Science and Technology and Counterterrorism
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MATERIAL MATTERS
Science and Technology and Counterterrorism Jeffrey Wadsworth The following article is based on the plenary presentation given by Jeffrey Wadsworth (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) at the 2002 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting on April 3 in San Francisco.
Introduction As the deputy director for science and technology at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, I will discuss the role of science and technology in national and international security and, specifically, how the national laboratories have played a critical role in the fight against terrorism. This issue has obviously become very visible and intense since the September 11 attacks,* but work in this field has actually been under way for many years. Before I begin my talk, I would like to congratulate the Materials Research Society (MRS) for its success in creating this particular community of scientists. As you know, since its inception, MRS has attracted scientists at the forefront of innovation in the multidisciplinary field of materials research and development. This has resulted in a unique forum for exploring the boundaries and intersections of materials science, chemistry, physics, nanoscience, engineering, computing, earth sciences, and, more recently, biology. I am very pleased to have been an MRS member for many years. I believe that as a result of the innovative spirit and multidisciplinary character of MRS, our community is ideally poised to have a significant impact on the way in which science and technology will help solve one of the most important and pressing issues of our time: the fight against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction [WMD]. The events of September 11 dramatically changed the way in which we view the world around us. The challenges are enormous, and the science community has an opportunity— * On September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks destroyed the Twin Towers and other buildings in and around the World Trade Center complex in New York City and damaged the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
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indeed, it has a responsibility—to play a key role in helping minimize and, where possible, eliminate this threat. As I will discuss, the current emphasis is one of very-near-term deliverables; the present social and political turmoil dictates such priorities. However, we will see an evolution into the necessary emphasis on the science and technology underpinnings that will lead to the next generation of counterterrorism tools. I will start with a brief overview of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Then I will discuss the world of terrorism, as well as the post–September 11 political scene, from the perspective of our nationalsecurity-based laboratory. I will then discuss some specific technical examples that both are being used and are under development in the fight against terrorism.
LLNL Overview LLNL is a multidisciplinary national security laboratory managed by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The la
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