To help recognize the importance of standards, The Society for Standards Professionals (SES) and the U.S. World Standards Day Planning Committee are sponsoring a paper competition for members of the U.S. standards community. The top prize is $2,500, which will be awarded during the U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day on Oct. 18 in Washington, D.C.
World Standards Day is an annual event that recognizes the vital contributions of various stakeholders, including business leaders, industry experts, academics, and government representatives, to the development of international and domestic consensus standards. The day is also intended to increase awareness of the role standards play in the global economy.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Innovation Nation.” Authors may choose to address this theme in their submission or focus on another topic related to standards and their use, such as how standards support societal efforts, how they are used in conformity assessments, how they facilitate international trade, or how they contribute to the success of the healthcare technology industry.
The first place winner will receive $2,500 and a plaque. Second and third place winners will receive $1,000 and $500, respectively, along with a certificate. All of the winning papers will be published in the SES journal, Standards Engineering.
Papers must be between 2,500 and 4,500 words, written in English, and submitted to mikemorrell@live.com, along with an official entry form, by midnight on July 13. The competition is open to U.S. residents in the private sector, government, or academia, including employees of standards developing organizations.
Complete rules for this competition, submission guidelines, and the official entry form are available on the SES website.