The CSGF conference overlaps with NNSA’s Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship (SSGF) conference. NNSA officials are speaking at both events, were administered by the Krell Institute. Both events feature presentations by fourth-year fellows, thought-provoking keynote and policy speakers and a unique opportunity for DOE laboratories to showcase employment and practicum opportunities
– By Chris Smith –
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator Thomas D’Agostino delivered welcome remarks at the 2010 Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF) conference.
The CSGF conference overlaps with NNSA’s Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship (SSGF) conference. NNSA officials are speaking at both events, were administered by the Krell Institute. Both events feature presentations by fourth-year fellows, thought-provoking keynote and policy speakers and a unique opportunity for DOE laboratories to showcase employment and practicum opportunities.
The following are excerpts of Administrator D’Agostino’s welcome remarks (full text can be found at http://www.nnsa.energy.gov/mediaroom/speeches/csgfremarks062210):
• ON THE NEED TO RECRUIT THE NEXT GENERATION OF NUCLEAR SECURITY PROFESSIONALS: "I believe that the long-term opportunities to promote our Nation’s nuclear security are greater today than at any point since the end of the Cold War. And I believe that means even more opportunities for you and your generation of nuclear security professionals to make valuable and rewarding contributions to our nation’s security. Take, for example, the Nuclear Posture Review released publicly this past April. While it obviously defines the role of nuclear weapons for our future national security, it also recognizes and explicitly mentions a key theme I have been promoting for a number of years: the importance of recruiting and retaining the 'human capital' needed in the NNSA for the nuclear security mission."
• ON THE PRESIDENT'S HISTORIC NUCLEAR SECURITY AGENDA: "The Administration’s commitment to a clear and long-term plan for managing the stockpile and its comprehensive nuclear security agenda, ensures the scientists and engineers of tomorrow like yourselves will have the opportunity to engage in challenging research and development activities. The mission in NNSA encompasses the nuclear deterrent, nonproliferation, nuclear propulsion, nuclear counterterrorism, emergency management, nuclear forensics and nuclear intelligence analysis."
• ON NNSA'S SUPERCOMPUTING CAPABILITIES: "Already, the supercomputing capabilities born of our nation’s investment in nuclear security are providing the tools to tackle global challenges like climate change, the spread of pandemic diseases, and even hurricane modeling. As we move to the next generation of supercomputers, we will see even more opportunities for the kind of cutting edge science and research that can engage people like you and your colleagues. Creating computational simulations to provide solutions – in effect, creating a new discipline of predictive sciences – is a technical base we need and is a direction that many of you in this room will help pioneer."
Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science in the nation’s national security enterprise. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; reduces the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad. http://www.nnsa.energy.gov/index.htm