BIPM-TÜBİTAK UME project placements completed with success
The joint BIPM–TÜBİTAK UME initiative "TÜBİTAK UME project placements" has proven a great success. The BIPM collaborated with TÜBİTAK UME, the National Metrology Institute (NMI) of Turkey, to support young metrologists from 14 countries to gain in-depth knowledge and experience on a subject of scientific interest.
Over two cycles, organized in 2018 and 2019, the BIPM and TÜBİTAK UME initiative sponsored 20 participants from AFRIMETS, APMP, COOMET and GULFMET. All participants were from NMIs that have recently become a signatory to the CIPM MRA, or were inexperienced in the CIPM MRA processes. The placements, of between 1 and 3 months, hosted in the TÜBİTAK UME laboratories, allowed participants to focus on specific metrological projects, to learn the theory and to test it in practical situations in order to maximize the transfer of knowledge. In addition, participants were able to gain a better understanding of the international aspects of metrology during the seminars organized under the joint initiative and delivered by BIPM and TÜBİTAK UME staff.
Brief reports from the participants are available from the BIPM's CBKT pages.
The number of applications received for both cycles demonstrates the huge interest and demand for this joint initiative. The first cycle received 58 applications from 23 countries and the second 48 applications from 18 countries, competing for the 10 slots that were available in each cycle.
As a consequence of the success of this training initiative and the significant ongoing demand for capacity building and knowledge transfer training, we invite other NMIs to join this initiative. These actions reflect the encouragement to carry out knowledge transfer and mentoring activities that were underlined in the Recommendations from the Working Group on the Implementation and Operation of the CIPM MRA.
The BIPM acknowledges with thanks the major contributions of TÜBİTAK UME to the BIPM's CBKT activities.
Feedback:
Andy Henson and I were delighted to meet the participants at our joint capacity building initiative with TÜBİTAK UME.
The seminars provided a great opportunity to mingle with the new generation of metrologists. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and our discussions were continued in a very friendly atmosphere over lunch, during coffee breaks and free time. They were open and ready to share their experiences and challenges... and really keen to learn and gain experience.
I wish all the participants the best of luck in implementing the outcomes of their projects, and every success in their next steps in the world of measurement uncertainties and metrological traceability.
Huge thanks to TÜBİTAK UME colleagues for making the initiative a success!