PNNL building toward brighter future
BYLINE: Mike Kluse; PNNL Interim Director
As the interim laboratory director at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, I am pleased to share with you a glimpse into PNNL's bright future. This Laboratory has been key to the Tri-Cities' growing economic development and thriving quality of life for more than 42 years. I believe the next five years will be even better.
As a national laboratory operated for the Department of Energy, PNNL has long been solving some of the nation's toughest challenges. We have further honed our focus on four areas where we believe we can make the most significant contributions in science, technology and leadership.¤
At the heart of our efforts is strengthening U.S. scientific foundations for innovation. One way we accomplish this is through better understanding of living systems so that we can anticipate and treat diseases, or mitigate environmental problems.
Building on fundamental science strengths, we are helping to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil. With research and development in fuel cells and hydrogen storage, we're paving the way for renewable and other sources of energy. We also are developing processes that can convert some of the nation's vast coal reserves into liquid fuels without harming air or water, and methods to turn biomass into fuels and chemicals.¤
As we look to cleaner and more efficient energy, we also are developing ways to better steward environmental resources and clean up legacy wastes. Our substantial capabilities in atmospheric science, for example, are put to work developing models that show how energy choices can affect climate and weather patterns.¤ We also are providing technical expertise for building the Waste Treatment Plant at Hanford.
Of course, some of the nation's toughest challenges come as threats to our security. PNNL is positioned to help the U.S. prevent terrorism and address proliferation of weapons of mass destruction using a wide range of technologies. As part of the Radiation Portal Monitor Project, our staff helped install radiation portal monitors at the Halifax International Airport in Nova Scotia, Canada, to scan passenger baggage for illicit radioactive materials. This represents the first time the U.S. has screened checked bags for radiation using the same screening standards for seaports and land border crossings.
The science and technology "business" of PNNL is critical to DOE and the nation, as well as key to the economic well-being of the local community and region. Battelle, as the manager and operator of PNNL for DOE for more than 40 years, has invested in the communities in which our staff work and live. Science and math education has been a cornerstone of our support, and this past year we have made even deeper investments.¤ With $750,000 from Battelle, the Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform program, will expand across Washington.¤
We remain closely engaged with the community on its efforts to raise funds for the Hanford Reach Interpretative Center. Len Peters my predecessor, is teaming with Herald Publisher Rufus Friday to ensure success on this important campaign.
Our leaders also played a pivotal role in the birth of the four-year university concept for the Tri-Cities.¤ Now that the concept is real, we are teaming with Washington State University on several fronts to ensure our students have educational opportunities that also can help meet the demand for science- and technology-literate graduates.
A noteworthy partnership between PNNL and WSU came with the ground breaking of the Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory on the WSU Tri-Cities campus last spring. When BSEL opens its doors later this year, it will serve as a magnet for bioproducts research in the Northwest. We also are partnering with WSU to bring a renowned researcher to lead the Center for Bioproducts and Bioenergy, which will be based at WSU Tri-Cities.
BSEL marks the first facility in a multi-year plan PNNL has for revitalizing and replacing facilities critical to our mission. Because we need to transition from the Hanford Site's 300 Area to accommodate accelerated cleanup, we developed a master campus plan that includes building three new facilities and extending the life of four existing ones. We hope to break ground on the first new one later this year.
Launching the most ambitious construction project in our campus history while keeping our focus on solving some of the country's biggest problems makes the coming year an exciting one for our staff. Battelle also will be responding to DOE's decision to recompete the management and operating contract for PNNL. Battelle remains firmly committed to this community, and to this national laboratory, and we intend to apply the full resources of Battelle to submit an outstanding bid.
The big changes coming to PNNL will move us further toward the goal of becoming a world-class laboratory. And as always, we welcome the Tri-Cities and the Greater Mid-Columbia as our partners in success.
Mike Kluse, PNNL Interim Director