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Measurement Advisory Community

DIUS receives advice on the objectives, priorities and progress of the programmes in support of the National Measurement System from a Measurement Board and a series of Programme Working Groups. The members of this measurement advisory community represent the beneficiaries of the NMS programmes. Their advice enables DIUS to commission and monitor the publicly-funded measurement programmes so that they deliver optimal impact and benefits in order to meet industrial and public needs.

The Measurement Board

The Review of the NMS in 2005-2006 - click the "Strategic Reviews of the NMS" link on the left - recommended that a new high level advisory Board should replace the Measurement Advisory Committee (MAC), which was disbanded in December 2006. The new Board will be fully representative, at a high level, of the community of NMS stakeholders, including those from relevant Other Government Departments and national and regional scientific, innovation, standards and research organisations and agencies, as well as users and collaborators in industry and academia.

The objectives of the Measurement Board are to offer DIUS strategic advice on:

• The broad objectives and strategy for the Government's support of the UK's metrology infrastructure, services and R&D;
• The priorities and balance that Government should assign to programmes of work undertaken to meet the metrology needs of the UK;
• The effectiveness with which the NMS supports innovation in UK business and industry sectors and uses metrology applications to bring economic, social, quality of life and environmental benefits to the UK.

Measurement Advisory Committee (disbanded December 2006)

The Measurement Advisory Committee (MAC) was an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). It advised the former DTI on the effectiveness of programmes of expenditure in support of the NMS. The MAC was disbanded on 31 December 2006. Its reports, including the final one, can be viewed by clicking the links on the right.

Programme Working Groups

A Working Group for each NMS programme provides specific advice to DIUS on the technical content of the programme and its impact. This includes consideration of the economic and quality of life impact and regulatory benefits of the proposed work. In particular Working Groups are involved in the prioritisation of projects for inclusion in future programmes and in reviews of research in progress.

What sort of people are needed?

DIUS recruits individuals who have an active interest in the development of their area of business or market sector and are able to comment authoritatively on its current and future measurement science and technology needs. It is important that DIUS has advice based on a wide spectrum of experience - from users of measurement in business, industry, and the community as well as scientists and academia - so it is not necessary to be an "expert on measurement" to make a valuable contribution.

How big are the Working Groups?

There are around 150 Working Group members who sit on one or more of the 8 Working Groups:

Chemical and Biological Metrology
Engineering and Flow Metrology
Ionising Radiation and Acoustical Metrology
Materials and Thermal Metrology
Physical Metrology
Metrology R&D
Software Support for Metrology
Pathfinder Metrology

What is the commitment?

Membership of a Working Group involves a commitment of about 5 days a year. Working Groups normally meet twice a year.

Appointments to Working Groups are unpaid, voluntary, and personal. Reasonable travelling and other expenses incurred on Working Group business are paid in accordance with Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills guidelines.

What are the benefits of joining a Working Group?

These are public service appointments. You will have the opportunity to make a real contribution to the work of DIUS by helping to steer the Department's £60 million a year investment in the NMS - to ensure that best value is obtained and that the future measurement needs of sectors that are of interest to you are properly represented. You will have the opportunity to work with like-minded individuals and develop a network of new contacts in business, industry, science, academia, and government.

Working Group administration is provided by DIUS staff from the National Measurement System Programme Unit, which is part of the Office of Science and Innovation.

If you would like to apply to become a member of one (or more) of the Working Groups please download the application form by clicking the link on the right and returning it to:

Mr Alastair Hooley
National Measurement System
Bay 207
Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills
151 Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1W 9SS

If you have any questions or comments, please email alastair.hooley@dius.gsi.gov.uk