NERSC traditionally provides systems and services that maximize the scientific productivity of its user community, and takes pride in its reputation for the expertise of its staff and the high quality of services delivered to its users. In support of the DOE Office of Science’s mission, the NERSC Center served 677 scientists throughout the United States in 2005. Appendix B provides statistical information about NERSC’s clients, their primary affiliations, and their scientific disciplines.

Scientific productivity is the most important measure of NERSC’s success, as evidenced by more than 1,400 scientific publications in 2005 that were based entirely or in part on calculations done at NERSC.1 To maintain its effectiveness, NERSC proactively addresses new challenges. How the NERSC Center is working to improve that productivity even more in the face of growing scientific and technological challenges is discussed in the following pages.