Panels, moderated discussions and poster sessions during the event touched on a number of these topics, including quantum materials, energy research, computational modeling and the study of materials under extreme conditions. Many presenters from the lab discussed the world-class scientific facilities, capabilities, and resources at their respective labs.

At the opening panel on quantum materials, for instance, Mark Lumsden from Oak Ridge Lab and Mark Dean from Brookhaven Lab spoke about their work, career paths, research collaborations and instruments available at the labs to university researchers likes accelerators, lasers and X-rays.

“There’s an enormous amount of equipment that’s available to you,” Dean said during the panel.

Another panel focused exclusively on best practices for research collaborations and how university and national laboratories can initiate, optimize and sustain research collaborations. Suggestions from panelists and audience members included exploring internships, visiting faculty programs and joint appointments with national labs —  such as ones held by Brown professors George Karniadakis, who holds a joint appointment with the Pacific Northwest lab, and Mark Ainsworth, who who holds a joint appointment with the Oak Ridge lab.

“The themes for the day were chosen not only because they are major areas of research excellence at Brown, but also because they are important challenges to address in our society,” said Tejal Desai, dean of Brown’s School of Engineering. “As a community, we approach these topics and areas from a number of different perspectives and we think that by bringing together our expertise and really collaborating with the DOE’s labs across the nation, we can amplify our impact in ways that previously haven't been done… and make those leaps to uncover new discoveries that are able to translate into real technologies and solutions.”

The national attendees also toured Brown facilities and labs, learning more about the University’s robust research in engineering, physics and chemistry. The day concluded with a poster session and reception in the Hazeltine Commons that offered attendees an opportunity to further network and engage with each other while also setting the stage for future partnerships and breakthroughs.

The country’s 17 national labs are an outgrowth of immense investment in scientific research initiated by the U.S. government during World War II. For more than 70 years, the labs have been at the forefront of scientific innovation in the U.S., confronting some of the most critical scientific challenges facing the nation and the world — from combating climate change to studying the origins of the universe or how atoms work at their smallest levels.

Throughout that history, collaboration with research institutions like Brown has been essential to their continued success. That’s no different today.

“From the laboratories’ point of view, collaborations with universities, including the many collaborations with Brown researchers, are important to delivering world-class research and strengthening overall contribution to the nation’s research enterprise,” Pipher said. “Events like today help advance that effort and furthers our initiatives supporting and maintaining Brown’s excellence in science research.”