Advancing understanding of complexity in biological and environmental systems
Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Biological and Environmental Systems Science Directorate (BESSD) leads convergence research in biology, ecology, engineering, data discovery, physical sciences, and computing. This multidisciplinary approach enhances Earth system predictability, bolsters energy security, and strengthens the U.S. bioeconomy.
Our mission
BESSD unites some of the brightest minds from across the nation to provide innovative solutions to critical challenges in energy, the environment, and health. Through collaborative research and advanced technologies, our scientists drive advancements that support national energy security and economic prosperity.
Closely aligned with the U.S. Department of Energy’s mission, we leverage ORNL’s world-class facilities, unique capabilities and the expertise of our staff to:
- Predict Earth and environmental systems across scales: Enhancing Earth system models to improve forecasts of extreme disturbance events and provide critical insights for informed decision-making.
- Understand ecosystem response to disturbance events: Conducting field studies and experiments to reveal the drivers and impacts of large-scale disturbance events on ecosystem resilience and recovery.
- Connect genes to ecosystems: Advancing biological systems science to mitigate disturbances and strengthen ecosystem resilience, including the development of robust energy crops.
- Engineer a circular bioeconomy: Designing and optimizing biological systems for the efficient production of biobased fuels, chemicals and materials, transitioning from traditional linear processes to a circular model that enhances energy security and economic competitiveness.
Our science
Our science
Our research integrates advanced computing and AI to fuel advancements in energy solutions, systems and synthetic biology, and biodiversity research. We seek to…
- Understand how genes influence ecosystem-level processes
- Learn more about how biodiversity shapes the world around us
- Develop novel biodesign tools and testbeds for enzyme engineering
- Use the world’s fastest supercomputers to transform biological and environmental data into knowledge
- Advance signature technologies for dynamic characterization of complex biological and environmental systems
- Apply emerging capabilities through automated, data rich, and interconnected systems
We continue to pioneer discoveries that will enhance national economic competitiveness, foster resilient communities, and ensure responsible stewardship of natural and managed resources.
Our people
Our people
Our scientists work in an open and collaborative environment, where we use cutting-edge technologies to transform the future of biological and environmental research. Through interdisciplinary expertise and emerging AI and automation capabilities, our team is translating fundamental science discoveries into solutions — improving our predictive understanding of planet Earth and our ability to harness biological and environmental systems to address the nation's energy needs.
Advanced Plant Phenotyping Laboratory
Advanced Plant Phenotyping Laboratory
The Advanced Plant Phenotyping Laboratory, or APPL, is a state-of-the-art research facility that leverages advanced imaging technologies, robotics, and AI to capture a wealth of data on characteristics that are invisible to the human eye. APPL accelerates discoveries in plant science by linking plant genetics to functional characteristics.
"Our scientists bring wide-ranging capabilities and individual creativity and ingenuity to science and technology in a way few other research institutions can match. We continue to translate our discoveries and growing knowledge base into actionable solutions for the nation, strengthening US energy security, national competitiveness, and supporting a thriving bioeconomy."
Associate Laboratory Director Paul Langan
Biological and Environmental Systems Science