October 2018 Newsletter

In this newsletter:

MSA AGM date
Education Update
MSA member survey
Educating future metrologists
Keysight and Thales unite
150th Anniversary of NZ Standard Time
Standards Australia Committee vacancy
MSA NZ Site Visit
Website member tools
Useful resources
 

Mark the date in your calendars - 15 November 3:00 pm NMIA Lindfield B20E

Education update

Progress slowed over the past few months while Anne was on sabbatical. However, progress did not totally grind to a halt thanks to Les and the team at MSL.  Les Felix has been meeting with Professor Andre Luiten – you might remember Andre, he was one of the awesome plenary speakers at MSA2017.
 
There is the option to create a Metrology Degree but the cost to do this is massive. Les has been canvassing ministers for funds but we have had no success to date. There has been some frustration in this process for example one reply from an MP said:

     'You may be interested to know that RMIT University offers an Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Mechanical)
      in which students may undertake a specialisation in Metrology.’

That sounded hopeful, so we contacted RMIT with the following reply:

     ‘I have reviewed our current program catalogue and I can confirm that the College of Science Engineering
      and Health does not in fact currently offer Metrology as a minor in its Engineering (or Science) programs.’

So around and around we go. Rod White is working with a team at MSL to try and create a framework for topics that can be used in University papers. Once a framework is established he will work with Andre to fine tune these.

We do need a mandate. A survey was emailed to members on 14th September to canvas the metrology community about the need for formal metrology education. See article on the last page with web address to access the survey.

Ultimately it is hoped a course or degree is available that will provide an education framework that will produce a graduate who will eventually either

• run a testing lab with confidence or
• have a stepping stone to a career as a theoretical scientist or research scientist at a National Metrology Institute or
• understand metrology principles when presented with measurements in all facets of the workplace whether it be medical, commercial or the industrial sector

Meantime start them early – read books like this to your children or grandchildren – “How to Measure Everything”

Member survey

Help us form a better understanding of how to shape metrology education.  To progress education initiatives, we want your feedback.  This member survey is aimed at tertiary level, how should a metrology degree be shaped to benefit us?  Take the survey now.

Educating future metrologists

We want to support our young people develop a desire for science and to do this we must start them young.  Having access to great resources at school from a young age can spark enthusiasm and interest that will ultimately lead them to taking STEM subjects in college. 

We know our community has some very clever people so if you have some great ideas how to make this happen such as an experiment or test, please get in touch, even if it’s ‘just an idea’. 
Contact Cynthia Lendrum: secretary@metrology.asn.au

 

Thales Calibration Services is now part of Keysight Technologies

Keysight Technologies Australia and Thales Calibration Services in Melbourne recently joined forces to become the largest provider of calibration services in Australia.

Thales Calibration Services (TCS) traces its origins back to the post-war department of defence work in munitions, later becoming a part of ADI Limited before Thales acquired ADI Limited in 2006. While originally established to provide dimensional support, over the years the company expanded its capabilities and accreditation to become the largest commercial non-electronic metrology lab in Australia; servicing the defence, commercial, medical, petro-chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.

With the acquisition, Keysight Technologies Australia has expanded its capabilities further.  In addition to Keysight’s existing Electrical scope of Accreditation, the new services include Dimensional, Heat, Temperature and Pressure Metrology, Trade Measurement, On-site Calibration and related support & services. This is backed with over 65 years of continuous NATA accreditation.

As a part of the acquisition Keysight has invested in a dedicated Customer Contact Centre (CCC). This will enable new and existing customers to utilise a free Infoline Support Portal which is an online tool to provide customers 24x7 access to their product information such as calibration certificates, service status, warranty dates etc.

Thales and Keysight have been supporters of MSA over the years and we wish them well in their new venture.
More information is available at www.keysight.com

150th Anniversary of NZ Standard Time

Up until 150 years ago, each New Zealand region had its own, different time zone or standard time. It wasn’t until the arrival of the telegraph and the steam train network that the need arose for accurate regional and national timekeeping. In 1866, the first cable across Cook Strait was laid and regions between Napier and Bluff became connected by telegraph. Variations in operating hours at the relaying and receiving offices along the line initially hinder the smooth transmission of messages.

So, in 1868 the Telegraph Department proclaimed that all offices had to adopt Wellington time.  The move provoked considerable animosity, leading to a parliamentary decree establishing a single time for the whole country – the first such implementation of standard time in the world. It came into effect on November 2, 1868.

The Measurement Standards Laboratory of New Zealand is partnering with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the National Library to commemorate the 150th anniversary of this date with a public event on Thursday 1st November at the National Library in Wellington. Hear from historian Gerard Morris on the history of the adoption of New Zealand Standard Time and from Dr Bruce Warrington, Chief Executive of the National Measurement Institute of Australia, on the science behind standard time and the technological innovations it enables, such as GPS.

This is a free public event, but you must register as places are limited.  Go to the MSL website to read more and register.

Consultancy Opportunity - Assistance with Measurement Uncertainty

From time to time MSA receive requests for consultancy assistance and we share these with you through the Discussion Forum - Job Vacancies.   Currently there is a request regarding Measurement Uncertainty - Calibration of temperature measuring equipment - temperature sensors by comparison with a reference thermometer (e.g. Type T thermocouple). Go to the discussion forum to read more and find the contact details.
 

WANTED - Standards Australia Technical Committee Rep 

Standards Australia is currently reviewing the Technical Committee CH-040 ‘General Requirements for Reference Materials’ and are looking for a new committee representative.  In the past MSA has been represented but this role is now vacant and presents an opportunity for an MSA member to get involved.
 
The Terms of Reference are available on the website or from the MSA secretary along with contact details for the Standards Australia Project manager.
 
The TOR scope is:
Standardization in the field of reference materials
 
Inclusions to scope:

• Definitions, categories, level and classification of reference materials.

• Guidelines for the technical committees for referring to reference materials in Australian Standards.

• Principles for the certification of reference materials.

For further information please contact agnes.simai@standards.org.au

RF Test Solutions Site Visit

Join us at RF Test Solutions in Wellington NZ for an MSA site visit at 3 pm on 1st November to celebrate the opening of the new lab spaces.

3:00pm  Arrival and afternoon tea
3:30pm  Lex Grubner to talk about the history of RF Test Solutions
3:45pm  Tour of the new laboratory including Electrical/RF stations, Optical Stations and Faraday cage
5:00pm  Thank you and travel to Wellington for 150th Anniversary of NZ Standard time event

Register by emailing secretary@metrology.asn.au

Website Member Tools

Did you realize the presentations from past MSA Conferences can now be found on the MSA website?
 
Members can access presentations from MSA2015 and MSA2017 by logging in and selecting Member Tools on the menu bar.  Click on Papers and Presentations Directory and choose either 2015 or 2017.  Refresh your memory of these past conferences and consider ideas as we head towards the next conference early 2020. 
 
Other useful tools are the portal to pay your membership fees, update your details or find a member on the member list.  And don’t forget about the Discussion Forum which is a great place to start a conversation, find jobs, share ideas and engage with members.

Useful resources

How nice is it to have a good Metrology mag in your visitors waiting area?  This one comes highly recommended by member Chris Woudenberg from CPS in NZ. www.callabmag.com

 

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

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