TheGambia will on Sunday, May 20th, 2012, join the rest of the world to celebrate the World Metrology Day, a press release from the Gambia Bureau of Statistics revealed. 

According to the release, the day was chosen in recognition of the signing of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875 in Paris, France.The Convention, the release went on, sets the framework for global collaboration in the science of measurement and in its industrial, commercial and societal application. The release also stated that the aim of the Metre Convention - the worldwide uniformity of measurement - remains as important today as it was in 1875. 

“World Metrology Day has since become an established annual event during which the Metrology community of the world celebrates the impact of measurement on our daily lives, no part of which is untouched by this essential, but largely hidden, aspect of modern society.Measurement is both a technique and a process that underpins much of life as we know it but is often taken for granted.As an enabling technology, measurement provides the foundation for progress and advancement of human society,” the release added.

The theme for this year, the release further stated, is “We Measure for your Safety”.This, the release highlighted, reflects the importance of correct measurements to ensure our safety whether at work or in our leisure activities.“Just like “metrology”, the term “safety” covers a very wide area of topics but many people are unaware of the vital role the worldwide metrology community plays. 

Our safety is crucially dependent on good metrology.A few of the many examples include helping to ensure the reliability of the planes we fly in, the impact resistance of the cars we drive, or the correct values of the radiation dose used in therapy we might one day need,” the release added. 

Nationally, the release went on, under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, The Gambia Standards Bureau and the Weights and Measures Bureau will celebrate the World Metrology Day with a series of activities.“These include workshops and seminars, publicity and educational programmes both for the general public, other stakeholders and specific audiences such as schools and higher academic institutions.

These are aimed at creating more awareness and to especially bring to the attention of the public recent developments in metrology at the national level.Some of the highlights include the role of the National Metrology Laboratory of The Gambia Standards Bureau as the metrology department of the Bureau,” the release added.

The release concluded that whatever people do, whichever way they turn, although they may not know it, their safety depends on the metrology community, doing their job, and doing it well.