Good evening. I am pleased to be in the Tri-Cities this evening for this wonderful event. It is a distinct honor to be a part of a celebration that recognizes the long and vibrant history of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and its many contributions to the region, the nation, and the world.

On behalf of everyone at the Office of Science, I want to express our deepest congratulations and appreciation to Dr. Peters, former laboratory directors, and the many dedicated staff members, past and present, who have made PNNL’s groundbreaking research possible, and to Batelle for its leadership and contributions. Together, you have been outstanding stewards of one of our nation’s great science and technology resources.

And while this event has an historic flavor, it is also about the future, looking to the next 40 years, and the role of science and technology in our society. Recently, in announcing the 2006 budget request for the Office of Science, I used a quote from the Council on Competitiveness. That quote stated:

“Given the rising bar for competitiveness, the United States needs to be in the lead or among the leaders in every major field of research to sustain its innovation capabilities.”

Without a doubt, that is a daunting challenge for our nation. We are going to need sustained funding. We are going to need creative thinking. And we are going to rely heavily on the scientific resources at our national laboratories and other research facilities.

I believe that our vision for the future sets the stage for United States leadership in at least nine important research disciplines. I want to talk briefly tonight about a couple of these areas—genomics and climate change—and how PNNL, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, and your staff are contributing.

The Office of Science continues to play a leading role in genomics. In support, PNNL is focusing on systems biology. PNNL’s efforts have yielded exciting discoveries in proteomics—or the study of proteins and how they influence cellular behavior. And the Laboratory is further establishing leadership in this area by enhancing its strengths in microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry.

Just in the past year, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory has launched two scientific Grand Challenges that will bring together some of the world’s best minds to study questions in membrane biology and biogeochemistry.

Dr. Himadri Pakrasi from Washington University in St. Louis is leading a Grand Challenge in membrane biology that will use a systems approach to understand the network of genes and proteins that govern the structure and function of membranes and their components responsible for photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).

A systems approach integrates all temporal information into a predictive, dynamic model to understand the function of a cell and the cellular membranes. These microorganisms make significant contributions to harvesting solar energy, planetary carbon sequestration, metal acquisition, and hydrogen production in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Cyanobacteria are also model microorganisms for studying the fixation of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis at the biomolecular level.

The results of this Grand Challenge will provide the first comprehensive systems level understanding of how environmental conditions influence key carbon fixation processes at the gene-protein-organism level. This Grand Challenge topic was selected because it addresses critical DOE science needs, provides model microorganisms to apply high throughput biology and computational modeling, and because it because it takes advantage of EMSL's experimental and computational capabilities.
A second Grand Challenge in biogeochemistry, led by PNNL scientists John Zachara and Jim Fredrickson is studying how organisms exchange energy and electron flux with mineral matter in soils, sediments, and subsurface materials. This exchange occurs across a mineral-microbe interface that is a minute, but chemically active domain whose molecular workings have perplexed scientists for decades.

The biogeochemistry Grand Challenge will use advanced instrumental capabilities and the high performance computing capabilities of EMSL to understand the biologic and physical architecture of this remarkably complex domain and the microbe-mediated chemical reactions that occur within it. The research will allow scientists to understand this most basic earth-life interaction that is fundamental to the migration of environmental contaminants, to water quality, and to soil fertility and trace metal availability.

Collectively, these PNNL-supported Grand Challenges bring together scientists from more than 20 universities and research institutions worldwide. Results from these Grand Challenges could show us how to use microbes and biological processes to address currently intractable issues in environmental remediation. Progress in these areas can help DOE resolve the enormous problems associated with environmental contamination across the complex, saving the Department and the country hundreds of millions of dollars and reducing risk to humans and the environment.

In the area of climate change, PNNL has some of the strongest research capability within DOE. I know that you intend to expand the Laboratory’s national and international leadership in atmospheric science and global change research. I encourage you to do so. Your strengths in atmospheric chemistry, your interest in further development of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program and facilities, and your emphasis on next-generation, physics-based climate models are key to predicting the effects of climate change and driving effective climate policy decisions.
The Department of Energy and the Office of Science are pleased with your progress in genomics and climate change, and we look forward to future discoveries. In both areas, you not only are producing excellent research, but are building strong collaborative relationships with universities and other research institutes, and providing opportunities for students—the scientists of tomorrow—to gain experience. These are activities and values that support our broader Office of Science agenda. I challenge you to keep up the good work.

Another exciting opportunity ahead for PNNL is the Research Campus of the Future. As many of you know, Hanford cleanup is proceeding, and I think we all agree that is excellent news. But DOE will be closing outdated facilities in the 300 Area as the work continues and working with us at the Office of Science, PNNL will need to identify replacement facilities. PNNL leadership has studied this situation carefully, developed a road map, and turned it into an opportunity for the Laboratory’s future. Many of your long-term goals and planned facilities are complementary to the aims of the Office of Science and it will be exciting to witness the progress. It will be a difficult task for sure, but I am confident that we will see it through to success.

In closing, I want to mention the value of strong relationships. While we have an owner-contractor relationship, it is clear to me that we share a common goal: That is, we both want the Laboratory to be the very best that it can be, to be world-class in every way. I believe PNNL shares our vision of delivering cost-effective, quality science and technology to the nation. I want to thank Battelle and its leadership for staying on course for over four decades.

Congratulations, PNNL, on 40 years of great service to the nation and world. We are pleased that you are part of the DOE family.