The Legacy of Millie Dresselhaus: Women, Carbon, and Society

Dr. Mildred (Millie) Dresselhaus served as the Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Science (SC) during 2000 – 2001. She was the 7^th Director of SC (and its predecessor, the Office of Energy Research) since the founding of the Department of Energy in 1977. Prof. Dresselhaus took over the reins of SC during a time of significant fiscal challenges, with flat to declining budgets in the preceding decade. The fiscal year 2000 was the turning point for SC, reversing the funding trend to start a gradual increase of the Office’s budget and scope. Millie insisted on a balanced strategy to ensure that the growth in scientific user facilities was balanced with funding for research. Despite her short tenure in DOE, the foundation she established set the framework for SC in the ensuing decades. Prof. Dresselhaus continued to advance U.S. science and the missions of SC beyond her Directorship. Most notably, she led and initiated a few community-based strategic planning activities to chart the course of the “Science for Energy” strategy. This talk will highlight Millie’s major contributions to the DOE Office of Science, including a range of anecdotal stories and testimonies collected from those whose lives and careers were intimately touched by Millie.