Celebrating Science Every Day

Each year, the awarding of the Nobel Prizes gives us as a scientific community and as a society the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of outstanding scientists and researchers. Our heartiest congratulations go out to all the 2022 Laureates, whose significant advances will benefit us all.

I am especially pleased that support from the U.S. Department of Energy played a direct role in the accomplishments of two of the Laureates, Dr. John F. Clauser of J.F. Clauser and Associates for his pioneering work on quantum entanglement, and Dr. Carolyn R. Bertozzi of Stanford University for founding the field of biorthogonal chemistry, to study molecules in biological systems without interfering with the functioning of living things.

Both advances set the stage for important progress toward application of the science to real world problems. Dr. Clauser’s work on quantum mechanics and entanglement was instrumental for building the quantum computers and networks of the future, with potential applications in climate modeling, secure communication, national security, medicine, and basic research. Dr. Bertozzi’s work allows researchers to study molecules in living systems without interrupting the biological processes at work, a key breakthrough for developing better tests for infectious diseases and, more recently, creating a new biological pharmaceutical, currently in clinical trials, that can better target tumors.

And while we celebrate these two Laureates especially, we at the Office of Science at the Department of Energy salute the broad and rich scientific community that strives every day to tackle the most challenging problems. We host thousands of researchers – including other Laureates from this year and years past - at our one-of-a-kind facilities to help solve their big research questions.

Any time we get a chance to celebrate science and scientists, we are overjoyed to do so. We salute the 2022 Laureates and their scientific communities. For the vast majority of scientists, the work they are doing now may not come to fruition for decades, such as the work the Nobel Committee honored this year. Recognition when it comes is often so long after the fundamental work is done that it may be hard for the public who funds this work to understand the connection between this basic discovery and its eventual utility. When we honor scientists like the Nobel Laureates, we honor how they moved the frontiers of knowledge forward and the connection their fundamental work has established to a larger body of science.

We take this opportunity to celebrate the Nobel prize announcements to not only recognize the outstanding Laureates but to reflect on the importance of discovery science to our society, to our quality of life, and to our health and economic wellbeing. Basic science discoveries have and will transform our futures.

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