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VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY (VCAT)
MINUTES OF AUGUST 14-15, 2007 MEETING
Boulder, CO

 

ATTENDANCE

 


Visiting Committee
Baer, Thomas
Cerf, Vinton
Fleury, Paul
Floss, Gary
Serum, James
Spong, E. David
Starnes, Wyatt
Williams, Robert

Brumby, Janet
VCAT Exec. Dir.

 

Members Not Attending

Cassidy, John

Happer, William

Heimbrook, Lou Ann

Reichmanis, Elsa

NIST Senior Management Board

Anderson, William

Furlani, Cita

Gebbie, Katharine

Hall , Dale *

Hertz, Harry*

Heyman, Mat

Jeffrey, William

Kirkner, Robert*

Kilmer, Roger*  

May, Willie

O’Brian, Thomas

Porter, Gail

Semerjian, Hratch

Steel, Eric*

Turner, James

 

NIST Staff
Alpert, Bradley
Amis, Eric
Arnold, George*
Boehm, Jason*
Brady, Mary*
Chang, Wo*
Cole, Kendra*
Dohne, Kirk*
Ehrlich, Gail*
Fraser, Gerald
Friend, Daniel
Harary, Howard*
Hardis, Jonathan*
Herbert, Denise*
Josell, Daniel*
Kelley, Michael
McClelland, Jabez*
McFadden, Geoffrey*
Ost, Laura

Ott, William*
Roberts, Kamie*
St. Pierre, James*
Stein, Benjamin
Stieren, David*
Sunder, Shyam*
Vorburger, Theodore*

 

Guests
Razzaghik, Fred, CHPA

 

 


 

*Attended in Gaithersburg via video-teleconference.

Introduction

The meeting was called to order by the VCAT Chairman Dr. David Spong at 8:00 a.m. Dr. Spong welcomed everyone in Boulder and at NIST Gaithersburg participating by video-teleconference.  He reviewed the VCAT Charter, and then identified the two subcommittees to convene at this meeting:   Information Technology, the first session for this subcommittee, and BioSciences/Health Care, the second subcommittee session.  The subcommittees rotate at each VCAT meeting, and the Nanotechnology and Information Technology subcommittees will convene at the December 2007 VCAT meeting to be held at the Hollings Marine Laboratory in Charleston, SC.  Dr. Spong presented his action plan for the subcommittees and VCAT chair of each subcommittee: 

  • Co-opt VCAT members and a NIST liaison to fill out their roster;
  • Develop a sub-committee Vision, Mission supporting the NIST Mission “to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life” and consider feedback from members; and
  • Schedule appropriate sub-committee meetings to develop input to NIST on their respective areas including, but not limited to strengths, gaps, additional areas to emphasize, strategies etc.  If this input were to be provided to NIST at the mid-point between the VCAT meetings, feedback from NIST could be an agenda item for the following VCAT meeting.

To view the presentation by Dr. David Spong see — Opening Remarks from VCAT Chair

NIST Update and Agenda Review   

Dr. William Jeffrey reviewed recent developments in NIST’s budget and programs.

He announced that on August 9th the President signed the America COMPETES Act (Public Law Number 110-69), which authorized funding for the NIST for the next three years, FY 2008-FY 2010 (this only establishes authorization levels, and are not yet appropriations); the last appropriations reauthorization was in 1992.  In addition to several provisions with results that affect NIST and the Department of Commerce, two sections of the Act affect the VCAT: 

 

o       The Committee will meet at least twice each year at the call of the chairperson, except that additional meetings may be called whenever one-third of the members so request in writing.

o       The committee shall provide an annual report, through the NIST Director to the Secretary of Commerce for submission to the Congress not later than 30 days after the submittal to Congress of the President’s annual budget request in each year.  Such report also shall deal essentially, though not necessarily exclusively, with policy issues or matters which affect the Institute, or with which the Committee in its official role as the private sector policy adviser of the Institute is concerned.  Each such report shall identify areas of program emphasis for the Institute of potential importance to the long-term competitiveness of United States industry. The Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the Congress such additional reports on specific policy matters as it deems appropriate.  Such report also shall comment on the programmatic planning document and updates thereto submitted to Congress by the Director under subsections (c) and (d) of Section 23.

