World Metrology Day is an international annual event that marks the signing of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875. The Metre Convention created the International Bureau of Weights and Measures and set the framework for global collaboration in the science of measurement and its application in industry, science and society.
In recognition of World Metrology Day 2008, NMI created two perpetual awards:
- The Barry Inglis Medal is an annual award that acknowledges and celebrates outstanding achievement in measurement research and/or excellence in practical measurements by an individual (or group) in the fields of academia, research or industry in Australia. This achievement may be in the form of a single major contribution or a body of work developed throughout a career. The medal is named in honour of Dr Barry Inglis, NMI's inaugural Chief Executive and Chief Metrologist. Prior to taking up this position, Dr Inglis was the Director of CSIRO's National Measurement Laboratory.
- The NMI Prize is an annual award that acknowledges and celebrates outstanding achievement in measurement research and/or excellence in practical measurements by a young individual working in academia, research or industry in Australia. This prize is reserved specifically for nomination by young Australians as a means of promoting measurement science and fostering the application of measurement science and techniques in innovative fields.
Value of the awards
A$2 000
Important dates
Closing date for nominations: 5 pm AEST, 31 March 2010
Announcement of winners: 20 May 2010
Awards ceremony: mid-2010 (venue and date to be announced)
Scope
Measurement is both a technique and a process that underpins much of life as we know it but is often taken for granted. As an enabling technology, measurement provides the foundation for progress and advancement of human society.
With the increasing advance of science and technology, Lord Kelvin’s words are even more pertinent today than when they were first espoused: 'When you can measure what you are speaking about and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind: it may be the beginning of knowledge but you have scarcely in your thoughts, advanced to the stage of science.'
However, the relevance of measurement is broader than direct applications in science and technology; it underpins decisions in economics and politics and often is the foundation for innovation in many other areas. NMI believes that it is only by recognising and celebrating achievements in measurement that this important infratechnology will be adequately acknowledged.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants eligible for the Barry Inglis Medal are individuals or groups who have made a highly significant contribution to the science of measurement, or have long-standing eminence in the field of measurement and its application and practice, or have provided exceptional leadership in the field of measurement, or have demonstrated a combination of any of the above criteria.
Applicants eligible for the NMI Prize are individuals up to 35 years of age who have made a highly significant contribution to the science of measurement either as an individual or as a member of a group.
Excellence in measurement may include but is not restricted to:
Novel applications of measurement techniques to resolution of industrial 'problems'
Applying measurement techniques to resolve 'problems' in industry may sometimes require a multi-faceted approach encompassing techniques that cross the traditional boundaries of science and engineering to provide industrial measurement solutions.
Research in measurement techniques
Research and/or application of research in measurement techniques that improve the uncertainty of measurement. Such research may sometimes involve application of a multidisciplinary approach to provide improvements in the way a measurement is taken or the accuracy of measurement.
Leadership role in measurement fields
Leadership at the regional, national or international level in a discipline or activity that involves application of measurement science. It would involve a peer-assessed acknowledgement of the contribution by the individual to measurement activities in the international or regional arena.
Terms and conditions of nomination
The nominee must either be Australian or the activity for which the nomination is based must be, or have been, conducted in Australia.
For the Barry Inglis Medal, if the nominee is a group, the principal investigator responsible for the activity must be Australian or the activity must have been conducted in Australia.
For the NMI Prize, the nominee must be 35 years of age or younger at the time of the closing date of nomination.
Information provided in the nomination form may be used for publicity/promotional purposes.
Employees of NMI and their immediate family members are not eligible to be nominated for these awards.
The winners must be prepared to travel and attend a presentation ceremony to accept the awards. Travel within Australia and other associated costs for the presentation ceremony will be met by NMI.
Posthumous awarding of the awards will only be made under exceptional circumstances.
How to nominate
Nomination forms may be downloaded from the link at the bottom of this page.
The completed form and supporting documentation must be lodged by 5 pm AEST, 31 March 2010. The preferred mode of lodgement is via email (yen.heng@measurement.gov.au). Please ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date and complete as no changes will be entertained once the form has been submitted.
Supporting documentation shall consist of:
- a brief description of the activity, including its aims/objectives and results to date (two pages maximum).
- a brief explanation of how the activity represents excellence in measurement by addressing the eligibility criteria above (two pages maximum).
- a maximum of three independent assessments from people familiar with the nominee, commenting on how the submission represents excellence in measurement by addressing the eligibility criteria above (one page maximum for each assessor) — judges will be relying upon assessor’s comments to provide additional depth and perspective on the nomination.
For more information contact yen.heng@measurement.gov.au.