Recent News
NIST Selects Four Post-Quantum Cryptographic Algorithms for Standardization
NIST has completed the third round of the Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) standardization process, which selects public-key cryptographic algorithms to protect information through the advent of quantum computers. A total of four candidate algorithms have been selected for standardization: CRYSTALS-KYBER, CRYSTALS-Dilithium, FALCON, and SPHINCS+. Four additional algorithms will continue into the fourth round for further evaluation: BIKE, Classic McEliece, HQC, and SIKE.
NISTIR 8413, Status Report on the Third Round of the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Process, details the selection rationale and is also available on the NIST PQC webpage.
See the full announcement for more details, including discussion of a Fourth PQC Conference and an upcoming call for additional quantum-resistant digital signature algorithms. Questions may be directed to pqc-comments@nist.gov.
NIST Updates Software Reference Library
On June 27, the National Software Reference Library (NSRL) was updated to make it easier to sift through computers, cellphones, and other electronic equipment seized in police raids, potentially helping law enforcement catch sexual predators and other criminals.
The NSRL plays a frequent role in criminal investigations involving electronic files, which can be evidence of wrongdoing. In the first major update to the NSRL in two decades, NIST has increased the number and type of records in the database to reflect the widening variety of software files that law enforcement might encounter on a device. The agency has also changed the format of the records to make the NSRL more searchable.
NIST PSCR Awards more than $298K to Eight Teams in mFIT Prize Challenge
On June 7, NIST Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division announced the winners of the Mobile Fingerprinting Innovation and Technology (mFIT) prize challenge at the 2022 Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meeting. NIST presented eight teams with ten prizes and $298,500 in cash awards. First place was awarded to two tied teams and third place was awarded to three tied teams. NIST also gave out First Responder Choice Awards and Innovation Awards. The prize competition sought innovative new or improved mobile applications that access a mobile device’s available sensors to capture high-quality digital fingerprint images, thereby improving the performance and efficiency of identification of persons for field-based law enforcement officers.
NIST PSCR Awards $150K to Five Teams in UAS 3.0 Challenge
On June 24, NIST PSCR announced the final winners of the First Responder UAS Triple Challenge’s 3.1 FastFind Challenge and 3.2 LifeLink Challenge at the live event held in Starkville, Mississippi. NIST presented five teams with eight awards and a total of $150,000 in prizes. The head-to-head flight competition for UAS 3.1 looked at image detection technology to find lost hikers in a heavily forested area using UAS, camera, and data analysis; while UAS 3.2 sought solutions to provide first responders with data files using some form of broadband communications in a cellular denied area using UAS.
$7.2M Awarded to Six Winners for Public Safety Communications Research
As of June 23rd, NIST has awarded nearly $7.2M to six different organizations for the PSCR Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program 2022 (PSIAP-2022) funding opportunity. These awards aim to accelerate research, development, production, and testing of key public safety capabilities related to mission critical voice, location-based services, and user interface/user experience. Award recipients include Nemergent Solutions SL, George Mason University, Texas A&M University, TRACLabs, Inc, JANUS Research Group, and University of California, Irvine.
For more information about the funding opportunity, please visit the PSIAP-2022 award announcement page.
Hearings
Privacy in the Age of Biometrics
On June 29, 2022, Dr. Charles Romine, Director of the NIST Information Technology Laboratory testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. The hearing entitled "Privacy in the Age of Biometrics" focused on evaluating the privacy implications of biometrics technologies.
Additional witnesses included:
-
Candice Wright, Director, Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics, U.S. Government Accountability Office
-
Arun Ross, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University; Site Director, NSF Center for Identification Technology Research
You may read a copy of his statement or view the virtual hearing.
Assessing Federal Programs for Measuring Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks
On June 23, 2022, Dr. Eric Lin, Director of the NIST Material Measurement Laboratory testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and Technology and Subcommittee on Environment. The hearing was entitled "Assessing Federal Programs for Measuring Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks". The purpose of the hearing was to explore Federal programs focused on monitoring, measuring, and verifying sources and sinks of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
Additional witnesses included:
- Ariel Stein, Acting Director, Global Monitoring Laboratory and Director, Air Resources Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Karen M. St. Germain, Earth Science Division Director, Science Mission Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Bryan Hubbell, National Program Director for Air, Climate, and Energy, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency
You may read a copy of his statement or view the hearing.
|
