October 8, 2009

DOE EPSCoR Review Encourages Scientific Collaboration Between Labs, Universities

The annual review of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), hosted by Brookhaven National Laboratory, was held on July 20–23, 2009 in Hauppauge, New York. More than 100 participants representing 22 of the 25 EPSCoR states and eight DOE laboratories participated in the review.

EPSCoR is a federal-state partnership program designed to help the DOE lead the world in meeting energy needs through increased competition in energy-related research and development across the nation. The mission of DOE EPSCoR is to support basic research activities spanning the broad range of science and technology programs within DOE, and to increase the number of scientists and engineers in energy-related areas.

Tim Fitzsimmons, the DOE EPSCoR Program Manager, welcomed the participants and set the tone of the meeting, stating that "a major goal of the EPSCoR meeting is to stimulate interactions between the university community and the DOE national laboratories."

Participants were then introduced to the scientific and collaborative opportunities available at BNL in introductory talks about the Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) by Emilio Mendez, the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) by Chi-Chang Kao, and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) by Tom Ludlam. These talks were followed by afternoon tours of the three facilities. Many of the participants had never visited the facilities before and several were motivated to explore possible collaborations.

Presentations of research funded by the EPSCoR program were organized into four sessions: synchrotron-based research; nuclear physics; theory, modeling, and simulation; and nanoscience/nanotechnology. In the first two talks of these sessions, Randy Headrick, an NSLS contributing user from the University of Vermont, described his research on real time x-ray studies of surface patterning and thin film deposition and Janet Seger, Creighton University, described a study of ultra-peripheral collisions at RHIC. Also highlighting BNL research, in the theory, modeling, and simulation session, Ping Liu (from BNL's CFN and Chemistry Department) presented her research on the water-gas-shift reaction on metal-oxide catalysts. An impressive range of topics were covered in the presentations, from a study of novel quantum phenomena in ruthenates (Zhiqiang Mao, Tulane University) to a study of the influence of sea ice on artic marine sulfur biogeochemistry (Clara Deal, University of Alaska).

The attendees also were treated to a luncheon presentation on x-ray microscopy by Janos Kirz (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). Besides the invited presentations, the program review included two lively and informative poster sessions, which provided an excellent opportunity for more informal scientific discussions and networking. The evening sessions included two keynote addresses: the first by Phillip Boudjouk (VP of Energy Research, Creative Activities and Technology Transfer, North Dakota State University), who described "Growing High Tech on the Great Plains" and the second by Mark Torpey (New York State Research and Development Authority), who talked about "The Importance of Public/Private Partnerships in the Energy Sector." These presentations emphasized opportunities afforded by energy-related research and development activities.

Following the scientific presentation and keynote addresses, there were talks by Bill Valdez (Director, DOE Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists) and Larry James (Program Manager, DOE Small Business Industrial Research and Small Business Technology Transfer) who, respectively, described partnership opportunities to develop a strong technological workforce and to enhance the transition of research and development ideas to the marketplace.

The final session consisted of a panel of representatives from the eight DOE labs in attendance. This informative session not only included presentations and discussions on proposal writing, user access, and working with the national labs, but also allowed for parallel breakout sessions that gave attendees the chance to speak with national laboratory representatives one-on-one for informal discussions regarding specific opportunities for collaboration and to answer detailed questions about becoming a facility user.

More information about the EPSCoR program can be found at http://www.science.doe.gov/bes/EPSCoR/.