Research & Development

• Who Are We?
• Our Organization
• How We Conduct Research
• Research Performance

Who Are We?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relies on sound science to safeguard both human health and the environment. The Office of Research and Development (ORD) is the scientific research arm of EPA. ORD's leading-edge research helps provide the solid underpinning of science and technology for the Agency. ORD conducts research on ways to prevent pollution, protect human health, and reduce risk. The work at ORD laboratories, research centers, and offices across the country helps improve the quality of air, water, soil, and the way we use resources. Applied science at ORD builds our understanding of how to protect and enhance the relationship between humans and the ecosystems of Earth.

The mission of EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) is to:

• Perform research and development to identify, understand, and solve current and future environmental problems

• Provide responsive technical support to EPA

• Integrate the work of ORD's scientific partners (other agencies, nations, private sector organizations, and academia).

• Provide leadership in addressing emerging environmental issues and in advancing the science and technology of risk assessment and risk management.

Communicating Research & Development Science and Technology

Major sources of science communication are news releases, the EPA R&D web site, and R&D publications.

• EPA News Releases
• EPA R&D Publications
• EPA Research & Development Home