= National Institute of Standards and Technology = The '''National Institute of Standards and Technology''' ('''NIST''') is a [[UnitedStates/DepartmentOfCommerce|U.S. DOC]] agency. <> ---- == Composition == NIST is led by the simultaneous [[UnitedStates/DepartmentOfCommerce|Undersecretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology]] and '''director''' of NIST. The institute operates in six laboratories: 1. Communications Technology Laboratory 2. Engineering Laboratory 3. Information Technology Laboratory 4. Center for Neutron Research 5. Material Measurement Laboratory 6. Physical Measurement Laboratory Other work is organized as extramural projects, for example [[UnitedStates/ManufacturingExtensionPartnership|MEP]]. ---- == History == The United States' authority for standards was originally organized as the '''Office of Standard Weights and Measures''' under the [[UnitedStates/DepartmentOfTheTreasury|Treasury]]. In 1901, the office was reorganized as the '''National Bureau of Standards'''. The bureau was renamed to the '''National Institute of Standards and Technology''' in 1988. ---- CategoryRicottone