On May 20, the world day of metrology - the science of measurement - is celebrated. It is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of metrology and measurement in general for our daily life.
Measurement aims to push the boundaries of knowledge, encourage progress in science and technology, and respond to the demands of industry and society.
Throughout the world, where international cooperation is the norm, a world measurement system is of vital importance.
World Metrology Day has become an annual event, when more than 80 countries celebrate the impact of measurement on our daily lives. It is the day when, on May 20, 1875, the Convention on the Meter was signed, which provides the basis for the complete measurement system, known today as the International System of Units or the SI system.
The need for accurate measurement is visible throughout the history of the human race. Especially the growth of the exchange of goods and international trade, led to the need for an internationally recognized system of units.
Back in 1799, a prototype standard made of platinum and iridium, known as the 'Metar des Archives', was made and represented the length of ten millionths of a quarter of the Earth's circumference as a standard length, calculated from the geodetic distance between Dunkirk in France and Montjuic in Spain. First, the meter as a unit of length was legalized in France in 1799 and became the basis of the metric system that included the kilogram.
Since 1870, the new metric system has been widely used in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, but is still not universally adopted. Finally, the governments of the 17 most influential countries sign the Meter Convention on May 20, 1875 and establish the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) as an umbrella world organization.
From then until today, a number of metrology organizations have been established at all levels, from workshops, laboratories of all levels, national metrology systems to gigantic organizations that are key to research and science, but also to the exchange of goods of all kinds.
Every year, starting in 2000, a poster is prepared that talks about measurement. This year, there is a special focus on Measurements in a dynamic world.
So the day when everything officially started, 20.5.1875. is marked as World Metrology Day.
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