How do you measure and set standards for things as intangible as light or the electromagnetic compatibility of electronic devices? This is the charge of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the products and services of which impact the design and safety of everything from GPS satellites, lasers, and bulletproof vests to the power grid, homes, spacecraft, and cyber-security systems.
The extraordinary contributions NIST has made over the past 110 years to the development of the U.S. as the world leader in science, technology, and engineering form the focus of new lobby exhibits in the agency’s headquarters in Maryland and laboratories in Colorado. Historic tools, test apparatus, and test samples interspersed with photos, videos, and interviews that bring to life NIST’s commitment to innovation and precision, which drives the nation’s industrial competitiveness, economic security and quality of life.
