Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Advanced Light Source building (52230759447)

Integrative Genomics Building (52230758417)

Molecular Foundry Berkeley

University of California Radiation Laboratory staff on the magnet yoke for the 60-inch cyclotron, 1938

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), also known as Berkeley Lab, is a United States Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratory managed by the University of California. Located in the hills above the University of California, Berkeley campus, it conducts scientific research across a wide range of disciplines including energy production, environmental science, biomedical research, and quantum computing.

History

The laboratory was founded in 1931 by Ernest Orlando Lawrence, a University of California, Berkeley physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1939 for the invention of the cyclotron, a type of particle accelerator. Originally named the University of California Radiation Laboratory, it was the first of the DOE's national laboratories. The lab has been the site of many scientific breakthroughs and has produced thirteen Nobel Prize winners over its history.

Research and Development

Berkeley Lab is renowned for its multidisciplinary research teams that engage in a wide array of scientific investigations. Its research divisions include:

• Advanced Light Source (ALS): A user facility that produces intense light for scientific and technological research, particularly in materials science and biology.
• Computational Research: Focuses on computational science and engineering to solve complex scientific and technical problems.
• Energy Technologies Area (ETA): Develops solutions for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental impacts of energy use.
• Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology: Studies the molecular basis of environmental and energy-related processes.
• Materials Sciences: Researches new materials with novel properties for energy applications.
• Nuclear Science: Investigates the fundamental properties of nuclei, nuclear energy and its applications.

Facilities

Berkeley Lab operates several notable facilities, including the Advanced Light Source, the National Center for Electron Microscopy, and the Molecular Foundry, among others. These facilities provide advanced tools for both internal research and use by external scientists from academia and industry.

Impact and Contributions

Berkeley Lab has made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in various fields. It played a key role in the discovery of sixteen chemical elements, including californium, berkelium, and seaborgium, named in honor of the laboratory and its researchers. The lab also contributes to environmental science, including studies on climate change and the development of sustainable energy technologies.

Governance and Organization

As a DOE national laboratory, Berkeley Lab is overseen by the United States Department of Energy. The University of California manages the lab through a contractual agreement with the DOE, ensuring that it aligns with both the university's and the federal government's research priorities.

Community and Education

Berkeley Lab is committed to educating the next generation of scientists and engineers. It offers educational programs, internships, and fellowships for students and early-career researchers. The lab also engages with the community through public lectures, tours, and science outreach activities.

See Also

• Ernest Orlando Lawrence
• National Laboratories (United States)
• Particle accelerator
• Nobel Prize in Physics