Our Values
At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we fulfill our missions by aligning our behaviors, priorities, and interactions with five core values: Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. These values guide how we treat one another, work together, and measure success — not only as individuals, but as groups and as an institution.
Impact
We pioneer new scientific frontiers and translate discoveries into solutions for national and global challenges.
- We innovate to address the most pressing and complex questions in energy, fundamental science, and national security.
- We foster an inquisitive and invigorating environment that is conducive to excellence.
- We align and harness broad expertise to achieve results greater than any of us can achieve alone.
- We pursue continuous learning and improvement so everyone’s work defines or reflects best practices in their fields.
- Each of us takes pride in our work because big accomplishments stem from countless individual contributions.
Integrity
We pioneer new scientific frontiers and translate discoveries into solutions for national and global challenges.
- We innovate to address the most pressing and complex questions in energy, fundamental science, and national security.
- We foster an inquisitive and invigorating environment that is conducive to excellence.
- We align and harness broad expertise to achieve results greater than any of us can achieve alone.
- We pursue continuous learning and improvement so everyone’s work defines or reflects best practices in their fields.
- Each of us takes pride in our work because big accomplishments stem from countless individual contributions.
Teamwork
We collaborate within and across teams, recognizing we are better together.
- We believe a strong sense of connection is essential for our best work.
- We develop and nurture creative teams with the necessary backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and expertise.
- We work to ensure that all staff members have a consistent work experience regardless of role or place in our organization.
- We thrive on thoughtful exchanges of ideas that remain respectful even when perspectives differ.
- We are quick to share credit.
Safety
We are accountable for the health, safety, and well-being of ourselves, our colleagues, and our communities.
- As individuals and as an organization, our highest priority is to make sure that everyone goes home safely at the end of each day.
- We conduct ourselves according to well-defined principles for the safe conduct of research.
- To deliver on the mission of the laboratory, it is essential that all our activities be performed safely. Safety is not limited to physical space; it applies equally to the atmosphere we create for our staff. Every staff member must feel safe to speak up whenever anything is wrong.
- Everyone has the right and the responsibility to raise concerns when they see conduct that may be unsafe.
- Safety incidents provide opportunities to learn rather than criticize.
Service
We come together to make the world a better place, stewarding national resources, preparing the next generation, and giving back to our communities.
- We are trustworthy, fair, and respectful in all we do.
- We share our time, expertise, and resources with our communities and professional organizations.
- We build, maintain, and operate world-leading facilities that enable the broader scientific community to advance discoveries and technical breakthroughs.
- We are preparing the next generation of talent through education, outreach, mentorship, and collaboration.
- We believe the most successful leaders are those who nurture and develop others.
- We are entrusted with the effective use of public funds.
