PR: World Metrology Day awards

Why is aluminium so strong and yet so light?

All will be revealed in a seminar by the 2011 Barry Inglis Medal recipient, Dr Philip Nakashima, on Monday 5 September at the National Measurement Institute (NMI) in Sydney.

‘Determining the true nature and shape of the inter-atomic bonds in aluminium has defeated scientists for more than 82 years, but not only has Dr Nakashima been able to measure them, he has also mapped their structure,’ NMI CEO Dr Laurie Besley said today.

‘Dr Nakashima’s work may enable engineers to maximise the strength of aluminium alloys used, for example, in the wings of aircraft.’

Dr Nakashima, a Monash University scientist, will be presented with the Barry Inglis Medal at an awards ceremony on Monday 5 September after which he will give a seminar on his work which has solved the 82 year-old conundrum.

The Barry Inglis Medal honours Dr Barry Inglis PSM, the National Measurement Institute’s first chief executive.

Dr Michael Biercuk of the University of Sydney will also be presented with the NMI Prize for his work in the most sensitive measurement of force to date – the yoctonewton.

‘The yoctonewton is an incredibly small force – about a million million billion times smaller than the force exerted by a feather lying on a table,’ said Dr Besley.

Dr Biercuk’s seminar will explore the applications that enhanced force detection sensitivity will have in the mining and defence industries.

The two awards commemorate World Metrology Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875. Metrology is the science of measurement and the Metre Convention is the basis for global collaborations in sectors such as trade, industry, technology, science, research and development.

What: 2011 World Metrology Day awards presentation
When: Monday 5 September 2011, 11 am
Where: National Measurement Institute, Bradfield Road, Lindfield