Scientists and engineers in the Biological and Environmental Sciences Directorate at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory perform research that is supported primarily by the Department of Energy's Office of Science through the Office of Biological and Environmental Research.

The Directorate consists of the Biosciences Division and the Environmental Sciences Division.

We manage a number of research facilities and data archives, including the Mouse Genetics User Facility, the Center for Structural Molecular Biology, the Natural Accelerated Bioremediation Research Field Research Center, one of the Free Air Carbon Dioxide Exchange facilities, the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program Data Archive, the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, and the Oak Ridge National Environmental Research Park.

Our research leads to new knowledge and technologies in areas of critical importance to the nation, such as energy security, environmental management, and homeland and national security. We perform research and development that leads to

• understanding biological systems and their relationships to the environment and to human health,
  
• understanding microbial communities and microbe-plant interactions in biogeochemical cycling,
  
• measuring and forecasting ecosystem change,
  
• understanding global climate change, and
  
• developing highly effective diagnostic and therapeutic techniques based on fusing nanotechnology with biology from the molecular to the systems level.

Now Featuring

ORNL 2007 Biological & Environmental Research Report

Climate Change ORNL Review

ORNL Awarded $125M Bioenergy Research Center

Resurgence of Bioenergy ORNL Review