# National Institute of Standards and Technology

> measurement standards laboratory in the United States

**Wikidata**: [Q176691](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q176691)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_of_Standards_and_Technology)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/national-institute-of-standards-and-technology

## Summary
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a measurement standards laboratory and research institute in the United States. Operating under the U.S. Department of Commerce, it serves as the nation's primary authority on metrology, developing standards and technology to enhance industrial competitiveness and facilitate trade.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** 1901 (originally established as the National Bureau of Standards).
- **Parent Organization:** United States Department of Commerce.
- **Headquarters:** Gaithersburg, Maryland (100 Bureau Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070).
- **Current Leadership:** Laurie E. Locascio, Director and Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology (confirmed April 2022).
- **Staffing:** Approximately 3,400 employees as of 2021.
- **Primary Field:** Metrology (the science of measurement).
- **Key Outputs:** Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS), NIST Special Publications (SP), and specialized software.
- **Subsidiaries:** Includes JILA, the NIST Center for Neutron Research, and the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program.
- **Institutional Memberships:** Member of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), FIDO Alliance, OpenID Foundation, and ORCID.

## FAQs
### Q: What was NIST called before 1988?
A: From its founding in 1901 until 1988, the organization was known as the National Bureau of Standards (NBS).

### Q: What kind of standards does NIST produce?
A: NIST produces a wide range of technical standards, most notably the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) and the NIST Special Publications (SP) series, which provide guidelines for technology and cybersecurity.

### Q: Where is NIST located?
A: The institute is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It also maintains a significant presence through subsidiaries like JILA in Boulder, Colorado.

## Why It Matters
NIST provides the essential technical foundation for the United States' industrial and scientific infrastructure. By maintaining the national standards for measurement, NIST ensures that technology and commerce operate on a reliable, unified basis. Its work is critical for everything from the synchronization of time to the security of digital communications through its cryptographic and information processing standards. 

The institute's research has historically driven major breakthroughs in computing and mathematics. By hosting world-class researchers and collaborating with international bodies like the W3C, NIST helps define the future of global technology. Its role as a non-regulatory agency allows it to work closely with industry to solve complex measurement problems, thereby promoting innovation and economic security.

## Notable For
- **Invention of the Pixel:** Affiliated computer scientist Russell A. Kirsch is credited with the invention of the pixel.
- **Python Programming:** Guido van Rossum, the creator of the Python programming language, is an affiliated computer scientist and engineer.
- **Pioneering Personnel:** NIST has been home to significant figures in science and mathematics, including Evelyn Boyd Granville (one of the first African-American women to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics) and computer design pioneer Harry Huskey.
- **Standardization Authority:** It is the official issuer of FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards), which are mandatory for many federal government applications.

## Body

### Historical Evolution
NIST was established by the U.S. government in 1901 as the **National Bureau of Standards (NBS)**. It operated under this name for 87 years, serving as the central laboratory for physical science and measurement. In 1988, the organization was renamed the **National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)** to reflect its expanded role in supporting modern industrial technology.

### Leadership and Governance
The institute is led by a Director who also holds the title of Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology. Notable past directors include:
*   **Arati Prabhakar** (1993–1997)
*   **Patrick D. Gallagher** (2008–2014)
*   **Walter Copan** (2017–2021)
*   **Laurie E. Locascio** (2022–Present)

### Research and Affiliated Scientists
NIST has a long history of attracting prominent researchers in computer science, mathematics, and physics. 
*   **Mathematics:** The institute employed Gertrude Blanch, Ida Rhodes, and Evelyn Boyd Granville, all of whom made significant contributions to computational mathematics.
*   **Computer Science:** Affiliates include Betty Holberton (a pioneer in computer programming), Russell A. Kirsch (inventor of the pixel), and Guido van Rossum (creator of Python).
*   **Engineering:** Margaret R. Fox served as a notable electronics engineer and computer scientist at the institute.

### Technical Divisions and Subsidiaries
NIST manages several specialized divisions and collaborative research centers:
*   **JILA:** A joint research institute with the University of Colorado Boulder.
*   **NIST Center for Neutron Research:** A national user facility for neutron research.
*   **Systems Integration Division:** Focuses on the integration of complex systems.
*   **Genome in a Bottle:** A project dedicated to authoritative characterization of human genomes.

### Digital and Global Presence
NIST maintains a robust digital presence to disseminate its standards and research. It operates the official blog "Taking Measure" and provides access to its standards via the NIST Shop and various API services (DOI prefix 10.6028). The organization is active in the global research community, holding memberships in the International GLAM Labs Community and DataCite.

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## References

1. [GRID](https://www.grid.ac/institutes/grid.94225.38)
2. Thomson Reuters Open Perm ID
3. Google Maps
4. [USA.gov](https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/national-institute-of-standards-and-technology)
5. [Source](https://www.nist.gov/director)
6. [Source](https://www.commerce.gov/bureaus-and-offices/nist)
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. Library of Congress Name Authority File
10. BnF authorities
11. CiNii Research
12. [Source](https://www.w3.org/Consortium/Member/List)
13. [Source](https://fidoalliance.org/members/)
14. [Source](https://glamlabs.io/list-members/)
15. [Source](https://openid.net/foundation/sponsoring-members/)
16. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20231020113811/https://orcid.org/members)
17. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240112184553/https://datacite.org/members/)
18. [Directors of the National Bureau of Standards (1901 – 1988) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (1988 – present). 2010](https://www.nist.gov/director/pao/directors-national-bureau-standards-1901-1988-and-national-institute-standards-and)
19. [Source](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/21/president-biden-to-nominate-dr-arati-prabhakar-to-lead-office-of-science-and-technology-policy/)
20. [Source](https://www.commerce.gov/about/leadership/laurie-e-locascio)
21. [Source](https://www.nist.gov/people/laurie-e-locascio)
22. [Source](https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2022/04/laurie-locascio-confirmed-17th-nist-director)
23. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
24. National Software Reference Library
25. [Source](https://csrc.nist.gov/publications)
26. [Source](https://www.nist.gov/director/pao/nist-general-information)
27. [Source](https://www.nist.gov/pao/nist-rss-feeds)
28. [Crossref](https://api.crossref.org/members/4068)
29. [Source](https://www.nist.gov/director/pao/media-contacts)
30. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/NIST)
31. GRID Release 2015-12-14
32. GRID Release 2016-12-06
33. [Source](https://www.iana.org/assignments/enterprise-numbers/enterprise-numbers)
34. [Source](https://ftp.arin.net/pub/resource_registry_service/asns.csv)
35. [Source](https://nist.gov/director)
36. LIBRIS
37. [Source](https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/?oldid=85195)
38. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
39. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/National_Institute_of_Standards_and_Technology-GE8ED)
40. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/National_Institute_of_Standards_and_Technology)
41. YouTube API
42. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
43. [Source](https://www.nist.gov/careers)