ANSI president and CEO Dr. Laurie E. Locascio joined Megan Nicholson on The Ongoing Transformation, a podcast from Issues in Science and Technology, to explore why standards matter, how they’re developed, and why broad participation is so important.
Locascio explained the U.S. standards system, underscoring how it fosters both agility and creativity, and how ANSI provides a foundation for its success. She emphasized the importance of broad participation in making the system work:
“The processes by which we operate include openness and transparency,” Locascio explained. “That includes having everybody at the table, trying to get as many voices heard as possible, diverse voices at the table. We can negotiate and agree or disagree, but still come to consensus—because consensus is really the principle by which we all operate in the global standards field.”
The conversation also covered how standardization can help the U.S. stay competitive in emerging technologies such as AI, quantum, biotechnology, with Locascio pointing to the U.S. Standards Strategy 2025 as a blueprint for action:
“With emerging technology, the stakes are very high. AI has exploded; it is changing economies as we speak. Today is going to be different than tomorrow. As soon as quantum really realizes its potential, that’s going to change everything, too. And in biotechnology, of course, incredible changes in that field are changing our health and our future lives. The U.S. Standard Strategy is there to tell people what’s different now and how we should be responding as a nation.”
Locascio also shared the story of how she first became involved in the standards—and why soft skills are just as essential as technical expertise in bringing stakeholders to consensus.
Hear the full podcast and access a transcript: Who Sets the Standard?