Metrology’s ‘house journal’ celebrates 100 not out
21 May 2023
The World’s oldest scientific instrumentation and measurement journal is celebrating a century of publishing by releasing a special collection of metrology research papers revisiting themes from its earliest days.
Measurement Science and Technology was the first journal to be produced by the Institute of Physics and was established in 1923 as the Journal of Scientific Instruments. The first director of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Sir Richard Glazebrook was a key supporter of the venture.
It was renamed with its present title in 1990, to reflect the fact that fewer scientists were by then making their own instruments.
In 2003 IoP subsidiary IOP Publishing made the journal entire archive has available online. In the last three decades alone this amounts to more than 12,000 articles on all aspects of the theory, practice and application of measurement, instrumentation and sensing across science and engineering.
Appropriately, the official release of its centenary collection was timed to coincide with World Metrology Day on 20 May. The event commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875, the date from which formal international collaboration in metrology began.
The publication’s editor in chief is Andrew Yacoot, also Principal Scientist at the NPL. He said:
“The Interdisciplinary nature of measurement science was recognised at the time of formation of the journal which brought together physicists, instrument makers, chemists and biologists. Today experimental science and engineering still cannot progress without the support of measurement science.”
He added that the constant developments in science presented new challenges for the metrologist but also new opportunities for developing measurement science which in turn allowed further scientific developments.
IOPP head of portfolio development at IOPP Dr Tim Smith, remarked: “Looking back on a hundred years of metrology research shows just how tremendous advances in measurement science has led to pioneering scientific achievements at all scales and across all disciplines.
“We’re proud of the central role Measurement Science and Technology has in capturing landmark developments over the last century, and are excited about continuing to serve the field for years to come by publishing ground-breaking metrological discoveries that continue to innovate and inform our understanding of the world we live in.”
Pic: Measurement Science and Technology cover plus Rospen Industries image (Kiel Speak/Michael Worrall)
