BACKGROUND

Three of the key elements supporting the establishment of the modern infrastructure for metrology were the metre convention initiated in 1875, establishment of the International Committee of Weights and Measures (CIPM) and founding of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). The CIPM has created a number of Consultative Committees that, among the others, undertake the supervisory and scientific work in their respective metrology areas. The IAEA has a long standing cooperation with the BIPM directly as well as with the Consultative Committee for Ionizing Radiation (CCRI) and the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance — Metrology in Chemistry (CCQM). The IAEA is also a signatory of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA), which under the auspices of CIPM aims to mutual recognition of national measurement standards and of calibration and measurement certificates issued by national metrology institutes.  Being a specialized agency within the United Nations System, the IAEA provides to its Member States number of services that are related to metrology. Therefore is the cooperation with CIPM and BIPM an added value to these services and additional assurance of their high quality.
Within the CCQM, where the IAEA has a full member status, the closest cooperation has been established with the Inorganic Analysis Working Group (IAWG) and Electrochemical Analysis Working Group (EAWG). These two groups will carry their second biannual meeting in 2008 at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna and at the Agency’s Laboratories in Seibersdorf.

OBJECTIVES

To review the activites of the IAWG and EAWG, specifically current Key Comparisons and Pilot Studies, plan future studies, update the information from Regional Metrology Organizations and to carry out a workshop on technical/scientific issues related to reference materials.

PARTICIPATION

This is a Specialists Meeting open to the Members of the IAWG, EAWG and IAEA staff. Participants should register their participation by sending the participation form to Ms. Karin Will (fax: +43 1 2600 28222 or email K.Will@iaea.org) before 15 September 2008.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

No financial support is provided for participation at this meeting.

MEETING FORMAT

The official language of the meeting is English. No interpretation will be provided. The format of presentations for the meeting and workshop should follow the format established within the CIPM IAWG and EAWG. Following the nature of this meeting no Agency technical publication or other material will be produced. However, all working material will be available at the BIPM web page. It is expected that the meeting will start on 8 October 9:00 and conclude by 16:00 on Friday 10 October.

LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS

It is the responsibility of all participants to make their own travel arrangements to/from Austria. Information on how to reach the IAEA Headquarters is provided above. Further information on local transport to/from the meeting venue, and some other organisational details, will be sent to participants well in advance of the meeting. Please note that, due to the European Football Championship in June numerous meetings have been shifted to later dates and that this will affect availability of hotel accommodation in October. Therefore, be advised to make your hotel reservation as soon as possible. List of hotels frequently used by the IAEA visitors is provided above. The IAEA has no preference regarding hotel selection.

VISA

Designated participants who require a visa to enter Austria should submit the necessary application to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of Austria well in advance of entry.

DEADLINES

IAEA SCIENTIFIC SECRETARIES

Mr. Umberto Sansone and Mr. Ales Fajgelj
IAEA Laboratories
Department of Nuclear Sciences and Application
International Atomic Energy Agency
Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O.Box 100
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Tel: +43 1 2600 28234/28233
Fax: +43 1 2600 28222
E-mail: U.Sansone@iaea.org / A.Fajgelj@iaea.org