*Attended at NIST-Gaithersburg via video-teleconference.
Introduction
The meeting was called to order by Visiting Committee Chairman,
Dr. David Spong, at 8:30a.m. Dr. Spong welcomed everyone attending in Charleston and NIST
Gaithersburg participating via video-teleconference. The agenda was reviewed. It was noted that two subcommittees would convene: Information Technology and BioSciences/Healthcare.
NIST Update
Dr. Richard Kayser, Acting Deputy Director, delivered the
NIST Update on behalf of Dr. James Turner, NIST Acting Director, who was unable
to attend. The update covered NIST’s plans
for the VCAT in 2008, NIST staff recognition, technical highlights, outreach
and partnership activities, evaluation of NIST Programs, and FY 2008 budget and
strategic plans and beyond.
On behalf of the Director of NIST, Dr. Kayser expressed appreciation
to four VCAT members with expiring appointments: For six years NIST has received excellent
guidance from Mr. Gary Floss and for three years from Dr. David Spong, Mr.
Wyatt Starnes, and Mr. John Cassidy. These
prominent members provided valuable advice to help ensure that NIST’s programs
are focused on national needs. Mr. Eric
Steel, Program Office Director, formally presented appreciation plaques. NIST plans to fill all VCAT vacancies to reach
15 members.
Dr. Kayser reviewed the new annual reporting requirements as
a result of the passage of the America COMPETES Act (Public Law Number
110-69). The 2007 VCAT Annual Report
will comment on NIST’s three-year programmatic plan and is due to the Congress
not later than 30 days after the submittal to Congress of the President’s annual
budget request in each year. With that, the VCAT Chair and members called
for a special meeting in February 2008 to allow time for their comment on
NIST’s three-year programmatic planning document; the NIST Director will extend
(by two months) the four exiting members’ term appointments to March 31, 2008
to allow for their participation in the 2007 annual report process.
An update on the FY 2008 budget confirmed NIST is operating under a
second continuing resolution that extends funding at FY 2007 levels through
December 14, 2007. More budget
information should be known in the next few days.
As the meeting adjourned, the Hollings Marine Laboratory
(HML) provided a tour to the VCAT members and NIST Leadership Board to highlight
NIST’s activities with its member partners at the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the Medical University of South Carolina, the College of Charleston, and the South Carolina
Department of Natural Resources. This partnership
was designed to promote interdisciplinary scientific research for a better
understanding of marine resources and environmental health.
To view the presentation by NIST Acting Deputy Director Dr. Richard
Kayser, see: NIST
Update
Invited Speaker Joe
Bhatia, from the American National Standards Institute, addressed the VCAT to
discuss the important roles that ANSI plays in standards and conformity
assessment, both nationally and internationally. Mr. Bhatia currently serves as vice chairman
of the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Standards and Technical Barriers
(ITAC 16), a joint program of the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Trade
Representative. The VCAT meeting attendees
were also briefed on the opportunities that ANSI and NIST have to continue to
work together to promote the development and use of equitable standards.
To view the presentation by Mr. Joe
Bhatia, see:
Overview
of the U.S. Standards and Conformity Assessment System: Roles and Responsibilities of the American
National Standards Institute
Nano Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) at NIST Dr. Laurie Locascio, Chief, Biochemical
Science Division presented an overview of Nanotechnology Environmental Health
and Safety (EHS) at NIST and reviewed a programmatic outline of new NIST work
in nanotechnology standards: (1)
Nanomaterial Classification; (2) Nanomaterial Characterization; and (3)
Validation of Toxicological Assessments.
A workshop on standards for nanotechnology is planned at NIST on
February 6, 2008, to coordinate nanotechnology standards groups and identify
immediate and medium-term nanotechnology documentary standards needs.
To view the presentation by Dr.
Laurie Locascio, see:
Environmental
Health and Safety Aspects of Nanomaterials
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Mr. Wyatt Starnes, Chair
VCAT Members: Dr. David Spong, Dr. Vinton Cerf, and Mr.
Gary Floss
NIST Liaison – Ms. Cita Furlani
For IT Subcommittee handout
see VCAT Subcommittee on
Information Technology
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NANOTECHNOLOGY
Dr. Paul Fleury, Chair
VCAT Members: Dr. John
Cassidy, Dr. Elsa Reichmanis, and Mr. Robert Williams
NIST Liaison – Dr. Robert Celotta
For Nanotechnology Subcommittee handouts see:
Robert Celotta
Presentation and John Small
Presentation
SUBCOMMITTEE ON BIOSCIENCES/HEALTHCARE
Mr. Thomas Baer, Chair
VCAT Members: Dr.
Lou Ann Heimbrook, Dr. James Serum
NIST Liaison – Dr. Willie May
For BioSciences/Healthcare Subcommittee handout see:
VCAT Subcommittee
on BioSciences/Health Care met on December 10 in Gaithersburg, MD
DAY TWO: 12/12/07
Dr. David Spong welcomed everyone back.
