Van Hollen, Cardin, and Raskin Announce $2.7 Million for UMD/NIST Center for Neutron Research

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) have announced $2.7 million in federal funding for the University of Maryland (UMD) / National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Joint Program for the Advancement of Neutron Scattering. This program brings together researchers and scientists from UMD and NCNR in order to operate and develop neutron scattering instrumentation and techniques, as well as to provide outreach and education for the field of neutron scattering. This technology is crucial to understanding the positions and motions of atoms in condensed matter, information which can be used in a variety of fields.

“This funding will support the crucial work being done by our scientists and researchers at NIST and the University of Maryland. The NCNR partnership continues to lead the way in neutron research and has put our state on the cutting edge of this technology,” said Senator Van Hollen. “In the Senate, I will continue to supporting the funding necessary to ensure our agencies and universities have the resources they need to conduct vital research and keep our country on the forefront of scientific discovery and innovation.”

“Neutron scattering research is a building block for advancements in other scientific fields. These federal funds invest in an exciting collaboration between two of Maryland’s top-tier research institutions. I look forward to witnessing how this effort moves the field forward,” said Senator Cardin.

“I’m delighted to join my Maryland colleagues in announcing these federal funds, which will strengthen the partnership between NIST and UMD scientists and researchers and advance our understanding of neutron scattering,” said Rep. Raskin. “I remain committed to promoting America’s scientific leadership and technological prowess and am proud that Maryland’s spectacular institutions and people are leading the way.”

NIST, one of the nation's oldest physical science laboratories, was founded in 1901 and is now part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST’s mission is to drive scientific and technological innovation by providing measurement capabilities to the US research community. The lawmakers have been a strong supporter of NIST and advocated for its full funding for Fiscal Year 2019. NIST is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

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