Table Of Content)FFICe OF INTCRNATIONAL AND ACADCMIC AFFAIRS
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NIST
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NTERNATiOINAl ANcI
FY
AcTiviTiEs foR 1997/1998
Special Publication 940
United States Department of Commerce
Technology Administration
iOC
National Institute of Standards and Technology
jioo Office of International and Academic Affairs
IU57
1997/1998
11999
fhe National Institute of Standards and Technology was established in 1988 by Congress to "assist industry in
the developmentoftechnology . . . neededto improve productquality, to modernize manufacturing processes,to
ensure product reliability ... and to facilitate rapid commercialization ... of products based on new scientific
discoveries."
NIST, originally founded as the National Bureau of Standards in 1901, works to strengthen U.S. industry's
competitiveness; advance science and engineering; and improve public health, safety, and the environment. One
of the agency's basic functions is to develop, maintain, and retain custody of the national standards of
measurement, and provide the means and methods for comparing standards used in science, engineering,
manufacturing, commerce, industry, and education with the standards adopted or recognized by the Federal
Government.
As an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration, NIST conducts basic and
applied research in the physical sciences and engineering, and develops measurement techniques, test
methods, standards, and related services. The Institute does generic and precompetitive work on new and
advanced technologies. NIST's research facilities are located at Gaithersburg, MD 20899, and at Boulder, CO 80303.
Major technical operating units and their principal activities are listed below. For more information contact the
Publications and Program Inquiries Desk, 301-975-3058.
Office of the Director Physics Laboratory
• National Quality Program • Electron and Optical Physics
• International and Academic Affairs • Atomic Physics
• Optical Technology
Technology Services
• Ionizing Radiation
• standards Services • Time and Frequency'
• Technology Partnerships • Quantum Physics'
• Measurement Services
• Technology Innovation Materials Science and Engineering
• Information Services Laboratory
• Intelligent Processing of Materials
Advanced Technology Program • Ceramics
• Economic Assessment • Materials Reliability'
• Information Technology and Applications • Polymers
• Chemical and Biomedical Technology • Metallurgy
• Materials and Manufacturing Technology • NIST Center for Neutron Research
• Electronics and Photonics Technology
Manufacturing Engineering
Manufacturing Extension Partnership Laboratory
Program
• Precision Engineering
• Regional Programs • Automated Production Technology
• National Programs • Intelligent Systems
• Program Development • Fabrication Technology
• Manufacturing Systems Integration
Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Laboratory Building and Fire Research
Laboratory
• Microelectronics
• Law Enforcement Standards • structures
• Electricity • Building Materials
• Semiconductor Electronics • Building Environment
• Electromagnetic Fields^ • Fire Safety Engineering
• Electromagnetic Technology^ • Fire Science
• Optoelectronics^
Information Technology Laboratory
Chemical Science and Technology • Mathematical and Computational Sciences^
Laboratory • Advanced Network Technologies
• Biotechnology • Computer Security
• Physical and Chemical Properties^ • Information Access and User Interfaces
• Analytical Chemistry • High Performance Systems and Services
• Process Measurements • Distributed Computing and Information Services
• Surface and Microanalysis Science • Software Diagnostics and Conformance Testing
'At Boulder, CO 80303.
^Some elements at Boulder, CO.
NIST Special Publication 940
NIST and Academic
International Activities
FY
for 1997/1998
Marian F. McCurley, Editor
International Affairs Officer
Office of International and Academic Affairs
Office of the Director
National Institute of Standards and Technology
MD
Gaithersburg, 20899
April 1999
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
U.S.
William M. Daley, Secretary
TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION
Gary R. Bachula, Acting Under Secretary for
Technology
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND
TECHNOLOGY
Raymond G. Kammer, Director
National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 940
Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 940, 88 pages (April 1999)
CODEN: NSPUE2
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
U.S.
