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OWM remains committed to our constitutional mandate to “fix the standard of weights and measures” by directly serving and supporting the weights and measures community through our training, products and services. In this Newsletter, we feature our recent engagements and publications, highlight upcoming metrology training events, and spotlight the significant impact of weights and measures on the U.S. economy.
Katrice Lippa, NIST OWM Chief
 Weights and Measures Economic Index
The basic principle of state-regulated weights and measures activities is to reduce errors in commercial measurement and thus minimize economic loss to buyers or sellers in the marketplace. The total dollar value of commodities and services sold on the basis of weight or measure or subject to price verification inspections provides one indicator for the impact of weights and measures on the U.S. economy.
Legal Metrology Meets the Digital Age
The days when a telephone was just a device to make phone calls are long gone. Nowadays, almost everybody has a smartphone with the capability to use it as a camera, game console, map, casino, and much more. If you need some portable functionality, just download an app. It is no surprise that this trend is also entering the world of legal metrology.
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 Credit: BIPM/K. Kenney
BIPM 150th Anniversary
On May 20, 2025, World Metrology Day marked the 150th anniversary of the Meter Convention. NIST and its Office of Weights and Measures (OWM) participated in a three-day Symposium and Conference hosted by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Paris and Versailles, France, celebrating a century and a half of international scientific collaboration. The BIPM150 Wrap-up video emphasizes the celebration's energy and enthusiasm. Learn more about OWM’s BIPM 150th Anniversary Standout Poster.
 C-RMAP 2025: "That's A Wrap!"
In early June, over 115 metrologists from state, county, and federal government laboratories gathered with manufacturing and industry laboratory metrologists in Portland, Oregon, to attend the NIST Office of Weights and Measures (OWM) 2025 Combined Regional Measurement Assurance Program (C-RMAP) training event.
 OWM Info Hours Update
OWM continues to host a series of Information Hours, or "Info Hours," to feature current weights and measures, laboratory metrology, or documentary standard-relevant topics while providing a forum for technical discussions and Q&A. An Info Hour is designed to provide an active and engaging forum for our entire weights and measures and legal metrology community to connect and network, discuss issues, learn from one another, and share knowledge, ideas, unique experiences, insights, and recommendations.
EVSE Metrology Trainings are a Go!
OWM is ramping up a new series of metrology training for the testing and verification of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). This August, in conjunction with the National Council of Weights and Measures, OWM will participate in a training for weights and measures inspections and Registered Service Agents. The event, which will be August 5-8, 2025 in Denver, is intended to prepare participants to take the Registered Service Agent or Inspector Exam. Topics will cover the NIST Handbook 44, including the General Code, Section 3.40 on EVSE, and other sections related to testing of EVSEs, and Examination Procedure Outline 30.
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Advanced Mass Metrology Training with Guidance on the Kilogram Consensus Value
NIST OWM will welcome a full class of students to its Advanced Mass Metrology course at NIST’s Gaithersburg, Maryland campus at the end of this July. This nine-day course is held every other year at NIST.
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 Classroom-Ready: NIST Releases Updated Metric Ruler and Conversion Card
The NIST Metric Program provides a wide range of educational materials to help students learn to apply the International System of Units (SI), commonly known as the metric system. Two popular resources have been updated and are now available.
Expand your classroom toolbox to include the NIST SP 376, Metric Ruler, designed for kindergarten to 12th grade educators teaching SI length. The NIST SP 365, Metric Conversion Card is a laminated wallet-size card that includes an 8 cm and 80 mm ruler with approximate unit conversion factors between common SI and non-SI (U.S. customary) measurement units for length, area, mass, volume, and temperature.
Yoon is a student at Montgomery College, Rockville, Maryland pursuing an associate degree in Graphic Design and Communication Studies. Matthew is a student at Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa pursuing physics and engineering degrees. He visited NIST as part of the college’s “Externship” program, matching students with active professionals during the college’s spring break.
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Weights and Measures in the News
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