ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA BUREAU OF STANDARDS
Metrology Symposium

"The Role of Metrology in Economic Development
and
Trade & Laboratory Quality Systems (ISO 17025)"

January 14-16, 2003

Royal Antiguan Resort/ Deep Bay - Antigua (W.I)
Language: English

::.INTRODUCTION

In the modern society, which is technology based, there are several interacting systems which affect the quality of life. Some of these social systems (political, legal, educational etc.) are clearly visible in everyday life. However, there is a system, which is vital for the quality of life, but not so visible by itself. This is the Measurement System of a country and it pervades all other systems. We need the measurement system to provide a quantitative basis for taking decisions in all aspects of our daily life - public affairs, trade, commerce, industry, science, engineering etc. We take measurements to increase our knowledge and understanding of the world we live in and we use that knowledge to help us to have a better life.

Metrology, the Science of Measurement is vital for trade and commerce and is the basis of modern science and technology and consequently of modern civilization. The calm surface it shows covers depths of knowledge that only few are familiar with, but which almost everyone makes use of - confident that they are sharing common perceptions of length, mass, volume etc. Commodities are bought and sold by size and weight: water, electricity, and telephone services are metered, bathroom scales affect our humour as do police speed traps. The quantity of active substances in medicine, blood sample measurements and the effect of laser treatment must be precise if the patient's health is not to be jeopardized. It is difficult to describe anything without referring to weights or measures - tyre treads & pressure, weights of letters, volume of gasoline, alcohol percentages. Measurement regulates the human tendency for the seller to give less and the buyer to obtain more. Confidence is vital in enabling metrology to link human activities together across geographic boundaries. This confidence becomes enhanced with the increased use of network co-operation, common units of measurement and common measuring procedures as well as the accreditation and mutual recognition agreements. As a result of these crucial issues the Bureau of Standards undertook to host this workshop on "The Role of Metrology in Socio-economic Development and Trade".

::.PROGRAM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2003

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2003

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2003

::.FEES AND CONTACTS

Registration Fee: US$40.00

For further information, please contact:
Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards
Redcliffe Street & Corn Alley
P.O. Box 1550, St. John's
ANTIGUA (W. I.)

Tel #: 462-2424 (local)
(268) 562-4011
Fax : (268) 462-1625
e-mail: abbs@candw.ag