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NCSLI Metrology Education Outreach

Abstract

The National Conference of Standards Laboratories International (NCSLI), one of the world’s leading Metrology professional associations, is very much in the forefront of initiating and coordinating outreach activities in order to help reverse the trend of a dwindling Metrology workforce. NCSLI, in close partnership with such other professional associations as the American Society for Quality, Measurement Quality Division (ASQ-MQD) and the Measurement Science Conference (MSC), is taking steps to increase Metrology awareness with an emphasis on Metrology education and training. These efforts are under the auspices of NCSLI’s learning and development program. The goal of the next-generation outreach program, a program under the NCSLI learning and development group is to:

Promote the Metrology profession to potential candidates; Publicize Metrology education and training opportunities; and Initiate and support activities that help enhance Metrology curricula.

The field of Metrology, like many other technical professions, is faced with an acute shortage of trained practitioners to replace retiring baby boomers. In fact, 2008 marks the first year that the baby boomer generation can start taking early social security benefits at age 62. Since many technical professions are trying to recruit potential candidates from an ever-dwindling supply of technically-minded young people, something has to be done to help ensure an adequate supply of next generation Metrology professionals. In recent years the pool of young people with technical career aspirations has become smaller and smaller: the allure of more ‘glamorous’ career occupations is taking its toll. Young people are often unaware of Metrology careers and of related education and training opportunities that are available to them. This situation will no doubt worsen if concerned individuals, industry sponsors and professional Metrology organizations fail to take action.

NCSLI Metrology Education Outreach

Background

In 2005, NCSLI began a strategic roadmap effort by creating a set of objectives and a framework for organizing these objectives and their related activities, followed by organizing committees and action steps to address workforce challenges in the metrology community.1 During the P P

technical sessions of the 2005 NCSLI Annual Workshop and Symposium, participants were given sticky dots to mark on kiosk displays the areas that they believed to be of highest priority. In addition, a survey form was distributed to gather feedback on suggested action steps that NCSLI might take. The overwhelming feedback on the kiosks, surveys, and individual discussions related to Metrology Outreach. The objectives and framework of the roadmap were slightly modified in 2007 to reflect the intervening time and are noted below.

Objectives:

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Harris, G., & Grachanen, C. (2008, June), Ncsli Metrology Education Outreach Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--4458