The Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office (AITO) of the US Department of Energy will partner with Frontier Development Lab to apply synergies between physics, simulation, and machine learning to clean energy, Earth science and climate resilience challenges.
Mountain View, CA (SETI PR) – The US Department of Energy (DOE) is joining the Frontier Development Lab (FDL) program to advance basic research at the agency. FDL is a public-private partnership between the SETI Institute, NASA, USGS, Google Cloud, Intel, Lockheed Martin, Nvidia, Trillium Technologies and other US and international partners.
FDL is an applied artificial intelligence research program that tackles fundamental knowledge gaps in space, Earth science and energy by pairing machine learning experts with subject domain experts. Research teams are supported by massive compute resources, relevant datasets and technology advisory from private sector partners for an intensive eight-week, paid research sprint over the summer. Teams address research challenges such as astronaut health, lunar exploration, heliophysics and climate change. FDL is excited to join forces with DOE and add challenge topics addressing critical DOE priorities, such as energy futures, climate adaptation and disaster response.
“We are delighted to welcome DOE as a major new federal partner in the FDL program this year,” said Bill Diamond, CEO of the SETI Institute. “DOE’s vision in creating an Artificial Intelligence & Technology office to coordinate AI activities across the Department aligns perfectly with FDL’s underlying premise of exploring how to apply the latest AI/ML tools and techniques to advance basic research and fundamental science,” said Diamond.
“AITO’s challenge portfolio is one of the most exciting and important on the planet. Suppose you are interested in really making a difference on the biggest problems of our time. In that case, this is the front line: Co2 sequestration, H2 cost reduction, climate accelerated infrastructure adaptation and wildfires,” said FDL Director James Parr.
“Moreover, this is grown-up, serious AI-assisted problem solving and the kind of bold and ambitious research the human race needs right now. We’re incredibly privileged to be tackling these challenges with the DoE, NASA and others and are looking forward to some terrific research outcomes.”
“Congratulations to the researchers, I look forward to meeting you! I am honored to co-sponsor this effort and I sincerely appreciate the partnership with FDL. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) continues to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. We stand ready to apply these outcomes, furthering advancement of climate resilience, clean energy, infrastructure innovation, and Justice40 for citizens” said Pamela Isom, Director of the Department’s Artificial Intelligence & Technology Office.
For 2022, FDL will undertake 7 DOE research challenges addressing topics selected by various divisions across the Department:
Climate Adapting the Grid
The DOE needs to address a multitude of risks posed by climate change, such as maintaining our society’s energy infrastructure from more frequent and extreme weather events. Can AI help determine optimal approaches to ensure we are adapting effectively?
Fortifying Subterranean Power Grids
Can physics-informed AI methods be applied to geophysical data to fortify our subterranean energy assets, such as site identification, line undergrounding, earthquake preparedness, subsurface control, and monitoring subsurface HVDC?
Geomechanics for CO2 Sequestration
Can we apply ML to geomechanics and geophysics to advance innovations in forecasting induced seismicity rates in potential Co2 sequestration sites? AI may be able to help estimate stress state using focal mechanism data, picking seismic events from waveform data, or…
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