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Investment Strategy for Science and Technology Outlines Space Technologies 1 Science and Technology on a Mission 3 A Strategy for Science and Technology Investments 7 Director’s Initiatives 7 Predictive Biology 8 Engineering the Carbon Economy 10 Cognitive Simulation 12 Space Science and Security 13 Accelerated Materials and Manufacturing 13 Core Competencies 13 Accelerated Materials and Manufacturing 15 High-Energy-Density Science 19 High-Performance Computing, Simulation, and Data Science 24 Nuclear, Chemical, and Isotopic Science and Technology 27 Lasers and Optical Science and Technology 29 Bioscience and Bioengineering 31 Earth and Atmospheric Science 12/33 Mission Research Challenges 12 Space Science and Security 33 Quantum Science and Technology 34 Nuclear Weapons Science TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE 36 High Explosive Physics, Chemistry, and Material Science 37 Nuclear Threat Reduction 38 Chemical and Biological Countermeasures 39 Directed Energy 40 Forensic Science 42 Cybersecurity and Cyber–Physical Resilience 43 Energy and Resource Security 45 Hypersonics ii Science and Technology on a Mission Our founders created Lawrence I’d like to highlight three items in our investment approach this Livermore National Laboratory year. First, as a national resource for the U.S., LLNL is using its (LLNL) as a “new ideas” lab, a science and technology capabilities to help the nation respond place where innovative science to the COVID-19 pandemic; second, we are paying enhanced and technical solutions to the attention to the White House-identified technologies of the nation’s most difficult security future; and third, we have added hypersonics science and challenges are created. We technology as a mission research challenge. continue this tradition, living our motto, “Science and Technology In response to the COVID-19 crisis, LLNL has invested on a Mission,” by pushing the LDRD funds, and other investments, to help the nation frontier of what is or might be better understand the SARS-CoV-2 virus and help find scientifically and technically therapeutic solutions. LLNL scientists and engineers Patricia K. Falcone possible. quickly brought together LLNL’s skills in high-performance Deputy Director for Science and Technology computing, simulation, and data science with LLNL’s Team science is a hallmark of expertise in bioscience and bioengineering to rapidly launch LLNL. Effective team science research aimed at developing new therapeutics and medical is enabled through a healthy research culture of respect, countermeasures to combat COVID-19. LLNL investigators openness, interdisciplinary teaming, workforce diversity, and are combining computational and experimental resources to collaborative approaches. Mission delivery requires talented model, identify, and validate possible antiviral and antibody and committed staff, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, candidates. They are also applying machine learning tools to and robust partnerships with colleagues at other laboratories, existing medical datasets to identify risk factors for COVID-19 universities, industry, and government organizations. patients. More information is available at our COVID-19 These factors have been essential to the Laboratory’s many website: www.llnl.gov/coronavirus. achievements, and continue to be indispensable for the Laboratory’s vital missions and the advancement of science Our leadership in mission-critical science and technology can and technology. also help accelerate national leadership in areas such as those called out by the White House in the “National Strategy for Our internal institutional investments—and, in particular, our Critical and Emerging Technologies,” which outlines fields that Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) the United States will promote such as artificial intelligence, Program—support the exploration of new ideas that anticipate energy, quantum information science, communication and future needs within our national security missions. The 2021 networking technologies, semiconductors, military, and LLNL Investment Strategy for Science and Technology outlines space technologies. LLNL’s investments are already delivering the priorities for this year’s LDRD program investments and innovations in many of these fields in support of our LLNL and also informs decisions on other institutional investments National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) missions. including facilities and scientific equipment. The strategy By leveraging this work, we will improve the U.S.’s leadership describes science and technology challenges from a mission and competitive position. perspective, and looks ahead to where pushing the boundaries of new science, technology, and innovation could lead. Our In recognition of the importance of hypersonics to our objective is to invest to sustain a vibrant set of scientific and national security and our mission, we have expanded our engineering capabilities, meet long-term mission needs, and efforts in this area and called out hypersonic science and provide agility to respond to as-yet-unknown challenges. technology as a new mission research challenge. Advancing Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory • Investment Strategy for Science and Technology • January 1, 2021 1 hypersonics requires integrating science and technology at meet the challenges at these frontiers. The descriptions of the intersection of many of LLNL’s programs and disciplines, our mission, Director’s Initiatives, core competencies, and including weapons, materials science, and space security. mission research challenges highlight our capabilities and The flight profile of hypersonic vehicles differs dramatically R&D priorities that overlap with these areas. from conventional ballistic systems, subjecting the vehicle to extreme, sustained aerodynamic and aerothermal Please enjoy this description of the many opportunities conditions. This extreme flight environment demands before us, find related information on the Lab’s science and that the vehicle and payload be accordingly modified and technology website, www.st.llnl.gov, optimized with both high confidence and minimal test consult with your colleagues, and reach out with any opportunities. These demands require an understanding of questions. the physics, chemistry, nonequilibrium thermodynamics, and flight dynamics of both nominal and hostile flight We are grateful for the ability to make strategic investments conditions in this unique regime. More about the compelling that sustain Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory mission drivers and our investment approach can be found as a national resource for innovative solutions to tough, on page 40. important national security challenges. And we are determined to use these investments to keep the Laboratory LLNL places a high priority on engaging in these national an exciting and meaningful place to work for top-flight endeavors and we are enthusiastic about your ideas to scientists and engineers. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory • Investment Strategy for Science and Technology • January 1, 2021 2 introduction A Strategy for Science and Technology Investments Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) pursues Our internal institutional investments of General and “Science and Technology on a Mission.” We have an Administrative (G&A) support, Institutional Strategic enduring, demanding mission and a bold vision for the future Support (ISS)—and especially the Laboratory Directed of the Laboratory: Research and Development (LDRD) Program—provide critically needed support to explore new ideas that anticipate MISSION: To strengthen U.S. security through the the future needs of our security mission. In addition, part development and innovative application of world-class of Site Support funding is used to manage, maintain, and science and technology (S&T) to meet long-term mission upgrade general-purpose facilities and property. needs and as-yet-unknown challenges in the future. Investment in development of our workforce and team VISION: LLNL will lead in developing and applying the science are a vital component of our success. We continue S&T needed to overcome challenges to national security, to expand the definition of team through a healthy research international stability, and human progress. culture of workforce diversity, inclusion, respect, openness, interdisciplinary teaming, and external partnerships. Delivering on this Delivering on strategic vision mission requires requires a world-class fostering these workforce, state-of- At LLNL, our work is to diminish the values and strong the-art facilities and partnerships equipment, and likelihood and impact of war, of terrorism, with universities, strong partnerships and of natural and man-made disasters industry, research with academia, institutions, and industry, and through the innovative application of government government cutting-edge science and technology. organizations. organizations. All These have been essential to — William H. Goldstein, LLNL Director collaborations take the Laboratory’s many advantage of the achievements and are complementary essential to supporting the Laboratory’s emerging mission strengths of LLNL and its partners. LLNL undertakes activities needs and the advancement of science and technology. and initiatives—such as the Livermore Valley Open Campus (LVOC)—for engaging prospective partners and building Investment Approach strong relationships with them. The Laboratory’s investment approach considers the science Laboratory Missions and Mission challenges from the mission need perspective and it looks ahead to where
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