Nandana Menon, a postdoctoral student in the Superconducting Magnet Program in the Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics (ATAP) Division at the Berkeley Lab, delivered an insightful talk at our All-to-All meeting on December 2, 2025, on how service is a core value of Stewardship at ATAP.
In the public mind, the scientist is often seen as a solitary figure, driven by pure curiosity in the quiet of a lab. While individual brilliance remains important, a deeper, more collaborative ethic is shaping the culture of today’s top research institutions: a commitment to service. In ATAP, service isn’t an afterthought but a core value, says Menon, and is defined as “the spirit in which we discover and innovate to support the Berkeley Lab and DOE missions and perform outreach to prepare the next generation.” This commitment turns scientific work from just a job into a purpose-driven career with far-reaching effects, says Menon.
Drawing on management principles from the Harvard Business Review, Menon highlighted a key flaw in traditional leadership: the assumption that employees are primarily self-interested agents. According to Menon, building a purpose-driven organization involves addressing:
- Conventional management practices, which assume employees are self-interested agents causes disengagement
- Connecting people to a sense of higher purpose inspires them to bring more energy and creativity to their jobs
- A higher purpose must be discovered through empathy, listening, and an iterative process, not invented
This purpose develops naturally through empathy, active listening, and a shared sense of mission. For a public institution like Berkeley Lab, that higher purpose is closely connected to service. Service in a scientific setting is a complex idea that goes well beyond the primary research goal.
- Solving real-world problems and making it accessible
- Acting as stewards of public resources and trust
- Science doesn’t happen in isolation–we need to support each other’s success
- Contributing to the Lab’s mission beyond our immediate roles
- Public service means our research serves everyone, not just whoever can pay for it
Service manifests through several key practices. It appears in collaboration, such as the open sharing of data and co-authoring papers that build on others’ work. It is evident in the rigor of peer review, which offers constructive feedback to ensure quality and advance collective knowledge. It is embodied in mentorship—the vital act of training new scientists, passing down institutional knowledge, and promoting ethical behavior. It drives the open science movement, which encourages transparency and reproducibility by sharing code and methods. It also extends outward into public engagement, where scientists communicate their findings to society, address urgent societal needs, and foster public trust in science. Finally, it includes institutional service—often unseen but essential work, such as serving on committees, organizing conferences, and supporting the infrastructure that sustains scientific progress.
In ATAP, this philosophy is not merely theoretical; it is “Service in Action.” The division’s commitment is evident across its core functions:
- Advancing Critical Missions
- Technical expertise for particle accelerators and fusion energy
- Continuing collaborations within the Department of Energy (DOE) community
- Training the Next Generation
- Undergraduate/graduate interns, exchange students
- Technical meetings for knowledge transfer
- S. Particle Accelerator School
- Community Outreach
- K-12 programs, STEM fairs
- University of California, Berkeley, partnerships, DOE Office of Science Community College Internships
- Conferences and workshops
Menon concluded the presentation with a powerful call for self-reflection, posing questions that every member of the scientific community should consider:
- Am I optimizing for impact or my own convenience?
- What knowledge or expertise could I share to help others succeed?
- Where can I contribute beyond my immediate responsibilities?
For more information on ATAP News articles, contact caw@lbl.gov.
