EMSL Grand Challenges

Grand Challenges are complex, large-scale scientific and engineering problems with broad scientific and environmental or economic impacts whose solution can be advanced by applying high-performance scientific techniques and resources. EMSL Grand Challenges differ from typical proposals in that they are multi-institution (from universities, other laboratories, and industry), multi-group teams that use multiple facilities within EMSL.

Just in the past year, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory has launched two scientific Grand Challenges that will bring together some of the world's best minds to study questions in membrane biology and biogeochemistry. Collectively, these PNNL-supported Grand Challenges bring together scientists from more than 20 universities and research institutions worldwide. Results from these Grand Challenges could show us how to use microbes and biological processes to address currently intractable issues in environmental remediation. Progress in these areas can help DOE resolve the enormous problems associated with environmental contamination across the complex, saving the Department and the country hundreds of millions of dollars and reducing risk to humans and the environment.

Biogeochemistry Grand Challenge

A Grand Challenge in biogeochemistry, led by PNNL scientists Dr. John Zachara and Dr. Jim Fredrickson is studying how organisms exchange energy and electron flux with mineral matter in soils, sediments, and subsurface materials. This exchange occurs across a mineral-microbe interface that is a minute, but chemically active domain whose molecular workings have perplexed scientists for decades. The biogeochemistry Grand Challenge will use advanced instrumental capabilities and the high performance computing capabilities of EMSL to understand the biologic and physical architecture of this remarkably complex domain and the microbe-mediated chemical reactions that occur within it. The research will allow scientists to understand this most basic earth-life interaction that is fundamental to the migration of environmental contaminants, to water quality, and to soil fertility and trace metal availability.

Membrane Biology Grand Challenge

Dr. Himadri Pakrasi from Washington University in St. Louis is leading a Membrane Biology Grand Challenge that will use a systems approach to understand the network of genes and proteins that govern the structure and function of membranes and their components responsible for photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). A systems approach integrates all temporal information into a predictive, dynamic model to understand the function of a cell and the cellular membranes. These microorganisms make significant contributions to harvesting solar energy, planetary carbon sequestration, metal acquisition, and hydrogen production in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Cyanobacteria are also model microorganisms for studying the fixation of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis at the biomolecular level. The results of this Grand Challenge will provide the first comprehensive systems level understanding of how environmental conditions influence key carbon fixation processes at the gene-protein-organism level. This Grand Challenge topic was selected because it addresses critical DOE science needs, provides model microorganisms to apply high throughput biology and computational modeling, and because it takes advantage of EMSL's experimental and computational capabilities.

How do I submit a proposal or find out more information?

For more information about EMSL Grand Challenges, contact the EMSL Director.