Recent Trends
in Science Research

An artist's conception of LBNL's forthcoming
Human Genome Center Building

There has been a noticeable shift in philosophy regarding the types of research receiving federal funding in recent years. Universities get much of their money from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Research at the Berkeley National Laboratory is funded primarily by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Congress has a strong influence on what types of research get funded, because it allocates money to these various federal agencies. Some members of Congress want to see less money given to basic research projects that probably will not lead to applied work for quite some time. This philosophy contributed to the demise of the Super-Conducting Super Collider (SSC) project in Texas in 1993. At LBNL, funding was cut for two facilities that had played important roles in basic research in past years. The Heavy Ion Linear Accelerator (HILAC) was responsible for allowing scientists to create many of the "heavy" (transuranic) elements, while the Bevatron played a key role in nuclear medicine at the lab.

This shift in national priorities has greatly concerned many scientists. In fact, a group of 60 Nobel-prize winning researchers co-signed a letter that was sent to President Clinton and every member of Congress.

Not all large-scale projects involving basic research have been cut. The Human Genome Project is a long-term venture in which the entire set of human chromosomes (genome) are being studied in two main ways. First, each chromosome is being chemically analyzed to determine the precise molecular sequence of nucleotides (subunits) that form the genetic code in DNA. Secondly, each chromosome is being mapped out to determine the precise location of each gene in the genome. However, in order to gain a better understanding of the nature of chromosomes, simpler forms of life (e.g., fruit flies, nematode worms, and yeast cells) have been extensively studied as part of the Human Genome Project. One ultimate goal of this ambitious program is to be able to cure genetically-caused illnesses such as Cystic Fibrosis and sickle-cell anemia through new medical techniques such as gene therapy.

Industry does little basic research today. Due to the competitive nature of the business world, commercial research tends to emphasize projects requiring less than 10 years to develop a new product or process. Businesses simply cannot afford to engage in long-term research projects. As a result, universities and government laboratories (such as LBNL) are left with the responsibility to carry out basic research and long-term applied research.

There is quite a bit of applied research being conducted at LBNL today. The Energy and Environment Division specializes in this type of work. (In fact, it was even renamed the Appled Sciences Division during the 1980's.) Recent work has included developing a water-purification system using ultra-violet radiation, studying how radon enters buildings, analyzing ozone pollution accumulation inside buildings, and designing energy-efficient building materials.

Another major project in recent years has been the construction and implementation of the Advanced Light Source, a facility that allows scientists to use x-rays and ultraviolet waves to examine the structure of materials at the atomic level. Students interested in learning more about the ALS should visit LBNL's graphics-rich MicroWorlds presentation.

There is additional information available about the current research philosophy at LBNL.