About the Report

Discovering the Quantum Universe was prepared in response to a charge to the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel by Dr. Robin Staffin, Associate Director of Science for High Energy Physics of the Office of Science of U.S. Department of Energy and Dr. Michael Turner, Assistant Director for Mathematics and Physical Science of the National Science Foundation.

HEPAP
The High Energy Physics Advisory Panel has advised the federal government on the national program in experimental and theoretical high-energy physics research since 1967. HEPAP reports directly to the director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science and to the assistant director, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, of the National Science Foundation.

The Office of Science
The Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, providing more than 40 percent of total funding for this vital area of national importance. It oversees—and is the principal federal funding agency for—the nation's research programs in high-energy physics, nuclear physics and fusion energy sciences.

The Office of Science manages fundamental research programs in basic energy sciences, biological and environmental sciences and computational science. In addition, the Office of Science is the federal government's largest single funder of materials and chemical sciences, and it supports unique and vital parts of U.S. research in climate change, geophysics, genomics, life sciences, and science education. The Office of Science continues to strengthen partnerships with other science agencies, including NSF and NASA, in support of basic research in the physical sciences.

The National Science Foundation
Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate
The Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate (MPS) supports a strong and diverse portfolio of research and education in mathematics, astronomical science, physics, chemistry and materials research. The purpose of this work is both to deepen our understanding of the physical universe and to use this understanding in service to society. MPS is involved in many longstanding, very valuable partnerships with its sister US agencies, including. DOE, NASA and NIH, as well as with international consortia. This mode of operation is sure to be augmented in the coming years.