The 2014 World Standards Day Paper Competition has been announced by the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day Planning Committee and the competition's sponsor, SES - The Society for Standards Professionals. The theme for this year's paper competition, Standards Level the Playing Field, reflects the important role that voluntary consensus standards play in support of trade and economic growth in today's increasingly global economy. Globally relevant standards make it easier for small and medium enterprises to get their products certified and on the shelves in countries around the world, allowing them to take part in global value chains, benefit from technology transfer, and compete on a more equal footing with larger or entrenched competitors. Similarly, nations that incorporate international standards into their policies and regulations can allow their citizens access to a wider selection of high-quality goods, while also providing protection against dangerous or faulty products and services.
This year's U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day will focus on the ways international standards help to safeguard consumer health and safety, while also stimulating national and international diversification and free market competition. Paper competition winners will be announced and given their awards during the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day banquet on Thursday, October 23, 2014, at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, DC. Cash prizes will be awarded for up to three papers selected by a panel of judges. The first place winner will receive a plaque and $2,500. Second and third place winners will receive $1,000 and $500, respectively, along with a certificate. In addition, the winning papers are expected to be published in the SES journal, Standards Engineering.
All submissions must be previously unpublished, between 2,500 and 4,500 words long, and formatted in 10-point, Times New Roman font. Submissions must include a completed entry form, and must be sent to [email protected] no later than midnight eastern time on Friday, August 8, 2014, to be eligible. The contest's complete list of rules is available online.
More information about the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day 2014, Standards Level the Playing Field, is available at www.wsd-us.org.
About SES - The Society for Standards Professionals
SES was founded in 1947 as a non-profit, technical association dedicated to furthering the knowledge and use of standards and standardization. SES is unique in that it is the only organization in North America committed exclusively to furthering public awareness and knowledge of standards and standardization. SES provides a neutral forum where standards users and developers can come together to address mutual issues, opportunities, and interests in ways that work to the benefit of everyone involved with, or affected by, standards. The Society's members are standards developers, users, managers, and information specialists from industry, government, standards developing organizations, trade associations, and academia. To find out more about SES please visit www.ses-standards.org.
About the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day
Since the initial celebration in 1970, World Standards Day (WSD) is now recognized in nations around the globe. U.S. activities are organized annually by a planning committee consisting of representatives from across the standards and conformity assessment community. The event is co-chaired each year by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) will serve as the 2014 administrating organization for the U.S. Celebration of WSD. For more information or to register, please visit www.wsd-us.org.