Building the Next Generation of Metrologists: Opportunities to Improve SI Education and Scientific Literacy at 150 Years and Beyond

Published

March 14, 2025

Author(s)

Elizabeth Benham, Katrice Lippa

Abstract

Through the teaching of the International System of Units (SI) principles, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educators create a ripple effect, cultivating the next generation of metrologists. This, in turn, builds the solid foundation of both our individual and interconnected National Metrology Institutes (NMIs), leading to advancements in measurement science and fueling global metrology innovation. National-level leaders and decision-makers also require fluency in measurement concepts and the SI to foster critical thinking, promote technological innovation and advancements, and adapt and evolve their economies regionally and globally. Many educators are not adequately trained in teaching the SI, a significant challenge facing all economies. Others may struggle with how deeply to teach the SI, from a superficial overview to an in-depth application. Educators and learners grapple with the abstract theoretical concept of defining SI units through fundamental physical constants rather than physical objects. SI units like the second (s), mole (mol), or candela (cd) are abstract. Educators may encounter online resources and textbooks that inconsistently use SI units or are outdated. Classroom time dedicated to SI unit instruction may be limited due to competing STEM priorities. School systems may lack adequate measurement tools, such as rulers, digital scales, and other laboratory instruments, which makes hands-on learning difficult. High quality videos, simulations, and hands-on activities available freely in the public domain are limited. These challenges contribute to a lack of clarity and consistency in SI instruction at the primary and secondary education levels, which can lead to workplace knowledge gaps. Addressing these challenges will require collaboration within global metrology communities. NMIs, Regional Metrology Organizations (RMOs), and their close associates and stakeholders can help address these challenges through the development of a common SI education message. Strategies include 1) focusing on the basic SI elements 2) simplifying concepts to age-appropriate instructional levels 3) developing and expanding free classroom and laboratory resources that build a deeper understanding of SI concepts 4) developing SI instructional guidance to transition currently available textbooks and learning activities to incorporate the "new SI" and 5) widely integrating SI concepts into university courses, training, and professional development. A mechanism to discover, access, and leverage high-quality SI educational resources is needed. RMOs are uniquely positioned to serve as a bridge between local SI education resources and the larger international metrology community. Just as the common artistic design and message of the annual World Metrology Day posters are amplified when subsequently translated into many languages and used locally, SI education resources can be similarly leveraged by the larger metrology community to maximize impact. This poster will highlight the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) online Educational STEM Resource Registry (NEST-R, https://nestr.nist.gov/) solution to help educators and learners access videos, activities, and training opportunities and feature examples of locally developed SI learning resources like the Fundamentals of Metrology training seminar, the Measurement League: Guardians of the SI Superheroes video series, a DIY "Lego" Kibble Balance activity, the SI Unit Card Deck game, and a classroom Metric Ruler.

Conference Dates

May 20-22, 2025

Conference Location

Paris, FR

Conference Title

International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) Celebrating 150 years of the Metre Convention Symposium and Conference

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

Classroom, Do It Yourself, Fundamentals of Metrology, Guardians of the SI Superheroes, International System of Units, Kibble balance, learning resources, Measurement League, metric system: seminar, training, video.

Citation

Benham, E. and Lippa, K. (2025), Building the Next Generation of Metrologists: Opportunities to Improve SI Education and Scientific Literacy at 150 Years and Beyond, International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) Celebrating 150 years of the Metre Convention Symposium and Conference, Paris, FR, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=959787 (Accessed April 1, 2025)