20 May: World Metrology Day

The theme for World Metrology Day 2021 is Measurement for Health. This theme was chosen to create awareness of the important role measurement plays in health, and thus in the wellbeing of every one of us.

World Metrology Day is an annual celebration of the signature of the Metre Convention on 20 May 1875 by representatives of seventeen nations. The Convention set the framework for global collaboration in the science of measurement and in its industrial, commercial, and societal applications. The original aim of the Metre Convention – the worldwide uniformity of measurement – remains as important today as it was in 1875.

This was necessary since throughout human history different areas used an extensive variety of measuring systems and standards.  This made trade and communication on subjects of trade difficult, and there had to be methods put in place to translate between these different systems. As industrialization was taking place, especially with the introduction of replaceable parts, standards of measurement were necessary to bring the world together.