- Author
-
McCurley, M. F.
- Title
- NIST International and Academic Activities for FY 1997/1998.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
-
NIST SP 940
April 1999
83 p.
- Distribution
- AVAILABLE FROM Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20401-0003. Telephone: 202-512-1800. Website: http://www.gpo.gov
- Keywords
-
research facilities
- Abstract
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has the unique responsibility of ensuring that U.S. industry has access to the measurements and standards that it needs to compete in a global market. Because advancing technology is a significant stimulus for developing new measurement capabilities and new standards, NIST maintains a world class research and development program to support emerging measurement needs. In addition, NISTs measurement capabilities help support U.S. regulatory agencies in their efforts to ensure the health and safety of U.S. citizens abroad. Therefore, NIST has found it advantageous to participate in international activities. NIST targets its international activities on those areas in which U.S. industry needs a broader metrology base than that which currently exists. When NIST scientists and engineers have a history of cooperation with their counterparts from other countries, it is generally easier to adopt consistent measurement systems. Thus, participation in international Science and Technology (S&T) arrangements significantly enhances NIST's ability to achieve its mission. NIST accomplishes its mission through a portfolio of programs, including the measurement and standards programs, the advanced technology program, the manufacturing extension partnership, and the national quality program. The coordination of all international and academic activities in these programs is the responsibility of the Offtce of International and Academic Affairs (OIAA). In the past two years OIAA has hosted many distinguished high level visits including the President and Vice-President of the Physilakisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), the Director of the Bureau International Poids et Mesures (BIPM), a Senator from the Mexican Chamber, the Minister of Commerce for Mexico, the Minister of Commerce and Industries of Haiti, the President of the Egyptian National Institute of Standards, the Director General of the Mendelev Institute as well as the Directors of several of the National Measurement Laboratories including those from Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ecuador, Mexico, and China. In the past year, OIAA has expanded its outreach efforts by developing a comprehensive homepage on the World Wide Web (WWW). The OIAA homepage serves not only the MST community but also our partners elsewhere in the United States and abroad. The information provided on the OIAA homepage includes: information on the international and academic activities at MST, links to other national metrology institutions and standards bodies, a directory of all MST international agreements, a database of measurement comparisons in which MST staff have participated, links to organizations which fund international S&T cooperation, and information for MST travelers. It is our intention to make this Special Publication available on the WWW and to continue to update and amend our homepage to meet the needs of our customers. In January 1997 OIAA initiated the development of a laboratory wide international comparison database. With the cooperation of the laboratories, information on international comparisons MST has been involved in the last 10 years, either formally or informally, was collected into a database. The first version of this database was published on the OIAA WEB page in September 1997. An updated version of the database was placed on the WEB in December 1997. Since that time the database project has expanded to include direct participation from the laboratories, Technology Services and our partner National Measurement Institutes (NMIs) in the European Union (EU). Dr. Robert Hebner, Acting Deputy Director, has called for a more detailed database that would not only allow MST to identify international comparisons MST is involved in, but also provide MST with the capability to predict future international comparison needs. The timescale for completion of this expanded project is 2000.