May 20 — World Metrology Day: history and traditions of the holiday

Every year on May 20, the world community celebrates World Metrology Day, a holiday established to raise public awareness of what is meant by measurement science and why we are so dependent on it. In 2025, the date falls on a Tuesday. Izvestia tells us when the holiday appeared and what traditions are associated with it.

The history of World Metrology Day, celebrated on May 20

The history of the holiday dates back to 1875, when representatives of a number of European countries, including Russia, signed the famous Metric Convention in Paris. The agreement helped to ensure the unity of metrological standards and marked the beginning of cooperation in the field of measurement sciences.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of this event. It should be noted that the multilateral signing of the document was largely made possible by the members of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. First of all, to the outstanding Russian chemist and metrologist Dmitry Mendeleev, academicians Otto Struve, Heinrich Wild and Boris Jacobi.

Subsequently, the day of the signing of the convention was declared World Metrology Day. It was officially established in October 1999 by the International Committee of Weights and Measures (ICIM) to celebrate the contributions of all those who devoted their lives to the science of metrology.

In 2023, the festival began to be held with the support of UNESCO. In Russia, it began to be celebrated a year later. Celebrations in our country are held with the assistance of the State Metrological Service of the Russian Federation.

How to celebrate World Metrology Day in 2025

World Metrology Day is organized and celebrated annually jointly with the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) with the participation of national metrological institutes and regional metrological organizations around the world.

According to the established tradition, every year the organizers address the world community with a message that identifies the most important problems that require metrological support. In addition, meteorologists, young scientists, students and teachers of specialized areas of universities are traditionally congratulated on this day.

Round tables, conferences and other events are held in different countries, united by a common theme. In 2025, the holiday will be held under the motto "Measurements for all times, for all people." He recalls the enduring role of metrology in shaping innovation and promoting a sustainable future.

The topics of the past years are "The world of metrology at the service of the whole world", "Measurements in our environment", "Measurements in science and technology. A bridge to Innovation", "Measurements in a dynamic world", "Measurements for transport", "Metrology in the digital age", "We measure today to ensure a sustainable future".

World Metrology Day 2025: interesting facts

Metrology originated in ancient times and means "the science of measurements" in translation. Initially, she was engaged in describing various kinds of measures (weight, time) and coins used in different countries. In Russia, most measures were of anthropometric origin or reflected labor activity. The most common measures in everyday life were an inch, an elbow, a span, a fathom and a mile.

However, the beginning of metrology as a state system for ensuring the uniformity of measurements can be said only since the time of Ivan IV the Terrible. In 1550, the tsar signed the Dvina Charter, which is considered one of the first metrological documents in Russia. Metrology received its development under Peter I. Then the first metrological centers appeared, and metrology penetrated the navy and shipbuilding (feet, inches).

Today, measurement science plays a central role in industrial production, scientific discovery and innovation, international trade, as well as in improving the quality of life and protecting the environment.

Earlier, in May, Biographers' Day was celebrated. Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of this holiday.