Global Change
Global change research studies the complex interactions between human activities and natural systems, focusing on the impacts of environmental and management changes on the atmosphere, ecosystems, and society. It encompasses a range of disciplines, including atmospheric science, ecology, engineering, economics, and social sciences.
Integrative Omics
Life is dynamic, complex, and interconnected—qualities that start with biomolecules, the primary target of PNNL’s integrative omics team.
Computational Mathematics & Statistics
How can our nation predict behavior of complex natural and man-made systems and find critical signatures amidst overwhelming data? PNNL helps decision makers be better informed when making choices in mission critical domains.
Chemical & Biothreat Signatures
Through research in biodetection, chemistry, materials, and pathogen characterization, PNNL sits uniquely at the nexus of chemistry and biology, supporting important national security missions to prevent and counter acts of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Additive Manufacturing
PNNL is developing science and technology to address the national security implications of additive manufacturing as an emerging threat.
Pathogen Science & Detection
In every human body, individual cells stand guard against threats, ready to mount a life-saving immune response at a moment’s notice. But nefarious actors, emerging diseases, and world events challenge the human immune system to keep pace as they threaten new, more virulent pathogens than ever before. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL’s) expertise in pathogen science and detection provides critical biological research capabilities to protect human health and national security in the face of evolving biological threats. In partnership with the Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies, our research elucidates biological signatures and deciphers immune system responses to guard against current diseases and prepare for future ills.
Contraband Detection
From streets to airports, mailrooms and transportation hubs, the ability to quickly detect and identify unknown—and potentially deadly—substances can be the difference between order and chaos. And with a huge volume of goods and people crossing these waystations, detection needs to be both dependable and unobtrusive. To help address this need, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) plays a key role in developing tools and standards that make detecting contraband faster, safer, and more reliable.
Explosives Detection
While there is no single solution to counter the wide range and continual evolution of explosive threats to our society, our scientists and engineers are developing methods to enable interdiction of these threats across a variety of deployment scenarios.