FEDERAL LABORATORY CONSORTIUM AND NTIS

Wayne Strickland recently attended the Federal Laboratory Consortium for 

Technology Transfer’s 2011 national meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Wayne has 

served in several capacities with NTIS since 1999 and is currently the Manager of 

our Program and Product Management Division. 

Pat Moton: “Wayne, what is the purpose of the Federal Laboratory Consortium

for Technology Transfer?”

Wayne Strickland: “The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology 

Transfer (FLC) is a nationwide network of Federal laboratories. It provides a 

forum for the development of strategies and opportunities to link laboratory 

mission technologies and expertise with the marketplace.”

Pat: “Is the FLC a new entity?”

Wayne: “Actually, Pat, the FLC was first organized in 1974 and then formally 

chartered by the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 to promote and 

strengthen technology transfer nationwide. Today, its membership includes 

more than 250 Federal laboratories and centers and their parent departments

and agencies.”

Pat: “How does NTIS support the FLC?”

Wayne: “NTIS is the largest central resource for Government-funded scientific, 

technical, engineering, and business-related information. We actively 

disseminate scientific and technical information in over 350 subject areas. 

Among other things, that information includes technical reports and technology 

transfer application assessments of interest to the FLC. In addition, we offer the 

Federal Research In Progress (FEDRIP) Database that provides access to 

information about ongoing Federally-funded projects in the fields of the physical 

sciences, engineering, and life sciences. The ongoing research announced in 

FEDRIP is an important component to the technology transfer process in the

U.S.”

Pat: “What are some of the highlights from the recent FLC meeting?”

I NSID E T HIS I SSUE

1 Federal Laboratory 

Consortium and NTIS

2 Opportunity for All: How 

the American Public 

Benefits from Internet 

Access at U.S. Libraries

3 Where’s NTIS 

Exhibiting?

4 State Indicator Report 

on Physical Activity, 

2010

5 Humans to Mars: The 

Greatest Adventure in 

Human History

“. . . the FLC was first 

organized in 1974 and then 

formally chartered by the 

Federal Technology Transfer 

Act of 1986 to promote and 

strengthen technology 

transfer nationwide.”

 Please see page 3.

 

National Technical Information Service www.ntis.gov pmoton@ntis.gov 

U.S. Department of Commerce 703-605-6103

5301 Shawnee Road

Alexandria, VA 22312

 

 

 

 CUSTOMER

 ADVOCATE’S 

 Summer - July 2011 CORNER Volume 3, Issue 4

 
Page 2 NTIS CUSTOMER ADVOCATE’S CORNER 

“Public libraries have 

become an essential part of 

the fabric of access to the 

Internet and computers in 

this country.”

Opportunity for All: How the American 

Public Benefits from Internet Access at 

U.S. Libraries

Computer technology has become widespread in American society. Access to 

computers and the Internet provide people information on job opportunities, 

Federal and State government services, educational opportunities, and social 

networks. Public libraries have been at the forefront of supporting free access 

to technology to help all Americans participate in the digital culture. Most 

public library systems in the United States provide public computers and 

Internet access with an average of seven terminals available for every 10,000 

residents.

This report states: “Public libraries have become an essential part of the 

fabric of access to the Internet and computers in this country.” The study 

makes available the results of the first large-scale investigation of why patrons 

use library Internet and computer access, the ways they use it, and how it 

affects their lives. Only 28 percent of libraries offered visitors access to the 

Internet in 1996. Thanks to continual efforts by Federal, State, and local 

governments, private philanthropy, and the work of librarians, patrons can 

now gain access to computers and the Internet at almost all public library 

branches. 

This report can be purchased from NTIS as PB2011-107793 or it can be 

downloaded at http://tascha.washington.edu/usimpact (simply click on 

Opportunity for All: How Library Policies and Practices Impact Public 

Internet Accessin the first paragraph). 

Where’s NTIS Exhibiting?

We hope you’ll be able to stop by whenever NTIS is exhibiting in your area.

From August 7-10, we will be exhibiting at the GovEnergy 2011 event being 

held at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, Booth 1511.

 * * * * * * *

Are there upcoming conferences at which you feel an NTIS exhibit or speech 

would be a valuable contribution?

Just e-mail me at customeradvocate@ntis.gov or call me at

703-605-6103. I’ll be sure your suggestion is forwarded to the proper NTIS 

management staff.

