Guest Article
Through Know Your Measurement Series, I have tried to take technical concepts out of the laboratory and the regulatory office and put them into everyday conversations. The objective is simple: help people understand why measurement matters and why accurate measurement is a matter of safety, fairness, economic value and trust. In many ways, I see this as complementary to the work of Women in Weights and Measures. The subcommittee is creating opportunities for women to grow professionally and become leaders within the weights and measures community. Initiatives such as the Know Your Measurement series can help women also become visible voices for metrology beyond the traditional professional space. Imagine what could happen if women metrologists across different countries collaborated to create public education campaigns, technical webinars, mentorship programmes and digital content around measurement. Imagine a young woman in Nigeria being able to watch a webinar led by a woman weights and measures professional in the United States, Canada or another part of the world and think, “I can do this too.” That is the kind of connection I hope we can build. My experience at the NCWM Annual Meeting has made me even more convinced that collaboration should be our next frontier. I would welcome opportunities for collaboration between women metrologists in Nigeria and the broader Women in Weights and Measures community, particularly around technical training, mentorship, knowledge exchange and leadership development. There is so much expertise within the global weights and measures community, and there are women in developing countries who are eager to learn, contribute and lead. Perhaps we can create virtual technical conversations where women from different jurisdictions share how they approach common challenges. Perhaps experienced professionals can mentor women who are beginning their careers, and most importantly, there can be opportunities for women from developing countries to participate in training programmes or gain exposure to weights and measures operations in other jurisdictions. NCWM itself recognizes the value of professional participation and networking, including opportunities to serve on committees, task groups and NTEP sectors and work groups. Those opportunities are important because leadership is often developed by participating long before someone receives the title of leader. I travelled to the NCWM Annual Meeting expecting to learn. I did. I expected to meet professionals. I did. However, I returned home with something I had not fully anticipated: a renewed sense of possibility.
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