Other results of the Act:

  • Includes funding for NIST’s portion of the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI), which puts NIST’s core budget (laboratories and facilities) on track to double over 10 years.
  • Eliminates the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), but allows for continued support for previous and pending ATP awards. NIST plans to announce awards for the 2007 (and final) ATP competition by September 30, 2007.
  • Creates a new NIST program -- the Technology Innovation Program (TIP). TIP provides grants to eligible companies or joint ventures whose proposed technology has strong potential to address critical national needs by transforming the Nation’s capacity to deal with major societal challenges.

 

The FY 2008 budget status:   For the NIST laboratories, the President’s FY 2008 request is $500.5M, the House mark supports the President’s request, and the Senate Committee Mark is $502.1M.   For Construction of Research Facilities (CRF), the President’s request is $93.9M, the House Mark is $128.8M (including directed grants), and the Senate Committee Mark is $150.9M (also including directed grants).  For the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), the President’s request is $0, the House Mark is $93M, and the Senate Committee Mark is $100M (in the reauthorization, any money for ATP will go to TIP).  For the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), the President’s request is $46.3M, the House Mark is $108.7M, and the Senate Committee Mark is $110M. 

To view the presentation and agenda review by Dr. William Jeffrey see NIST Update

  

Bioscience/Health Care Status

Dr. Willie May, Director, Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL) discussed NIST’s role in the biosciences as an opportunity to leverage our vast expertise in the quantitative physical and informational sciences to provide the measurement infrastructure to underpin increased innovation in the biosciences. We do this by:

  • Maintaining World-Class research programs and facilities for the physical, chemical and informational sciences
  • Recruiting staff with expertise and interest in working as part of interdisciplinary teams
  • Establishing new and strengthening existing external partnerships that complement our facilities and expertise
  • Working with stakeholders in the government, academic and private sectors to identify and address measurement and information barriers to innovation.

NIST and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) are jointly sponsoring an International Symposium in October 2008, titled “Measurement, Standards and Technology Barriers to Innovation in the Biosciences” featuring participants who are international experts from industry, academia and government.  The expected outcome is identification and prioritization of measurement and standards barriers to innovation and the achievement of maximal societal and economic benefits from advancements of our knowledge in the biosciences.  It will be a full day of Symposium focused on bioscience related areas with great potential for economic and overall societal benefit and a 3-day Workshop to flesh out measurement and standards challenges that represent significant barriers to innovation in selected focus areas.

To view the presentation by Dr. Willie May see Update on Bioscience/Health Program and Planning Activities 

Information Technology Status

Ms. Cita Furlani, Director, Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) delivered an overview of the IT research agenda outlining the focus areas where the NIST Operating Units collaborate: 

·        Identifying critical U.S. IT measurement and standards research areas and potential impacts

·        Advancements in IT measurements and standards are a key element in NIST’s ability to respond to the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI)

·        IT research is a broad and rapidly changing area

·        Results of IT research are utilized in scientific endeavors

·        IT research is informed by scientific endeavors

·        IT research at NIST involves collaborations between all laboratories

·        Focusing NIST efforts to address the intersection of critical areas and NIST’s Core Competencies

Multiple Operating Units at NIST focus IT research on core competencies for technology development where unique capabilities and measurement standards are applied, i.e., Complex Systems, Cyber Security, Enabling Scientific Discovery, Identity Management Systems; Information Discovery, Use, and Sharing; Pervasive Information Technology; Trustworthy Networking, Trustworthy Software, and Virtual Measurement Systems.

To view the presentation by Ms. Cita Furlani see - Information Technology at NIST: Present and Future

Laboratory Tours

Quantum Computing with Trapped Ions

This project is part of the NIST Quantum Information Program involving three Laboratories at both the Boulder and Gaithersburg NIST campuses. The trapped ion quantum computing project is developing a scalable demonstration quantum computer to develop the research and measurements that will eventually lead to quantum computers vastly more powerful than today’s best supercomputers at tasks such as cryptographic analysis, data searching and correlation, and modeling complex systems. This project uses collections of individual ions (electrically charged atoms) in microfabricated electromagnetic traps, and individually addressed and manipulated with lasers. The ions serve as quantum bits (qubits) to perform information processing. The Group has demonstrated several world-wide firsts in quantum computing and quantum state engineering, including the first demonstration of all the components needed for a scalable quantum computer, the first demonstration of quantum teleportation to rapidly transfer information in a quantum computer, the first quantum Fourier transform operation, the first demonstration of new planar trap architectures that should be easily scalable, and the first demonstration of using quantum mechanics to substantially reduce measurement uncertainty. This project is a collaboration among the Physics Laboratory, Information Technology Laboratory (quantum computing theory) and Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory (microfabricated ion traps).

