structure and reactivity), theoretical research, 

 and particle-solid interactions. The final cate- 

 gory, materials chemistry, includes work in 

 the areas of chemical structure, engineering 

 chemistry (e.g., electrochemical processes in 

 batteries), and high temperature and surface 

 chemistry. 



• The chemical sciences subprogram covers 

 research in categories called processes and 

 techniques and fundamental interactions. The 

 research includes studies in the areas of 

 chemical and atomic physics, radiation sci- 

 ences, combustion, thermochemistry, proper- 

 ties and reactions of coals, fundamentals of 

 catalytic processes, separations, and analysis. 



• The nuclear sciences subprogram covers re- 

 search in the disciplines of nuclear chemistry 

 and low energy nuclear physics (low energy in 

 this context referring to experiments with 

 accelerated ions at energies below the pion 

 production threshold). The work is in the 

 areas of charged particle research, neutron 

 and fission research, heavy element/actinide 

 research, and production of research materi- 

 als. The last of these areas requires about 30 

 percent of the budget for this subprogram and 

 involves unique facilities for both electromag- 

 netic separation of isotopes and production of 

 transplutonium elements in a high flux reac- 

 tor. 



• The engineering, mathematics, and geosci- 

 ences subprogram features research in each 

 of these quite distinct disciplines. Work in the 

 engineering sciences is focused on topics that 

 cut across the responsibilities of other parts 

 of ERDA, including, for example, compila- 

 tions of engineering data and systems studies 

 of nondestructive testing. The work in mathe- 

 matics would be considered almost entirely 

 applied research within the traditions of that 

 field. It includes studies of new concepts and 

 methods required for the solution of mathe- 

 matical models arising in the physical, engi- 

 neering, and social sciences. It also includes 

 research in the computer sciences concerning 

 algorithms, computer architectures, program- 

 ing languages, software, and computer net- 

 works. In the geosciences, the research is in 

 the areas of geology and earth dynamics, en- 

 ergy resource identification and evaluation, 

 geothermal chemistry, and solar-terrestrial- 

 atmospheric interactions. 



• The advanced energy projects subprogram is 

 designed to nurture ideas and inventions in 

 the tender stage shortly after their conception, 

 as well as to carry out early development of 

 systems without a natural home in the energy 



technology divisions. 



The discussion in this section has been confined 

 to ERDA programs that include research classified 

 as basic or fundamental in the internal survey con- 

 ducted in the summer of 1976. It thus excludes 

 programs concerned with nuclear fuel cycle re- 

 search and development, liquid metal fast breeder 

 reactors, nuclear research and applications, 

 biomedical applications, nuclear materials security 

 and safeguards, naval reactor development, ura- 

 nium enrichment, special materials production, and 

 environmental research and development. 



Another perspective on ERDA's research activi- 

 ties is given by examination of where the work is 

 carried out. Among the mission agencies with ma- 

 jor R&D programs, ERDA is unique in its heavy 

 reliance on contractor-operated laboratories. 

 These include nine, well-known multiprogram lab- 

 oratories: Ames (Iowa) Laboratory, Argonne Na- 

 tional Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laborato- 

 ry, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Lawrence 

 Livermore Laboratory, Los Alamos Scientific 

 Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pa- 

 cific Northwest Laboratories, and Sandia Labora- 

 tories. The first six are operated by universities or 

 university consortia. The Oak Ridge and Sandia 

 laboratories are operated by Union Carbide and 

 Western Electric, respectively, and the Pacific 

 Northwest Laboratories are operated by the Bat- 

 telle Memorial Institute. Other contractor-operated 

 laboratories include five more specialized physical 

 research facilities and a dozen biomedical laborato- 

 ries. Educational institutions are the contractors 

 for each of these, and many are located on uni- 

 versity campuses. The remaining contractor-operat- 

 ed facilities do not ordinarily carry out basic re- 

 search; this final group includes five engineering 

 development laboratories, nine nuclear materials 

 production facilities, and seven weapons produc- 

 tion and testing facilities. More than 56,000 people 

 are employed at ERDA's government-owned, con- 

 tractor-operated facilities. 



ERDA also operates seven comparatively small 

 laboratories staffed by a total of slightly more than 

 900 ERDA employees. This group includes the five 

 energy research centers at Bartlesville, Grand 

 Forks, Laramie, Morgantown, and Pittsburgh de- 

 voted primarily to fossil energy R&D; the Health 

 and Safety Laboratory in New York City which 

 conducts sampling and analysis of environmental 

 materials of biological significance; and the New 

 Brunswick Laboratory which provides support for 

 nuclear safeguards programs. Overall, many of 

 ERDA's programs are carried out by private con- 

 tractors at their own facilities. For many demon- 

 stration projects, construction is jointly supported 

 by ERDA and by industry. 



Many of ERDA's multiprogram laboratories 



ENERGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION 171 



