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150 years since the signing of the Metre Convention and celebration of World Metrology Day 2025
20 May 2025 will be the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention and therefore a special World Metrology Day. It will be marked by an event held to celebrate the achievements of 150 years of the BIPM.
Speakers’ contributions will span all the way from the history of the BIPM as one of the oldest international organizations of the world to the current challenges in metrology. They will focus on the scientific achievements of 150 years of metrology and the unique international scientific collaboration under the Metre Convention.
Keynote Speakers
Nathalie von Siemens
Willie E. May
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Morgan State University
09:30 to 10:45
Opening speeches
After some opening remarks from UNESCO, the session will start with speeches by the Permanent Delegations to UNESCO of a number of the Member States of the BIPM. These will welcome the recognition by the UNESCO General Conference in 2023 of World Metrology Day.
•Video introduction to Event
•Introduction: Master of Ceremonies
•Opening Speech 1: Minister of Foreign Affairs, France
•Opening Speech 2: UNESCO Representative
•Speech by Permanent Delegation
•Speech by the President of the Académie des Sciences in Paris - Prof. Françoise Combes, astrophysicist, Chair of Galaxies and Cosmology at the Collège de France.
•“The Metre Convention of 1875 - an act of multilateral scientific collaboration” - Dr W. Louw (South Africa), President of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM).
• Reply - Dr B. Mathew (Switzerland), President of the International Committee for Legal Metrology (CIML).
• “The SI – a tool for all mankind” - William D. Phillips, Nobel Prize for Physics in 1997 (NIST, USA)
The first session will close with a video of short tributes from the Heads of IOs that work in liaison with the BIPM including IAEA, ITU, WMO, and IFCC.
•Video introduction to Event
•Introduction: Master of Ceremonies
•Opening Speech 1: Minister of Foreign Affairs, France
•Opening Speech 2: UNESCO Representative
•Speech by Permanent Delegation
•Speech by the President of the Académie des Sciences in Paris - Prof. Françoise Combes, astrophysicist, Chair of Galaxies and Cosmology at the Collège de France.
•“The Metre Convention of 1875 - an act of multilateral scientific collaboration” - Dr W. Louw (South Africa), President of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM).
• Reply - Dr B. Mathew (Switzerland), President of the International Committee for Legal Metrology (CIML).
• “The SI – a tool for all mankind” - William D. Phillips, Nobel Prize for Physics in 1997 (NIST, USA)
The first session will close with a video of short tributes from the Heads of IOs that work in liaison with the BIPM including IAEA, ITU, WMO, and IFCC.
10:45 ⋅ Coffee break
11:15 to 12:45
Panel Discussion: “Future challenges for scientific and technical multilateralism, where next for the BIPM and for world metrology?”
This session will discuss future opportunities for the BIPM and for world metrology in the context of the UNESCO International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, 2024–2033.
There will be a series of 10-minute insight talks – then a moderated panel discussion
• Video introduction to session
• Introduction of the panel: Master of Ceremonies
There will be a series of 10-minute insight talks – then a moderated panel discussion
• Video introduction to session
• Introduction of the panel: Master of Ceremonies
Opening Statements
1. Representative on International Decade for Science for Sustainable Development
2. Science diplomacy – a national case study - Dr Alessandro de Angelis
3. Challenges and opportunities for scientific multilateralism
4. The challenge of achieving global participation in the Metre Convention - Victoria Coleman
5. Building global capacity for a future metrology system - Dr Mustafa Çetintas
6. Capacity building in metrology in small island developing states
2. Science diplomacy – a national case study - Dr Alessandro de Angelis
3. Challenges and opportunities for scientific multilateralism
4. The challenge of achieving global participation in the Metre Convention - Victoria Coleman
5. Building global capacity for a future metrology system - Dr Mustafa Çetintas
6. Capacity building in metrology in small island developing states
Panel discussion
Questions from the floor
12:45 ⋅ Lunch
14:00 to 15:15
150 years of international use of the Metric System
Chaired by Representatives of regional metrology organisations from Africa and the Gulf region
Today’s event was triggered by the decision of 17 States in 1875 to sign the Metre Convention which established the BIPM, one of the first international organisations in the world. Since that time huge steps have been taken to progress the Metric System to address the challenges of today’s technologies and citizens.
• Video introduction to session
• “150 years in fifteen photographs” - Dr Martin Milton, BIPM Director
• “From the Metric System to the Metre Convention” - Dr Ken Alder, Professor of History and author of “The Measure of All Things”. (Northwestern Univ., USA)
• “The historic contribution of China to measurement science” - Dr Yuning Duan
Today’s event was triggered by the decision of 17 States in 1875 to sign the Metre Convention which established the BIPM, one of the first international organisations in the world. Since that time huge steps have been taken to progress the Metric System to address the challenges of today’s technologies and citizens.
• Video introduction to session
• “150 years in fifteen photographs” - Dr Martin Milton, BIPM Director
• “From the Metric System to the Metre Convention” - Dr Ken Alder, Professor of History and author of “The Measure of All Things”. (Northwestern Univ., USA)
• “The historic contribution of China to measurement science” - Dr Yuning Duan
Questions from the floor
15:15 ⋅ Tea break
15:45 to 17:15
Speeches & Pannel Discussion: Future challenges for global metrology
Chaired by Dr Takashi Usuda (Japan), Secretary of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM)
The final session will open with a video of short tributes from former CIPM Presidents and Honorary BIPM Directors. These will be followed by invited talks from global experts on the status of the world measurement system.
•Video introduction to session
The final session will open with a video of short tributes from former CIPM Presidents and Honorary BIPM Directors. These will be followed by invited talks from global experts on the status of the world measurement system.
•Video introduction to session
Speeches
•
“Expanding the horizon of metrology to chemistry, biology and beyond” - Dr Willie May (AAAS, USA)
Panel Discussion
•“UTC - a future timescale for all the world for all time” - Dr Pascale Defraigne, Royal Observatory of Belgium.
•Metrology as a driver for the industrial revolution, Nathalie von Siemens
• Future challenges for metrology in Asia
• Future challenges for metrology in Africa
•Wrap-up
•Metrology as a driver for the industrial revolution, Nathalie von Siemens
• Future challenges for metrology in Asia
• Future challenges for metrology in Africa
•Wrap-up
Closing remarks
•Speech by UNESCO Representative
•Speech by CIPM Secretary - Dr Takashi Usuda
•Closing video
•Speech by CIPM Secretary - Dr Takashi Usuda
•Closing video
17:15 ⋅ Close of the day
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