U.S. TAG on Asset Management Welcomes Participation of New Members
The U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Project Committee (PC) 251, Asset management, is pleased to welcome many new members to its roster.
Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in December 2010, the U.S. TAG is responsible for advancing U.S. positions regarding the development of international asset management standards from ISO. ASTM International, an ANSI member and audited designator, administers the U.S. TAG to PC 251.
The U.S. TAG to PC 251 recently submitted comments on three draft standards initially proposed by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in 2009 [see related news item]:
Membership in the U.S. TAG now numbers more than 40, and continues to expand. Participants currently include the General Services Administration (GSA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Sunflower, Northrop Grumman, SRA International, Deloitte Systems, Johns Hopkins University, Bonneville Power Administration, the National Association of State Agencies for Surplus Property, DynCorp International, and other leaders from government, the private sector, and academia.
For more information on the work of the U.S. TAG, contact Lyle Hestermann, CPPM CF, MIAM, chair of the U.S. TAG to PC 251, ([email protected]; 260.429.4082).
NIST Accepting Applications for Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers and Research Experience for Teachers Programs
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is currently accepting nominations of middle school science teachers from eligible U.S. public school districts or accredited private educational institutions to participate in the NIST Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers. To be held at the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, MD, from July 18 to July 29, 2011, the two-week workshop is designed to expand teachers' understanding of the subjects they teach through exposure to the cutting-edge measurement science research pursued at NIST.
The workshop provides teachers with instructional materials and ideas to use in their teaching, experience in how scientific research is carried out, and an opportunity to develop an ongoing network with scientists and engineers at NIST. NIST will provide a $2,000 stipend for teachers attending the workshop, as well as travel and lodging funds for those traveling more than 50 miles. U.S. public school districts or accredited private educational institutions that offer science courses such as earth science, physical science, chemistry, physics and/or biology at the middle school level (grades 6-8) are eligible to nominate one teacher per school.
NIST also is soliciting nominations from school districts or educational institutions of middle school science teachers who have successfully completed the NIST Summer Institute to participate in the NIST Research Experience for Teachers (NIST RET) program. Two selected teachers will work side by side with NIST research scientists on projects that combine research with direct applications tailored to developing, maintaining, advancing, and enabling the nation's measurement system. Each teacher will receive an $8,000 stipend; housing and travel allowances are not provided.
Applications for both programs are due Thursday, March 24, 2011 by 3 p.m. Eastern Time. For further details, click here.
TIA and Georgia Institute of Technology Sign MOU to Collaborate on Smart Device Standards
ANSI member and accredited standards developer the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation (GTARC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore opportunities for collaborative standards development involving research, testing, and outreach in the area of global information and communications infrastructure.
A key element of the MOU is to define an industry-supported center at Georgia Tech focused on the science, engineering, and testing necessary to advance telecommunications standards. Collaboration will be carried out in association with the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), a department of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).
"This MOU marks an important step for TIA as the scope of our standardization activities is expanding and the related demand for standards is rapidly increasing," said TIA president Grant Seiffert.
Robert T. McGrath, Ph.D., director of GTRI and Georgia Tech vice president, commented, "We are looking forward to collaborating with a preeminent standards development organization that can provide advice and guidance as we advance Georgia Tech's research mission in global communications and information technologies."
For more information, visit TIA's website.
SAE International Applies for TAG Accreditation on Road Traffic Safety Management Systems
SAE International, an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has submitted an application for accreditation for a proposed U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO Technical Committee (TC) 241, Project Committee: Road Traffic Safety Management Systems, and a request for approval as TAG Administrator. The proposed TAG intends to operate using the Model Operating Procedures for U.S. Technical Advisory Groups to ANSI for ISO Activities as contained in Annex A of the ANSI International Procedures.
For additional information, or to offer comments, please contact Maryvonne Jacquemart, (248.273.2467; [email protected]) with a copy to [email protected]. The comment deadline is March 28, 2011.