Moving CMSC Forward with Education and STEM

Published: Thursday, November 17, 2016 - 12:13

With this year’s Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC) behind us and 2016 rapidly coming to a close, new ideas are moving into full swing for CMSC 2017 in Snowbird, UT. The Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) is in the process of revamping the conference agenda and addressing requested new initiatives. The team is developing a plan to open the conference to a wider audience including “metrologists of the future.” This new endeavor will be a driver for growth and addresses the CMS charter to provide continuing education and activities for its membership.

To start, the CMS Academic Committee will undergo a makeover and take charge of both educational and training activities going forward. These changes will not be possible without the support of members and membership organizations. I encourage anyone who is keen to support this activity to contact the CMS via email at chairman@cmsc.org. The Academic Committee will add new members in the coming months, and get to work on defining a short-term and long-term strategy for educational growth. The team will look at science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education activities being delivered globally, then devise and implement an action plan at CMSC 2017 and beyond.

A few weeks, ago while guiding visitors through my local museum, I realized the guiding theme behind all the great exhibits was to look, listen, and learn. The items on display ranged from those of the modern day to some dating as far back as the 1890s. Visitors were strongly encouraged to partake in questions and interactive tasks.

How does this link to CMSC? Well, the final exhibit was all about the land speed record. Exhibits featuring the supersonic cars Thrust 2 and Thrust SSC were readily accessible, including a simulator taking you back to 1997 to experience one of the runs breaking 763 mph down the Nevada desert. These jet-propelled cars both broke the world's record at Black Rock, NV.

Reaching 1,000 mph has become the new goal, as 2017 will mark the 20th anniversary of the record-breaking event. BLOODHOUND SSC is the new high-technology project to design and build a car that will break the 1,000-mph barrier. It is no surprise that STEM activities and metrology technology and applications are at the forefront of this challenging program engaging the imaginations of a new generation.

So in 2017, we turn to STEM as a natural fit for CMS to promote metrology, technology, and fun events associated with measurement. I encourage you to help us engage in these new initiatives at next year’s conference. All of these activities will take place in a technology-packed exhibit hall where you will meet leading industry experts and see the latest metrology solutions to support today’s technical needs.

About The Author

Keith Bevan

Keith Bevan is the training network delivery manager at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) of the United Kingdom's National Measurement Institute. He is responsible for the delivery network activities of NPL's training framework, training materials, and quality of delivery.  Bevan has been involved in measurement for 40 years having joined Rolls-Royce Ltd (aero engines) in 1975 as an apprentice working across a range of metrology activities including engine testing, manufacturing, coordinate metrology, and calibration. Bevan helps develop and implement global learning solutions in metrology and good-practice guides for industry. Currently Bevan is the executive committee chairman of the Coordinate Metrology Society.