Patricia Falcone
Deputy Director for Science and Technology
This issue of Science & Technology Review celebrates the talent, both past and present, that drives Lawrence Livermore’s science and technology (S&T) in service to the nation. Highlighted in this issue, the late John “Johnny” S. Foster, Jr., (the Laboratory’s fourth director, 1961–1965) stands as a testament to our enduring commitment to innovation at the heart of all we do. In the article “Johnny Foster in His Own Words,” Johnny’s story illustrates that asking big questions never stops throughout one’s career. While the Laboratory has evolved over the years, we all recognize and embrace our heritage of challenge, high expectations, and excitement—a legacy that Johnny helped establish many years ago. I am deeply grateful for his service, as it laid the foundation of scientific curiosity and national service that continues to shape our current efforts.
Johnny’s spirit of innovation and mentorship thrives today in the annual Research SLAM events presented in this issue’s feature article. So much more than simply a competition, the Research SLAM serves as a celebration of the passion, talent, and creativity of our postdoctoral researchers, who represent the future of S&T at the Laboratory.
Effectively communicating complex scientific ideas in a clear and compelling way is a vital skill for advancing research and building bridges between scientists, policymakers, and the public. The Research SLAM provides an invaluable opportunity for professional development to our rising scientific leaders, exposing them to the challenge of translating cutting-edge work into digestible presentations for nonexperts. Each year, I am impressed by the dedication and growth I witness as these postdoctoral researchers refine their presentations, support one another, and step confidently onto the stage.
By training our early-career researchers to communicate their work effectively, we ensure that their future discoveries can inform policy, drive innovation, and translate into real-world impact. I am extremely proud of these events, not only because they build a strong sense of community, but also because they showcase the range of collaborative research taking place at Lawrence Livermore.
Breakthroughs follow when our people champion competition, collaboration, and curiosity in their ongoing work at Livermore. The research highlight article titled “Curious Physics in the World’s Smallest Water Channels,” describes research led by Aleksandr Noy and Tuan Anh Pham, who exemplify how Livermore scientists push boundaries by diving deeper with our world-class tools. By engineering materials to support liquid transport at unparalleled efficiency, our scientists are uncovering possibilities for improved drug delivery vectors to target cells as well as information passage through neural network junctions. Noy’s team of researchers is defying conventional physics beliefs on diffusion to find solutions at the finer, atomic level for modern-day issues. Through this investigative attitude, Livermore remains at the forefront of both drug discovery and computer architecture, contributing to our legacy of innovation.
Livermore’s spirit of curiosity is also embodied by the team behind the fentanyl countermeasure studies featured in the research highlight article, “A New Path for Fentanyl Treatment.” Originating more than a decade ago as a Laboratory Directed Research and Development project, a multidisciplinary team—led by Livermore chemists Carlos Valdez, Brian Mayer, and computational chemist Edmond Lau—brought together expertise in chemical synthesis, drug interactions, computational modeling, chemical characterization, nuclear magnetic resonance, and biological testing. Their goal was to discover a new molecule capable of intercepting and blocking fentanyl and its stronger variants. Renewed interest from the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in 2019 prompted further collaboration with Livermore experimentalists and biologists, yielding the molecule subetadex-methyl as a medical countermeasure. Now under DTRA review, this breakthrough stands as yet another example of how the talent and dedication of our people drive discovery and scalable solutions.
Together, this issue’s stories remind us that the responsibility to take risks and push boundaries lies in the Laboratory’s people, from seasoned scientists to emerging postdoctoral researchers. Pioneers such as Johnny Foster laid the foundation for our talent to pursue bold ideas, and this talent keeps the legacy of Livermore’s innovation alive.
