National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Facilities, Measurements and Standards, NIST Features Specialized Facilities, Helping Secure the Homeland, People, Directors

A US government facility, established by Congress in 1901, researching and developing measurement methods, standards, and technology in support of industry, commerce, scientific institutions, and government; formerly known as the National Bureau of Standards. NIST maintains one of the world's most accurate atomic clocks, accurate to within a second per six million years, and a copy of the standard kilogram (the original is kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, in Sèvres, Paris). Its laboratories, including physics, materials science, manufacturing engineering, and building research, are located mainly at Boulder, CO, or at the NIST headquarters, in Gaithersburg, MD.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, formerly known as The National Bureau of Standards) is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce’s Technology Administration.

As part of this mission, NIST scientists and engineers continually refine the science of measurement, making possible the ultra precise engineering and manufacturing required for today’s most advanced technologies. NIST was originally called the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), a name that it had from 1901 until 1988.

NIST has an operating budget for fiscal year 2006 (October 1, 2005-September 30, 2006) of about $930 million. NIST employs about 2,800 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support and administrative personnel. About 1,800 NIST associates (guest researchers and engineers from American companies and foreign nations) complement the staff. In addition, NIST partners with 1,400 manufacturing specialists and staff at nearly 350 affiliated centers around the country.

Facilities

NIST's headquarters are located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. NIST has four major programs through which it helps U.S. industry: the NIST Laboratories (physics, information technology, chemical science and technology, electronics and electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, manufacturing engineering, and building and fire research); the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), a grant program where NIST and industry partners cost share the early-stage development of innovative but high-risk technologies;

NIST's Boulder laboratories are best known for NIST-F1, a clock that shares the distinction of being the world's most accurate atomic clock with a similar device in Paris, France.

Measurements and Standards

As part of its mission, NIST supplies industry, academia, government and other users with over 1,300 Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) of the highest quality and metrological value. For example, NIST SRMs for the food manufacturing sector include:

Typical Diet (SRM 1548a, $624) Non-Fat Milk Powder (SRM 1549, $318, 100 g) Oyster Tissue (SRM 1566b, $540, 25 g) Wheat Flour (SRM 1567a, $418, 80 g) Rice Flour (SRM 1568a, $390, 80 g) Bovine Liver (SRM 1577b, $261, 50 g) Tomato Leaves (SRM 1573A, $332.00, 50 g) Natural Water (SRM 1640, $198.00, 250 mL) Peanut butter (SRM 2387, $501, three 6 oz (170 g) jars)

NIST Features Specialized Facilities

NIST manages some of the world’s most specialized measurement facilities—including an unmatched and extraordinarily cost-effective NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) user facility where cutting-edge research is done on new and improved materials, advanced fuel cells, and biotechnology.

NIST's Advanced Measurement Laboratory (AML) is considered the most technically advanced research facility of its kind in the world.

Based in the AML is the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST). To accomplish this goal, the center leverages and combines the diverse knowledge and capabilities of NIST, industry, academia, and other government agencies to support all phases of nanotechnology development, The CNST features a large Nanofabrication (Nanofab) Facility.

Helping Secure the Homeland

In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, NIST is playing a key role in enhancing the nation’s homeland security. Through projects spanning a wide range of research areas, NIST is helping the millions of individuals in law enforcement, the military, emergency services, information technology, airport and building security, and other areas protect the American public from terrorist threats. For example, NIST is currently developing government-wide identification card standards for federal employees and contractors to prevent terrorists, criminals and other unauthorized people from getting into government buildings and computer systems.

In response to the 9/11 attacks on New York City's World Trade Center complex, NIST has a three-part plan: a technical building and fire safety investigation to study the factors contributing to the probable cause of the collapses of the WTC Towers (WTC 1 and 2) and WTC 7; NIST also is providing practical guidance and tools to better prepare facility owners, contractors, architects, engineers, emergency responders, and regulatory authorities to respond to future disasters.

People

Three researchers at NIST have been awarded Nobel Prizes for their work in physics, William D. Other notable people who have worked at NIST include

Lyman James Briggs John W. Olver Ward Plummer Jacob Rabinow

Directors

The director of NIST is a Presidential appointment and must be confirmed by the Senate.