May and June have been very busy months at the laboratory. We are steadily advancing our goals in science and technology leadership, making strides toward increased operational excellence, and building our world-class community of talent.
This week, we presented Argonne’s 2019 Annual Laboratory Plan to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with strong positive comments from our stakeholders in Washington, D.C. The plan summarizes our strategies for our core research programs and initiatives. In addition, this year, Argonne prepared companion papers to share additional information on our strategies with our applied energy and national security sponsors. You can expect to hear more about the Annual Laboratory Plan and DOE’s response at our next All-Hands Meeting on July 30.
From the White House to the halls of Congress, the nation is gearing up for leadership in artificial intelligence (AI), and we are positioning Argonne to play a leading role in applying AI to science. In early May, many of our scientific leaders had the opportunity to present Argonne’s AI for Science approach to the leadership of the DOE Office of Science. On June 14, we repeated our presentation to Under Secretary of Science Paul Dabbar and Chris Fall, newly installed director of the Office of Science. The next DOE Innovation XLab will focus on AI, and Secretary of Energy Perry announced that Argonne will host the event on October 2 and 3. We expect hundreds of industry participants to join our colleagues in the national lab complex to uncover opportunities for national labs to apply AI to the energy, manufacturing, health sciences, and transportation industries.
We completed the Triennial Review of our Center for Nanoscale Materials in early June and look forward to acting on the committee’s recommendations. We expect to receive full spending authority to execute our APS upgrade plans following that CD-3 Review this month. Our team is working hard to respond to DOE’s request for information on potential quantum information science hubs. We have solidified an approach for collecting input on our visioning exercise, Argonne 2050; look out for ways to share your ideas on Argonne’s future in July and August.
Over the past few months, the lab has begun conversations with the University of Chicago to explore ways and places to extend our collaborations. Working with the University, Fermilab, and DOE, we are excited to co-host a roundtable discussion and reception for Chicagoland CEOs in late July. Through discussions with this small group, we plan to outline how the national labs can play an increased role in driving innovation and economic growth in the region.
Operationally, three priorities are at the top of my watch list. As always, we must work safely, and I’m encouraged by how teams are remaining vigilant and responding appropriately when incidents occur. Our Financial Management “Get to Green” projects are well underway, and I appreciate the lab’s engagement in improving our reporting to the satisfaction of stakeholders both inside and outside the lab. DOE recently issued orders to guide our international interactions, and a team of operations and research staff is working on the specific actions we will need to take to enable ongoing, open, collaborative science while protecting U.S. national security.
Our community has grown with the arrival of our summer interns. Enjoy their fresh perspectives and energy while they are here, and plan to visit with the students at our annual Learning on the Lawn event on July 31. The students bring great diversity to our lab, an important part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion. To emphasize that commitment, Argonne became the first national lab to join the National Academies Action Collaborative, where we’re standing up and taking action to prevent sexual harassment in the sciences, engineering, and medicine. Thanks to those who spoke up to encourage our active participation. Our new director of the Leadership Institute will oversee our involvement as part of our diversity and inclusion efforts, and we are nearing the final rounds of interviews for this key role.
As we continue defining, clarifying, and shaping our culture, we gathered feedback from over 800 members of the Argonne community and have shaped that into a set of behaviors that define our Core Values. I am inspired by all the input shared during the discussion forums and in my conversations. Look for us to share that feedback at the next All-Hands Meeting.
Thank you for your focus on executing our work safely. Together we will continue to accelerate science and technology for U.S. prosperity and security. It is a privilege to lead this laboratory.