Using the Virtual World to Enable Spatially Separated Researchers to Perform Real-time Cooperative Analyses

One has only to look at current scientific papers to see that collaborators are often separated by large distances. Traditional means of remote collaboration such as email or video conferencing will likely not be adequate in many cases. Some examples of this are: when the data are complex, involve 3D relationships, or consist of non-traditional landscapes such as the nanoworld. Immersive visualization enables insight in just these cases. Connecting two or more immersive visualization environments allows joint examination of data in real time across geographically separated places.

This lab tour demonstrates a prototype immersive visualization system for collaboration in real time over large distances. Researchers in the Boulder Colorado immersive visualization lab and researchers in the Gaithersburg Maryland immersive visualization lab will demonstrate how they are jointly studying the same data, a scaffold manufactured for tissue engineered materials.

Standards for Biomagnetic Imaging

Standards for Biomagnetic Imaging is an interdisciplinary program at NIST designed to provide improved quantitative foundations for these important medical imaging modalities.  In particular for magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, access to appropriate standards to ensure accurate quantization and comparison of diagnostic images has been identified as a major goal for disease diagnosis and treatment and for demonstration of the efficacy of new pharmaceuticals.  The standards for biomagnetic imaging program seeks to provide a basis for quantitative biomagnetic imaging through development of traceable imaging phantoms, characterization tools for new contrast agents, improved understanding of magnetic contrast mechanisms, and development of imaging methods applicable at the single cell or single molecule level.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

SUBCOMMITTEE ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Mr. Wyatt Starnes, Chair

VCAT Members:  Dr. Vinton Cerf, Mr. Gary Floss, Dr. David Spong

NIST Liaison – Ms. Cita Furlani

For IT Subcommittee handout see VCAT Subcommittee on Information Technology

SUBCOMMITTEE ON BIOSCIENCE/HEALTHCARE

Dr. Tom Baer, Chair

VCAT Members:  Dr. Lou Ann Heimbrook, Dr. James Serum

NIST Liaison – Dr. Willie May

For BioScience and Healthcare handout see VCAT Subcommittee on Biosciences/Health Care

DAY TWO:  8/15/07 

Dr. Spong welcomed everyone back.  The VCAT individually gave their expression of thanks to Dr. William Jeffrey, who is leaving NIST at the end of August.  His inspired leadership will be missed by all.  Dr. Jeffrey recognizes the VCAT is a more useful tool having formed the three Subcommittees, each different, yet all share the desired outcome, to focus on whether NIST’s programs are meeting the nation’s priorities.  Both NIST staff and VCAT are pleased  the subcommittee breakout sessions work so well.

The VCAT subcommittee chairs each gave their feedback:

SUBCOMMITTEE ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The IT Subcommittee reported out to the Full Committee on their objective to initiate discussions and identify challenges, risks, core competencies and opportunities to help NIST enhance the strategic view for the role of IT to the NIST mission, internally and externally.  The subcommittee outlined “next steps” to move forward, with the first three to be ready for the December meeting:  (1) understand who the customers are, (2) understand what the mandates are, and (3) understand any synergy between needs, opportunities, and mandates.   The next five steps were to be ready for discussion at the April 2008 meeting.    

 

To view the feedback presentation made by Mr. Wyatt Starnes, Chair of the VCAT Information Technology Subcommittee see:   VCAT Subcommittee on Information Technology Feedback

 

SUBCOMMITTEE BIOSCIENCES/HEALTHCARE

The BioSciences/Healthcare Subcommittee reported out to the Full Committee with an overview of the Pharmaceutical Discovery/Drug Development and Diagnostics industry sector and measurement needs in these areas and for clinical trials.  Discussions covered key trends on the horizon for the pharmaceutical industry and technology platforms that could influence the trends; personalized medicine and opportunities for innovative new medicines. 

To view the feedback presentation made by Dr. Tom Baer, Chair of the VCAT BioSciences/Healthcare Subcommittee see:  VCAT Subcommittee on Biosciences/Health Care Feedback   

Disclaimer: These minutes are not a verbatim transcript of speakers’ comments but rather an interpretation of their main points. These comments reflect individual views of the members, not necessarily the views of the VCAT.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 12:00 P.M. on August 15, 2007.

I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the foregoing minutes are accurate and complete.

Janet Brumby
Executive Director
NIST Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology

E. David Spong, D.Sc.
Chair
NIST Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology