National Institute of Standards and Technology Office of International and Academic Affairs Activities Report for FY 1 999/2000 rhe National Institute of Standards and Technology was established in 1988 by Congress to "assist industry in the development of technology . needed to improve product quality, 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 m 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 Chemical Science and Technology • National Quality Program Laboratory • International and Academic Affairs • Biotechnology • Physical and Chemical Properties" Technology Services • Analytical Chemistry • Standards Services • Process Measurements • Technology Partnerships • Surface and Microanalysis Science • Measurement Services • Information Services Physics Laboratory • Electron and Optical Physics Advanced Technology Program • Atomic Physics • Economic Assessment • Optical Technology • Information Technology and Applications • Ionizing Radiation • Chemistry and Life Sciences • Time and Frequency' • Materials and Manufacturing Technology • Quantum Physics' • 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 • Applied Economics • Law Enforcement Standards • Structures • Electricity • Building Materials • • Semiconductor Electronics - Building Environment ' • Radio-Frequency Technology • Fire Safety Engineering • Electromagnetic Technology' • Fire Science • Optoelectronics' Information Technology Laboratory Materials Science and Engineering • Mathematical and Computational Sciences' Laboratory • Advanced Network Technologies • Computer Security • Theoretical and Computational Materials Science • Information Access and User Interfaces • Materials Reliability' • High Performance Systems and Services • Ceramics • Distributed Computing and Information Services • Polymers • Software Diagnostics and Conformance Testing • Metallurgy • Statistical Engineering • NIST Center for Neutron Research 'At Boulder, CO 80303. 'Some elements at Boulder, CO. NIST Special Publication 978 Office of International and Academic Affairs Activities Report for Fiscal Years 1999/2000 S.F. Heller-Zeisler, Editor Office ofInternational and Academic Affairs Office of the Director June 2002 U.S. Department of Commerce Donald L. Evans, Secretary Technology Administration Phillip J. Bond, Under Secretaryfor Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this document in order to describe an experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 978 Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 978, 107 pages (June 2002) CODEN: NSPUE2 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 2002 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov — Phone: (202) 512-1800 — Fax: (202) 512-2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001 Office of International and Academic Affairs Staff Dr. B. Stephen Carpenter Director, Office of International and Academic Affairs Dr. Claire M. Saundry Dr. Susan F. Heller-Zeisler Chief, Office of International Affairs International Affairs Officer Dr. Jack J. Hsia Ms. Magdalena Navarro Chief, Office of Academic Affairs International Affairs Officer Ms. Diane Fazio Mrs. Cathy A. Smith Secretary International Specialist Ms. Janice H. Campbell Mrs. Bonnie J. Debord Secretary International Specialist Ms. Veronica Joy Brooks Mrs. Aija E. Roess Information Specialist International Specialist 1 Executive Summary The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has the unique responsibility of ensuring that U.S industry has access to whatever measurement and standards systems 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, NIST's measurement capabilities support U.S. regulatory agencies in their efforts to ensure the health and safety of U.S. citizens. Therefore, NIST has found it advantageous to participate in a wide range of international activities. NIST targets its international activities on those areas in which U.S. industry needs access to a broader metrology base than that which is available domestically. When NIST researchers 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 Office of International and Academic Affairs (OIAA). This report presents an overview of international and academic activities both through OIAA and throughout NIST for the fiscal years 1999 and 2000. An important milestone for international recognition in measurement sciences was realized in October 1999, when NIST was one of 38 signatories of the Comite International des Poids et Mesures (CIPM) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRa). This Arrangement provides a framework for cooperation in the measurement sciences by providing the technical basis for acceptance of calibration certificates issued by the national measurement institutes. It is expected that the MRa will provide the technical information necessary to resolve trade disputes that arise over differences in measurements and standards. OIAA continues to remain actively involved in this process. Among the activities coordinated by OIAA are several extensive on-going international programs, including the U.S. - Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation, the U.S. - Egypt Joint S&T Fund program, and the Interamerican System of Metrology (SIM). In addition, OIAA coordinates the foreign guest researcher program and the more than 800 foreign visitors to NIST per year. In the fiscal years 1999 and 2000, OIAA hosted many distinguished high level visits including the President of the Institute for Technological Research, Brazil, the Director General of the Joint Research Center for European Commission, the Director-General of the National Technology Agency of Finland, the Chief Executive, ministry of Research, Science and Technology of New Zealand, the Director of the National Directorate of Metrology and Calibration for Albania, the President of the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Standardization Metrology and Certification, the President of National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality, the Division Director of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in Japan, the Director of the Israeli National Physical Laboratory, the President of CIPM, the director of NMi, of the Netherlands, the former New Zealand Prime Minister, and the President of the Egyptian National Institute for Standards. OIAA continues its outreach not only to the NIST community, but also to our partners elsewhere in the United States and abroad through a comprehensive homepage on the World Wide Web. The OIAA homepage provides: information on the international and academic activities at NIST, links to other national metrology institutions and national standards bodies, a directory of all NIST international agreements, links to organizations which fund international S&T