MSA News September 2024

 

Announcing our MSA2025 Sponsors

It is with great excitement we can officially acknowledge our Platinum sponsor for MSA2025.  Rapid-Tech Equipment with support from RF Test Solutions, has claimed naming rights and are motivated and eager to make MSA2025 an event to remember.  We are delighted with a swift response following the last newsletter call for sponsors and if you are still considering this, please check out the remaining Sponsor options and get in touch fast.

Read more about our committed sponsors on the event Sponsors page here. 

The conference is being held in Mercure Sydney, next to Central Station and the facilities are first class, therefore meet our needs perfectly.  

Rapid-Tech MSA2025 - First Keynote Speaker

The MSA2025 organising committee are excited to announce our first keynote speaker, Dr James Olthoff, NIST Chief Metrologist.  

Previously, Dr. Olthoff served as the Director of Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) where he was responsible for the maintenance, development, and dissemination of the U.S. national measurement standards system, and oversaw NISTâ??s world-class programs in quantum computing, neuromorphic computing, and quantum measurement standards. He also directed the full suite of NIST calibration services in dimensional, electromagnetic, ionizing radiation, mechanical, optical, thermodynamic, and time and frequency metrology.

We are setting the standard high with such a notable keynote at the MSA conference. Stay tuned as our the other keynotes are announced in the coming months.

First Announcement - Annual General Meeting

The Exec Committee have confirmed the AGM will be held virtually on Monday 11th November 2024 - 2:00 pm Sydney time.  The meeting will be hosted on Zoom.  The AGM events page has more information, the zoom link and closer to the time the agenda will be added.  To ensure we reach a quorum for this meeting, if you cannot attend please offer your proxy vote by emailing secretary@metrology.asn.au. Please mark this in your calendar now and keep an eye on the website (and LinkedIn) for an update. 

Website redevelopment

Our website sub-committee is pleased to announce that after a robust tender and evaluation round, they have engaged with â??Everything Digitalâ?? to build a brand-new fresh and innovative MSA website. The website will be fit for purpose, will support our members, and provide a first-class user interface for the membership platform, the discussion forums and registration for conferences and other events. It's exciting to start seeing the components taking shape and we expect delivery in late November. We'd like to thank our members for being so patient throughout this long process.  

MSA Test Methods for Pressure

There is renewed interest to update the Metrology Society of Australasia - Test Method 1, relating to calibration of digital and electro-mechanical pressure instruments.  The current version was developed by the MSA Pressure Interest Group in 2008 and has been instrumental in harmonising and improving testing of these instruments across Australian calibration labs. It is now due for an update to better suit the improved technology and accuracy available in these instruments today and the increased prevalence of digital and automated pressure references.  In 2022, a working group was established to update MSA Test Method 2 (mechanical pressure instruments) and a similar working group is now being established to review and update Test Method 1. If you have an interest to join the working group, or provide feedback and suggestions for consideration, please email to pressuregroup@metrology.asn.au.

Shortage of skilled workers

In an effort to canvas for support from the New Zealand Government, the NZ MSA Branch have written a letter to the Minister for Immigration, Hon Erica Stanford, to request 'Metrologist' is included on the skilled shortage list. This adds alternative avenues for resource searches when homegrown talent is limited.  This is backed up by many other initiatives to raise awareness of metrology careers to our youth. 

Supporting STEM - initiatives MSA supports

The next generation of metrologists are out there, they just don't know it yet!  How do we (MSA) demonstrate and promote metrology careers? Get connected to your local community and events where learning institutions have opportunities to showcase our industry. 

A great example of this was when â??The Measurement & Calibration Centreâ?? or MCC attended the 2024 South Auckland Schools Career Expo. This event offered secondary school students a valuable opportunity to explore various career pathways, meet industry professionals, and gain insights into different fields. The MCC team were on hand to provide information, answer questions, and share experiences about metrology. They distributed MSA Metrology brochures to students and to careers advisors in order to raise awareness of careers in metrology.

Earlier in 2024, the NZ MSA Branch sponsored a measurement topic on the New Zealand Science Roadshow expo.  Think big truck touring the country visiting primary schools (years 1-8) to teach and demonstrate science. It is a known fact that children in their early learning need exposure to science concepts to spark an interest, and are more likely to continue this learning into college and beyond. Recently our members from Measurement Standards Laboratory got the chance to see the Roadshow in action at a local school. 

Read more about this initiative here.

Wonder Project (NZ) - another great example of providing STEM engagement to junior school children. The Wonder Project connects participating organisations to schools to support STEM learning.  There are many ways to get involved at different levels.  Read more about this initiative and your options - STEM Careers (wonderproject.nz)

The STEM Professionals in Schools Programme is a free national volunteer program that creates partnerships between Australian teachers and STEM professionals to provide engaging and relevant experiences for students. The program is supported by the Australian Government Department of Education and delivered by CSIRO or the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

https://www.csiro.au/en/education/Programs/STEM-Professionals-in-Schools-Program

MSA University lectures begin to gain traction in Australia

It is great to see some of the universities in Australia picking up the MSA lecture resource. If you have a contact at your local university or technical college, please let them know that there are 12 fantastic measurement lectures available to them to use â?? free of charge.

Find out more https://metrology.asn.au/about/education/

If you have any ideas to engage with education providers where metrology can be promoted, let us know.

The Metrology Society of Australasia
www.metrology.asn.au

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