 * * * * * * *
NTIS CUSTOMER ADVOCATE’S CORNER Page 3

Wayne: “Well, Pat, I was intrigued by the diverse subject areas impacted by the work 

of Federal laboratories throughout the United States. For example:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging – The National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (NIST) is working in the area of Magnetic Resonance Imaging 

(MRI). As you may know, MRI machines visualize, through the use of 

magnetic fields and radio waves, the body’s internal structures, especially soft 

tissues. NIST has been involved with others in developing the first “phantom” 

for calibrating MRI machines that is traceable to international system units (SI) 

standards. Nicknamed “Phannie,” the prototype is a plastic sphere, about the 

size of a person’s head, filled with 200 smaller spheres used as contrastenhancing agents and measurement reference markers. “Phannie” is scanned 

with an MRI machine and the results are then evaluated. It is anticipated that 

traceable MRI calibrations will potentially reduce medical costs. The physicist 

leading NIST’s part of the project, Stephen Russek, said: “If it’s accurate, 

reliable and affordable, then you have a way to measure the accuracy of MRI 

scanners all across the country.” 

• Lagoon Microbes that Eat Oil – Mutant toxic lagoon microbes that eat oil were 

discovered living virtually unnoticed in the depths of a toxic sludge lagoon at a 

100-year-old refinery in Poland. After eight years of research, scientists are 

unlocking the unique secrets of these microbes. In addition to eating oil, they 

have proved useful in cleaning contaminated soil. There are a lot of 

possibilities for using these microbes, and Dr. Robin Brigmon, an engineer at 

the Savannah River National Laboratory, said “We’re just getting started in 

terms of looking at saltwater, but we’re pretty excited about it.”

• Preventing Pandemics – The first human pandemic virus of the 21st century, 

the pH1N1 virus was recognized in humans in April 2009. The Agricultural

Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) started 

developing a molecular test that could identify the pH1N1 virus and 

differentiate it from the classic H1N1 swine influenza viruses already 

circulating in U.S. swine and turkey populations. On May 3, 2009, the test 

protocol was transferred to the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory at the National 

Veterinary Services Laboratories, USDA-APHIS. Now, instead of taking over 1 

to 2 weeks like the old testing, the current official tests for pH1N1 in 

veterinary specimens can be conducted in 3-4 hours. 

Pat: “Thanks, Wayne, for providing us insight into the Federal Laboratory Consortium 

and addressing some of the work being conducted in the labs.” 

FEDERAL LABORATORY CONSORTIUM AND NTIS

 From Page 1

 

 

 

“Now, instead of taking 

over 1 to 2 weeks like 

the old testing, the 

current official tests for 

pH1N1 in veterinary 

specimens can be 

conducted in 3-4 

hours.”
Page 4 NTIS CUSTOMER ADVOCATE’S CORNER 

Throughout the States and communities, many groups 

help ensure that individuals and families can easily be 

physically active. This report’s indicators identify 

where a State has been successful and where more 

work should be considered. Data in the report can be 

used to show how States support the behavior of 

physical activity, keep track of progress, and applaud 

State successes.

This report may be purchased from NTIS as PB2011-

107795. More information and a copy of the report 

are available at www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/. 

Written and Edited by:

Pat Moton

Customer Advocate

National Technical

 Information Service

5301 Shawnee Road

Alexandria, VA 22312

Phone:

703-605-6103

Fax:

703-605-6900

E-mail:

customeradvocate@ntis.gov

Such an effort will require multi-disciplined expertise 

in many areas including science, engineering, 

technology, human health and medicine, and human 

psychology and behavior. A group of more than 70 

U.S. and international experts in these areas were 

invited to share their thoughts and views on a human 

mission to Mars. All submitted papers were examined

by at least three peer reviewers.

This report includes 13 sections. The first section 

entitled “Astronauts on Mars” includes five articles by 

NASA Astronauts. The second section, “The Future is 

Mars,” discusses the exploration of Mars with humans 

and the risks associate with such exploration.

This 8-page report can be purchased from NTIS as 

product number N20110004142. 

* * *

If you have not already subscribed to receive 

future copies of this free quarterly newsletter, 

please send an e-mail to:

customeradvocate@ntis.gov

Please include “Subscribe to NTIS Customer 

Advocate’s Corner” in the subject line of your email.

To access previous issues, go to 

http://www.ntis.gov/help/overview.aspx#CACN

Previous issues are listed under the red 

highlighting.

 

State Indicator Report on Physical Activity, 

2010

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s

State Indicator Report on Physical Activity, 2010, 

includes information on physical activity policy, 

behavior, and environmental supports within each 

State 

Humans to Mars: The 

Greatest Adventure in 

Human History

We are on the verge of a 

historic accomplishment as 

plans are developed for a 

human mission to Mars. 

This is a national goal of the 

United States.