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Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (CNR)

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The National Academies shall appoint a panel to assess independently the scientific and technical work performed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (CNR). The panel will review technical reports and technical program descriptions prepared by NIST staff and will visit the facilities of the Center for Neutron Research. Visits will include technical presentations by NIST staff, demonstrations of NIST projects, tours of NIST facilities, and discussions with NIST staff. The panel will deliberate findings in closed sessions and will prepare a report summarizing its assessment findings and recommendations.

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Description

The National Academies shall appoint a panel to assess independently the scientific and technical work performed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (CNR). The panel will review technical reports and technical program descriptions prepared by NIST staff and will visit the facilities of the Center for Neutron Research. Visits will include technical presentations by NIST staff, demonstrations of NIST projects, tours of NIST facilities, and discussions with NIST staff. The panel will deliberate findings in closed sessions and will prepare a report summarizing its assessment findings and recommendations.
NIST has requested that the laboratories be assessed against the following broad criteria:
1. Assess the NCNR's scientific and technical programs.

  • How does the quality of the research performed at the NCNR compare to that of similar world-class neutron facilities?
  • Is the quality of reactor operations, neutron instrumentations and scientific utilization of the NCNR adequate for it to reach its stated objectives? How could it be improved?
  • Does the NCNR's plan for cleaning the reactor and then resuming scientific operations offer a reasonable prospect for the NCNR to return to its previous high level of performance in 2026?

2. Assess the portfolio of scientific and technical expertise within the NCNR.

  • Does the organization have world-class expertise in reactor operations and the development and utilization of advanced neutron instrumentation? If not, in what areas should it be improved?
  • How well does the organization's scientific and technical expertise support the research programs and the organization's ability to achieve its stated objectives?

3. Assess the adequacy of the NCNR's budget, facilities, instrumentation, and human resources.

  • How well do the facilities, instrumentation, and human resources support the NCNR's technical programs and its ability to achieve its stated objectives? How could they be improved?

4. Assess the effectiveness by which the NCNR disseminates its program outputs.

  • How well re the NCNR's instrument development activities and research programs driven by stakeholder needs?
  • How effective are the mechanisms by which the NCNR provides access to its instrument suite by a brad subset of the scientific community? Are these mechanisms sufficiently comprehensive?
  • How well does the NCNR monitor the scientific use and impact of the facility? How could this be improved?

Collaborators

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Chair

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Sponsors

Department of Commerce

Staff

Elizabeth Zeitler

Lead

EZeitler@nas.edu

Maura Walsh

MWalsh@nas.edu

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