| We have entered an era in which vast surveys of the night sky are driving rapid advances throughout astrophysics. Detailed studies of the physical, chemical, and dynamical properties of different stellar populations in the Milky Way seek to trace the history and formation of our Galaxy. At the same time, over 4000 confirmed planets have now been discovered around other stars, from which we are beginning to reveal the physical processes involved in planetary formation and evolution. Critical to all of these studies is the accurate determination of stellar properties such as temperature, radius, mass, chemical composition, and age. But how reliable are our measurements of these properties? These fundamental properties can be difficult, if not impossible, to directly measure for the vast majority of stars, and we often rely on indirect and model-dependent methods. In this talk I will discuss our current efforts to build a sample of 'benchmark' stars, whose properties can be accurately and reliably determined through techniques such as interferometry and asteroseismology. These stars will then serve as the calibrators of large surveys, ensuring a strong foundation from which we may build robust conclusions about the stellar population of our Galaxy. |