Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL, Berkeley Lab) is a federally funded research and development center in the hills of Berkeley, California, and Oakland, California, United States. Established in 1931 by the University of California (UC), the laboratory is sponsored by the United States Department of Energy and administered by the UC system.
United States Department of EnergyThe United States Department of Energy (DOE) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government that oversees national energy policy and energy production, the research and development of nuclear power, the military's nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy-related research, and energy conservation. The DOE was created in 1977 in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis.
Federally funded research and development centersFederally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) are public–private partnerships that conduct research and development for the United States government. Under Federal Acquisition Regulation§ 35.017, FFRDCs are operated by universities and corporations to fulfill certain long-term needs of the government that "...cannot be met as effectively by existing in-house or contractor resources."
Manhattan ProjectWorld War II Allied nuclear weapons programMilitary unitThe Manhattan Project was a research and development program undertaken during World War II to produce the first nuclear weapons. It was led by the United States in collaboration with the United Kingdom and Canada. The Manhattan Project employed nearly 130,000 people at its peak and cost nearly US$2 billion (equivalent to about $28 billion in 2024).
National securityNational security, or national defense (national defence in British English), is the security and defence of a sovereign state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government.
LaboratoryA laboratory (UK: ; US: ; colloquially lab) is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed.
Research and developmentResearch and development (R&D or R+D), aka Research and Technical (or Technological) Development (RTD), is the set of innovative activities undertaken by corporations, wealthy industrialists, or governments in developing new services or products. R&D constitutes the first stage of development of a potential new service or the production process.
Climate and energyIn the 21st century, the Earth's climate and its energy policy interact and their relationship is studied and governed by a variety of national and international institutions. The connection stems from the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, for electricity, heat, and transportation directly relating to greenhouse gases increasing the atmospheric temperature.
ResearchSystematic study undertaken to increase knowledgeResearch is creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge. It involves the collection, organization, and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness to controlling sources of bias and error. These activities are characterized by accounting and controlling for biases. A research project may be an expansion of past work in the field.PhysicsPhysics is the scientific study of matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. It is one of the most fundamental scientific disciplines. A scientist who specializes in the field of physics is called a physicist. Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines.
Public healthPromoting health through informed choicesVarious aspects of public health: From top to bottom: Community health worker in Mali, vaccination example (COVID-19 vaccination in Germany), historical sewer installation photo from the United States, anti-smoking campaign in India.Public health is "the science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals".Private sectorThe private sector is the part of the economy which is owned by private groups, usually as a means of establishment for profit or non profit, rather than being owned by the government.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.