Metrology, the science of measurement, is a critical field that underpins many aspects of modern society, including industry, trade, and science. Despite its importance, many countries, particularly those in Africa and other developing regions, lag in this field. Metrology for All seeks to bridge this gap by promoting education and awareness of metrology in these regions.
“The Metrology for All platform promotes inclusivity and diversity within the metrology community. “As we look towards the future, our development plans are geared towards furthering this mission by engaging a wider audience and empowering underrepresented groups,” explains Founder, Tamador Salih Saeed.
One such group is women, whose participation and involvement in MFA events are crucial in driving progress and fostering gender equality in the field of metrology.
“One of our primary goals is to support women in metrology in Africa and in developing countries around the world. We believe that women have a vital role to play in this field and that by empowering them, we can make significant strides in advancing metrology and promoting scientific and technological development,” says Tamador.
When you can measure something, you understand it
The idea for MFA was inspired by Tamador’s love of metrology, inspired by the Lord Kelvin quote, “When you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it.” Her previous work as a physicist exposed her to the importance of accurate measurements in our daily lives.
“My idea is to gather researchers in the field of metrology and related activities, focusing on women in Africa. The field is very poor in Africa and the role of women insignificant. I approached several organisations (national and international) to adopt my idea in establishing a group of volunteers for this mission. With little response I decided to start my own activities online, first by posting the idea on my Facebook page, Twitter and LinkedIn. Then I took another step forward by creating my own platform, Metrology for All,” she elaborated.
Social entrepreneurs are known for finding solutions to society’s problems. What is the problem that you are addressing and what is your solution?
Metrology is a fundamental pillar of the quality infrastructure system and it plays a crucial role in contributing to the SDGs. Quality infrastructure is a vital component in fostering economic development. It relies on components such as metrology, standardisation, accreditation, conformity assessment and market surveillance. Metrology, standardisation and conformity assessments are used by businesses and governments to optimise production, health, consumer protection, environment, security and quality. Their effective implementation supports sustainable development, social welfare and facilitates trade.
Metrology’s role in contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals is significant. It ensures accurate measurements across various sectors. Read Tamador’s post on how Metrology supports efforts towards achieving sustainable development, promoting economic growth, environmental protection, and social well-being.
What do you see as the benefit of your Catalyst 2030 membership?
Membership will help expand our network. As a platform committed to promoting education, we believe our goals align with those of Catalyst 2030. We would love to explore ways in which we can collaborate and work together to promote scientific and technological development in Africa and support women in metrology.
Are you collaborating with any other Catalyst 2030 members?
Yes
Which organisations (if any) in your country, city, town, region do you work with?
Metrology for All actively seeks collaborations with industry leaders, research institutions and government bodies to foster knowledge exchange, resource sharing and joint initiatives.
Current partners are:
- The Fluke Corporation | www.Fluke.com
- Amotech Africa in Kenya | www.amotechafrica.com
- CMS, Women in Metrology |https://www.cmsc.org/women-in-metrology-biographies
- Smart Metrology DeltaMu Smart Metrology | by Deltamu (smart-metrology.com)
The platform aims to establish a global network by participating in international conferences, workshops and exhibitions related to metrology. MFA plans to communicate with national institutes of metrology in African countries seeking voluntary training programmes, including:
- World Metrology Day | https://www.worldmetrologyday.org/
- Candela | https://candela-ptb.de/metrology-is-for-everyone
- COVID 101 Best Practices from Pandemic Life |https://i2mtc2022.ieee-ims.org/covid-101-best-practices-from-pandemic-life