Lab profile: The national physical laboratory: Measuring up to the future

The National Physical Laboratory at Teddington near London, has been guardian of official British physical measurement standards since its foundation in 1900. It also supports the work of the leading international bodies responsible for standards and harmonisation, such as the International Standards Organisation. As well as maintaining and disseminating standards for length, time, mass and other traditional fundamentals, it devises measurement methods for anything from electromagnetic constants or mode displacement in optical fibres, to ionising radiation - all to the highest levels of accuracy.