National Metrology Centre (NMC) Celebrates World Metrology Day 2012

SINGAPORE, May 18, 2012

How do you know that your household appliances are safe to use? How loud is too loud? Is it really a metre? How do you know this weighs a kilogram? Whose watch has the more accurate time? Metrology is the science of measurements. Through precise measurements, our modern world has become a safer and more reliable place to be in.

National Metrology Centre (NMC) is the custodian of the national measurement standards in Singapore. As part of World Metrology Day 2012 which falls on 20th May, the Centre under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is organising a series of activities to raise the public and industry's awareness of the importance of precise measurements in our daily lives. NMC is organising a conference and an educational fair, which target industry players and students from as young as six years old.

World Metrology Day 2012 Conference

Held on Friday, 18 May 2012, at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Waterfront Ballroom, the Conference will feature keynote speakers from the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ), NMC, Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) and the industry. They will discuss topics including:

• The global mutual recognition arrangements on measurement and laboratory accreditation;
• New initiatives and programmes to help the industry gain confidence of their customers, users and regulators;
• And the latest developments in instrumentation, calibration and measurement technologies.

The theme for the Conference is Metrology for Confidence in Measurement, which reflects the importance of reliable and accurate measurement in many industrial activities. Precise measurement is critical to many aspects of the economic value chain, from design, production, testing for safety and quality, to monitoring and control of industrial emissions. To measure accurately and reliably, it is important to ensure that all measurements are linked to the International System of Units (the SI) through an unbroken chain of measurement traceability provided by the indispensable metrology system. Any weak link in the traceability chain would call into question the validity of the measurement, resulting in a loss of confidence of the customers, users and regulators.

"Metrology in Daily Life" Exhibition

An exhibition will also be held at the Singapore Science Centre on 19 and 20 May, Saturday and Sunday, for school-going children and adults. This educational fair will engage the young on the importance of measurements in their daily lives. Some exhibits include sound level measurement, power consumption of different light sources and Newton's ring for surface flatness characterisation.

"World Metrology Day reminds us of the importance of measurement science to the industry and its relevance to our daily lives. It enables fair trading and helps to ensure that high quality and safe products are manufactured," said Dr Thomas Liew, Acting Executive Director of NMC. "Metrology also plays a key role in enabling innovation. Accurate measurements allow us to discover new science with the possibility of opening up new frontiers to create new products and processes. This year, we are rolling out programmes in training and proficiency testing to help Singapore-based companies enhance their measurement quality and productivity, and establish trust and confidence in their products and services," added Dr Liew. "For the first time, we will also be reaching out to the public, including school-going children, at the Singapore Science Centre to raise awareness on metrology's impact in our daily lives. We are very excited about it!"

About World Metrology Day 2012

The World Metrology Day commemorates the founding of the Metre Convention, sometimes referred to as the Metre Treaty, on 20 May 1875 in France. Seventeen major industrial countries signed the diplomatic treaty which provides an inter-governmental framework for coordination on matters relating to measurement, and led to the eventual adoption of SI as the units of choice for all scientific measurements. Singapore became a signatory of the Metre Convention in 1994.

More information about the World Metrology Day 2012 organised by NMC can be found at http://www.nmc.a-star.edu.sg/aboutus-news.htm.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Doris Yang
Corporate Communications
SERC Shared Services
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
DID: (65) 6419 6525
Email: yangscd@scei.a-star.edu.sg

Ms Sharon Tan
Corporate Communications
SERC Shared Services
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
DID: (65) 6419 6546
Email: tans@scei.a-star.edu.sg

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia & centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity.

A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, and with other local and international partners.
For more information about A*STAR, please visit http://www.a-star.edu.sg.

About the National Metrology Centre (NMC)

Established in 1975, the National Metrology Centre (NMC) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) serves as the custodian of the national measurement standards in Singapore. NMC is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the nation's highest metrology reference standards traceable to the International System of Units (SI) established under the Metre Convention. NMC participates actively in international comparisons with other national metrology institutes and is a signatory of the International Committee for Weights and Measures Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA). NMC provides technical expertise and support in measurement and calibration technologies to the industry, research, government organisations and other end users.
For more information about NMC, please visit http://www.nmc.a-star.edu.sg