next-Generation Photon Sources for Grand Challenges in Science and Energy
This Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) report summarizes the results of an October 2008 Photon Workshop of the Subcommittee on Facing our Energy Challenges in a New Era of Science to identify connections between major new research opportunities and the capabilities of the next generation of light sources. Particular emphasis was on energy-related research. (more)
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Directing Matter and Energy: Five Challenges for Science and the Imagination
This Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC) Grand Challenges report identifies the most important scientific questions and science-driven technical challenges facing BES and describes the importance of these challenges to advances in disciplinary science, to technology development, and to energy and other societal needs. The report originated from a January 25, 2005, request from the Office of Science and is the product of numerous BESAC and Grand Challenges Subcommittee meetings and conferences in 2006-2007. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Materials under Extreme Environments
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Basic Research Needs for Materials under Extreme Environments, June 11-13, 2007, to evaluate the potential for developing revolutionary new materials that will meet demanding future energy requirements that expose materials to environmental extremes. (more)
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Basic Research Needs: Catalysis for Energy
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Basic Research Needs in Catalysis for Energy Applications, August 6-8, 2007, to identify research needs and opportunities for catalysis to meet the nation's energy needs, provide an assessment of where the science and technology now stand, and recommend the directions for fundamental research that should be pursued to meet the goals described. (more)
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Future Science Needs and Opportunities for Electron Scattering:
Next-Generation Instrumentation and Beyond
This report is based on a BES Workshop entitled "Future Science Needs and Opportunities for Electron Scattering: Next-Generation Instrumentation and Beyond," March 1–2, 2007, to identify emerging basic science and engineering research needs and opportunities that will require major advances in electron-scattering theory, technology, and instrumentation. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Electrical Energy Storage
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Basic Research Needs for Electrical Energy Storage (EES), April 2-4, 2007, to identify basic research needs and opportunities underlying batteries, capacitors, and related EES technologies, with a focus on new or emerging science challenges with potential for significant long-term impact on the efficient storage and release of electrical energy. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Geosciences: Facilitating 21st Century Energy Systems
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Basic Research Needs for Geosciences: Facilitating 21st Century Energy Systems, February 21-23, 2007, to identify research areas in geosciences, such as behavior of multiphase fluid-solid systems on a variety of scales, chemical migration processes in geologic media, characterization of geologic systems, and modeling and simulation of geologic systems, needed for improved energy systems. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Clean and Efficient Combustion of 21st Century Transportation Fuels
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Clean and Efficient Combustion of 21st Century Transportation Fuels, October 29-November 1, 2006, to identify basic research needs and opportunities underlying utilization of evolving transportation fuels, with a focus on new or emerging science challenges that have the potential for significant long-term impact on fuel efficiency and emissions. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems, July 31-August 3, 2006, to identify new, emerging, and scientifically challenging areas in materials and chemical sciences that have the potential for significant impact on advanced nuclear energy systems. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Solid-State Lighting
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Solid-State Lighting (SSL), May 22-24, 2006, to examine the gap separating current state-of-the-art SSL technology from an energy efficient, high-quality, and economical SSL technology suitable for general illumination; and to identify the most significant fundamental scientific challenges and research directions that would enable that gap to be bridged. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Superconductivity
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Superconductivity, May 8-10, 2006, to examine the prospects for superconducting grid technology and its potential for significantly increasing grid capacity, reliability, and efficiency to meet the growing demand for electricity over the next century. (more)
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The Path to Sustainable Nuclear Energy
Basic and Applied Research Opportunities for Advanced Fuel Cycles
This report is based on a small DOE-sponsored workshop held in September 2005 to identify new basic science that will be the foundation for advances in nuclear fuel-cycle technology in the near term, and for changing the nature of fuel cycles and of the nuclear energy industry in the long term. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Solar Energy Utilization
This report is based on a BES Workshop on Solar Energy Utilization, April 18–21, 2005, to examine the challenges and opportunities for the development of solar energy as a competitive energy source and to identify the technical barriers to large-scale implementation of solar energy and the basic research directions showing promise to overcome them. (more)
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Advanced Computational Materials Science:
Application to Fusion and Generation IV Fission Reactors
This report is based on a workshop held March 31–April 2, 2004, to determine the degree to which an increased effort in modeling and simulation could help bridge the gap between the data that is needed to support the implementation of advanced nuclear technologies and the data that can be obtained in available experimental facilities. (more)
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Opportunities for Discovery:
Theory and Computation in Basic Energy Sciences
This report is based on the deliberations of the BESAC Subcommittee on Theory and Computation following meetings on February 22 and April 17–16, 2004, to obtain testimony and discuss input from the scientific community on research directions for theory and computation to advance the scientific mission of the Office of Basic Energy Sciences. (more)
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Nanoscience Research for Energy Needs
This report is based upon a BES-cosponsored National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) Workshop held March 16–18, 2004, by the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to address the Grand Challenge in Energy Conversion and Storage set out in the NNI. This report was originally released on June 24, 2004, during the Department of Energy NanoSummit. The second edition that is provided here was issued in June 2005. (more)
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DOE-NSF-NIH Workshop on Opportunities in THz Science
This report is based on a Workshop on Opportunities in Terahetrz (THz) Science held February 12–14, 2004, to discuss basic research problems that can be answered using THz radiation. The workshop did not focus on the wide range of potential applications of THz radiation in engineering, defense and homeland security, or the commercial and government sectors of the economy. The workshop was jointly sponsored by DOE, NSF, and NIH. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for the Hydrogen Economy
This report is based upon the BES Workshop on Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Use, held May 13-15, 2003, to identify fundamental research needs and opportunities in hydrogen production, storage, and use, with a focus on new, emerging and scientifically challenging areas that have the potential to have significant impact in science and technologies. (more)
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Theory and Modeling in Nanoscience
This report is based upon the May 10–11, 2002, workshop conducted jointly by the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee and the Advanced Scientific Computing Advisory Committees to identify challenges and opportunities for theory, modeling, and simulation in nanoscience and nanotechnology and to investigate the growing and promising role of applied mathematics and computer science in meeting those challenges. (more)
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Opportunities for Catalysis in the 21st Century
This report is based upon a Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee subpanel workshop that was held May 14–16, 2002, to identify research directions to better understand how to design catalyst structures to control catalytic activity and selectivity. (more)
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Biomolecular Materials
This report is based upon the January 13–15, 2002, workshop sponsored by the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee to explore the potential impact of biology on the physical sciences, in particular the materials and chemical sciences. (more)
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Basic Research Needs to Assure a Secure Energy Future
This report is based upon a Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee workshop that was held in October 2002 to assess the basic research needs for energy technologies to assure a reliable, economic, and environmentally sound energy supply for the future.
The workshop discussions produced a total of 37 proposed research directions. (more)
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Basic Research Needs for Countering Terrorism
This report is based upon a BES workshop on basic research needs to counter terrorism that was held on February 28 and March 1, 2002, to identify connections between technology needs for countering terrorism and underlying science issues and to recommend investment strategies to increase the impact of basic research on efforts to counter terrorism. (more)
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Complex Systems: Science for the 21st Century
This report is based upon a BES workshop, March 5–6, 1999, which was designed to help define new scientific directions related to complex systems in order to create new understanding about the nano world and complicated, multicomponent structures. (more)
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Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology Research Directions
This report illustrates the wide range of research opportunities and challenges in nanoscale science, engineering and technology. It was prepared in 1999 in connection with the interagency national research initiative on nanotechnology. (more)
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