The budget for the DOE Office of Science has been essentially
flat for a decade, a situation that its Director, Ray Orbach,
states is causing "tremendous strain." His office is working
with DOE advisory committees and professional societies on a
strategic plan and a series of Occasional Papers which will
identify "where scientific opportunities might lie."
The strategic plan, due in March, will prioritize scientific
needs and drive future budget requests. It will not have a
direct bearing on the FY 2004 request now under review at the
Office of Management and Budget. The plan will provide direction
for his Office, Orbach said, and is unlikely to recommend sharp
program changes. Orbach hopes that the "beauty of the science"
will result in higher budgets. "My job is to push hard," he
said
at a small roundtable briefing, predicting that the strategic
plan will encourage the administration and the Congress to
strengthen their support for the Office of Science.
Since Orbach came to the Department of Energy a year ago he has
guided the development of nine Occasional Papers that explain, in
nontechnical language, promising major research areas. The two-
page exhibits are available at
http://www.science.doe.gov/feature/occasional_papers/Occ-Papers-f
rontpage.htm. At yesterday's briefing Orbach highlighted three
of these papers on scientific computing, education, and
nanotechnology. During this and other presentations, Orbach has
discussed the ramifications of the powerful Japanese Earth
Simulator supercomputer. "The U.S. has lost the lead in climate
science research," the Occasional Paper states. Closing this gap
will require an aggressive and integrated five year investment
program.
The future scientific and engineering workforce is also on
Orbach's mind. The projections "are appalling" he stated,
since
half of all workers will be eligible for retirement within the
next decade. DOE is getting back into K-12 science teacher
programs, Orbach declared, reversing a mid-1990s decision to
abandon a previous program. "We know the programs work," he
said. As described in the Occasional Papers, the national
laboratories will mentor teachers and students. The Director
later described the "huge shortage" of accelerator physicists
and
engineers, and discussed his intention to target this deficiency
through a graduate fellowship program
Orbach extolled nanotechnology's possibilities. The Occasional
Paper does as well, saying "Now is the time. We can now do this
research, make these breakthroughs, and enhance our lives as
never before imagined."
During the briefing Orbach was asked about the fusion energy
sciences program and the status of the Large Hadron Collider. He
lauded the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee's (FESAC)
near unanimous conclusions about the next steps for the program
(see FYI #102.)
Orbach is looking forward to a December 1
National Academy report, as well as another report by FESAC that
will chart the "path forward." Orbach's goal is to have power
on
the grid from a demonstration plant within 35 years. Regarding
the construction of the Large Hadron Collider, Orbach declared
that the U.S. is meeting its commitment, and noted the cost cap
that controls the U.S. contribution.
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