Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab celebrates 20 years at PNNL

It was a vision in the making for over 30 years. Lab scientist Don Baer lead the frontline of The Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab (EMSL) at PNNL.

"The vision that EMSL was founded on was to bring together computation biology and the physical sciences," EMSL Lab Scientist Don Baer said.

Two decades later, EMSL is now highly regarded across the global research community. Leading efforts to characterize and treat radioactive waste, understand terrestrial ecosystems, create breakthroughs in infectious disease and even increase capacity and the lifespan of energy storage we use daily.

"More importantly it's been done in a new way," Baer continued.

Baer helped create the monumental branch lab facility to solve some of the most challenging scientific questions involving the environment.

"We've done 6,000 papers, we've been cited in literature over 200,00 times," Baer added.

Baer and the team of EMSL scientist work on practical issues and develope research for a better future our nation's leaders can invest their support in.

"Sometimes is not easy to make the choice between needs of today and opportunities for tomorrow and that's what this laboratory has illustrated so well. The benefits we can receive and why it's important to make those investments," Republican 4th District Congressman Dan Newhouse said.

EMSL researchers conduct multi-disciplinary studies, helping cross boundaries like never before.

"It's quite exciting to see what we've been able to accomplish," Baer concluded.

The group invited scientist from all over the world to celebrate another milestone Friday. EMSL has also developed a software that's been downloaded over 70,000 times to help scientist from over 40 plus countries stimulate molecular structures and join forces to tackle problems.