How does PNNLs advanced materials research relate to the Nanoscience Initiative?
Baskaran: There’s a need for basic nanoscale materials research, but there also needs to be a link to applications. The Nanoscience Initiative is developing new materials that could lead to applications. At the same time, we engage with many industry partners and the DOE to understand what problems need to be solved. We build new programs in advanced materials to address these problems, and many of them use information developed within the Nanoscience Initiative. Burrows: My primary mandate in the Nanoscience Initiative is to develop a base of science. I believe that fundamental science also can be applications-driven. So as part of the initiative, we seek applications that fit DOE mission needs and then we look back to see what science should be conducted to fulfill those needs. Suresh and I are complementary. We expect to funnel our fundamental science into applications, but we also look for a pull from the applications end.
