Impact of Recent Constraints on Intellectual Freedom on Science and Technology at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) was created in 1952 to meet the nation's need for an expanded nuclear weapons research and development (R&D) capability. LLNL quickly grew to become a full-fledged nuclear weapons design laboratory with a broad range of technical capabilities similar to those of our sister laboratory--Los Alamos--with which we shared mission responsibilities. By its very nature, nuclear weapons R&D requires some of the most advanced science and technology (S&T). Accordingly, there is an obvious need for careful attention to ensure that appropriate security measures exist to deal with the sensitive aspects of nuclear weapons development. The trade-off between advancing S&T at the Laboratory and the need for security is a complex issue that has always been with us, As Edward Teller noted in a recent commentary in a May, 1999 editorial in the New York Times: ''The reaction of President Harry Truman to the leaking of information is well known. He imposed no additional measures for security. Instead, we have clear knowledge that the disclosures by (Klaus) Fuchs caused Truman to call for accelerated work on all aspects of nuclear weapons. The right prescription for safety is not reaction to dangers that are arising, but rather action leading to more knowledge and, one hopes, toward positive interaction between nations.'' To explore the issue of intellectual freedom at a national security laboratory such as LLNL, one must understand the type of activities we pursue and how our research portfolio has evolved since the Laboratory was established. Our mission affects the workforce skills, capabilities, and security measures that the Laboratory requires. The national security needs of the US have evolved, along with the S&T community in which the Laboratory resides and to which it contributes. These factors give rise to a greater need for the Laboratory to interact with universities, industry, and other national laboratories. Intellectual freedom at the Laboratory and constraints on it can be understood only within the context of our mission, our necessary interactions with other entities; and our need for an exceptional multidisciplinary workforce.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 15013140
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-141422; TRN: US200604%%140
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Sigma Xi Conference on New Ethical Challenges in Science and Technology Intellectual Freedom and the National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, Nov 09 - Nov 09, 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Laboratory Directed Research and Development FY2001 Annual Report
Advanced Simulation and Computing: ASC FY24 Implementation Plan