The VCAT subcommittee chairs each gave their feedback:
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
The IT Subcommittee reported out to the Full Committee on the results of
its first three of five goals identified at the Boulder meeting:
Goal One: The IT Subcommittee delivered an extensive
list of customers and collaborators, categorized by current IT strategic
programs (Complex Systems, Cyber Security, Enabling Scientific Discovery,
Identity Management Systems, Information Discovery Use and Sharing, Pervasive
Information Technology, Trustworthy Networking, Trustworthy Software, Virtual
Measurement Systems) and grouped by internal and external types of
organizations.
Goal Two: Twenty-one mandates were identified that
drive (some of) NIST IT investments in the areas of Biometrics, Cyber-Security,
Emergency Alert for Wireless Mobile Devises, Healthcare, Internet Protocol,
Statistical Methods for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of NIST
Measurement Results, and Voluntary Voting (HAVA).
Goal Three: IT market trends were identified and
discussed for measurements and standards needs and opportunities, both now and
in the future.
To view the feedback presentation
by Mr. W. Wyatt Starnes, Chair of VCAT Information Technology Subcommittee see:
IT
Subcommittee Breakout Session Feedback and Discussion
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
BIOSCIENCE/HEALTH CARE
The VCAT Subcommittee on BioSciences/Healthcare reported out
to the full Committee on their discussions held during its previous day,
December 10, 2008, meeting in Gaithersburg,
MD. The Subcommittee met with NIST staff for
roundtable discussions on NIST activities in major program areas: diagnostics and therapy, biomaterials, and
healthcare-IT. Discussions covered a
review of the Bioimaging Initiative Program, specifically, quantitative medical
imaging, quantitative imaging of cells and tissue, and standards for validation
of software. Also covered were NIST
plans for program expansion, i.e., FY 09 Initiative (Measurements and Standards
to Accelerate Innovation in the Biosciences); Priority Assessment Activities;
and Post FY09 Priorities.
To view the feedback presentation by Dr. Thomas Baer, Chair
of VCAT Biosciences/Health Care Subcommittee see Biosciences/HealthCare
Subcommittee Update and Discussion
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
NANOTECHNOLOGY
The Nanotechnology
Subcommittee reported out to the Full Committee:
Through the course of this meeting, the Nanotechnology
Subcommittee took a general look at Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology
(CNST) along with a “deep-dive” into nano-related EHS activities. CNST is focused on providing measurement
methods, standards and technology to support all phases of nanotechnology
development. It is chartered to
establish a nanofab as a shared use facility and it aims to be an agile
multidisciplinary organization with a focus on measurement science. Strategic planning that took place approximately
one year ago established three foci for CNST, namely the nanofab, a
nano-research program, and the necessary infrastructure. The subcommittee determined that CNST was
doing reasonably well against the plan, but that there are some
challenges. These relate to completing
laboratory moves, outreach for optimal nanofab use through establishing both a
NIST staff and outside user group, establishing an equipment sharing paradigm
within NIST and recruitment of the balance of the research program staff. These are priority items for the coming year.
The subcommittee then explored NIST activities related to
the EHS of nanomaterials. It is
important to note that this is a largely unfunded activity but that it is
sufficiently important that it should grow and have a larger budget of its
own. Where we are today, the NNI EHS
activity is expanding, not only on a national scale but it is becoming
international in scope. As NIST
develops its EHS based program, it continues to work with the NNI. Of the five topical areas with research needs
that were identified by NNI, the Nanotechnology, Environmental and Health
Implications Working Group is clearly within the purview of NIST. This working group looks at instrumentation,
metrology and analytical methods; nanomaterials and human health; nanomaterials
and the environment; health and environmental surveillance; and risk management
methods. We heard from Dr. Locascio
that there is a real need to develop standards and metrology in the area of EHS
of nanomaterials. We need to know what
we are measuring and where a particular phenomenon is coming from. We are fortunate that there is broad
understanding of the need for standards and metrology in this area.
Through the NNI, there is good coordination between agencies
on EHS matters. NIST is the recognized leader when it comes to standards and
metrology, and is well positioned to contribute its perspective on measurement
needs as they relate to different aspects of the “food chain” i.e., research,
commercialization, environmental impact.
A workshop report is expected in early 2008 aimed at identifying gaps in
research for NNI identified topical areas.
It would be desirable to see a research strategy aimed at addressing the
gaps that come out of the prioritization process.
NIST Action Items
for next meeting:
VCAT Chair and members called for a special meeting in February
2008 to comment on NIST’s three year programmatic planning document and prepare
the 2007 annual report.
Confirm dates for future meetings during the February
meeting; dates considered:
April 8-9, 2008 Gaithersburg,
MD
August 12-13, 2008, Boulder,
CO
June 10-11, 2008, Boulder,
CO
October 28-29, 2008, Gaithersburg,
MD
VCAT Chair and Vice Chair election.
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 11:00 A.M. on December 12, 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
