Science Fair Project Encyclopedia National Institute of
Standards and Technology As a non-regulatory agency of the
United States Department of Commerceís Technology
Administration, the National Institute of Standards (NIST)
develops and promotes measurement, standards, and technology to
enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality
of life. As part of this mission, NIST scientists and engineers
continually refine the science of measurement, making possible
the ultraprecise engineering and manufacturing required for
todayís most advanced technologies. They also are directly
involved in standards development and testing done by the
private sector and government agencies. NIST was originally
called the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), a name that it
had from 1901 until 1988. NIST has four major programs through
which it helps U.S. industry: the NIST Laboratories (physics,
information technology, chemical science and technology,
electronics and electrical engineering, materials science and en