WASHINGTON:
1999
For sale by the Superintendent ofDocuments, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402-9325
Office of International and Academic Affairs Staff
Dr. B. Stephen Carpenter Dr. Neville Pugh
Director, Office ofInternational and International Affairs Officer
Academic Affairs (on detaU from MSEL)
Mrs. Carol R. Jones Mrs. Cathy A. Smith
Secretary International Specialist
Dr. Claire M. Saundry Mrs. Bonnie J. DeBord
Chief, International Affairs International Specialist
Ms. V. Joy Brooks Mrs. Aija E. Roess
Administrative Assistant International Specialist
Dr. Marian F. McCurley Dr. JackJ. Hsia
International Affairs Officer Chief, Academic Affairs
Summary
Executive
The National Institute ofStandards and Technology (NIST) has the unique responsibility ofensuring 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 ofU.S. citizens abroad. Therefore, NIST has found it
advantageous to participate in international activities. NISTtargets 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 ofcooperation with their counterparts fi-om other countries, it is
generally easierto adopt consistent measurement systems. Thus, participation in international Science and
Technology (S«&;T) arrangements significantly enhances NISTs ability to achieve its mission. NIST
accomplishes its mission through a portfolio ofprograms, including the measurement and standards
programs, the advanced technology program, the manufacturing extension partnership, and the national
quality program. The coordination ofall international and academic activities in these programs is the
responsibility ofthe Office ofInternational and Academic Affairs (OIAA).
In the past two years OIAA has hosted many distinguished high level visits including the President and
Vice-President ofthe Physilakisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTE), the Director ofthe Bureau
International Poids et Mesures (BIPM), a Senator fi-om the Mexican Chamber, the Minister ofCommerce
for Mexico, the Minister ofCommerce and Industries ofHaiti, the President ofthe Egyptian National
Institute ofStandards, the Director General ofthe Mendelev Institute as well as the Directors ofseveral of
the National Measurement Laboratories including those fi-om 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 OIAAhomepage serves not only the NIST 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 NIST, links to other national
metrology institutions and standards bodies, a directory ofall NIST international agreements, a database
ofmeasurement comparisons in which NIST staffhave participated, links to organizations which fimd
international S&T cooperation, and information forNISTtravelers. It is our intention to make this Special
WWW
Publication available on the andto continue to update and amend ourhomepage to meet the needs
ofour customers.
In January 1997 OIAA initiated the development ofa laboratory wide international comparison database.
With the cooperation ofthe laboratories, information on international comparisons NIST has been
involved in the last 10 years, either formally or informally, was collected into a database. The first version
ofthis database was published on the OIAA WEB page in September 1997. An updated version ofthe
WEB
database was placed on the in December 1997. Since that time the database project has expanded to
include direct participation from the laboratories. Technology Services and our partnerNational
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 NIST to identify international
comparisons NIST is involved in, but also provide NIST with the capability to predict future international
comparison needs. The timescale for completion ofthis expanded project is 2000.
OIAA has also implemented a strategy whereby NIST cooperates with regional bodies ofNMI's rather
than purely through bilateral relationships. These regional bodies include the Interamerican System of
Metrology (SIM), the European Metrology Program (EUROMET), the Asia-Pacific Metrology Program
(APMP), the Eastern Europe Metrology Program (COOMET), the Southern Afiican Development
Cooperation in Metrology (SADCMET) and a proposed Middle East andNorth Afiica Metrology Program
(MENAMET). NIST is a member ofSIM, which includes the Americas and the Caribbean.
This Special Publication provides a simmiary ofNIST's 1997 international and academic activities. The
first two sections on International Affairs and Academic Affairs address activities which affect NIST-wide
programs. The international activities ofeach ofthe major Operating Units (the seven laboratories,
Technology Services (TS), Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP), the National Quality
Program and the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) are described in subsequent chapters. Appendix 1
lists all ofthe international agreements NIST has with foreign institutions.
OIAA hopes you find this Report useful and welcomes your comments and suggestions on future issues.
Dr. B. Stephen Carpenter
Director, Office ofInternational and Academic Affairs
Table of Contents
International Affairs (109)
Academic Affairs (109)
National Quality Program (102)
Program OfRce (106)
Advanced Technology Program (470)
Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (480)
Building and Fire Research Laboratory (860)
Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (830)
Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory (810)
Information Technology Laboratory (890)
Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (820)
Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (850)
Physics Laboratory (840)
Technology Services (200)
Appendix 1: International Agreements
Appendix 2: Organizational Chart
Appendix 3: Abbreviations
i
