International System of Units to be revised
These days in Paris, an event is taking place that will be a turning point in the scientific world. The 26th General Conference on Weights and Measures will sum up the many years of activities of the world scientific and technical community on the revision of the base units in the International System of Units (SI) – kilogramme (mass), Kelvin (temperature), ampere (electric current), and mole (amount of substance). The revision will also affect such units as candela, second, and metre. From now on, all units will be redefined based on the fundamental constants of nature, the atom and quantum, rather than by physical objects of the macrocosm.
SI is accepted as the basic system of units by most countries worldwide (with the exception of the USA, Bolivia, and Burma). In those countries where traditional units are used in everyday life, their definitions have been modified so as to be linked by fixed coefficients with SI units. The transition to the new SI would accelerate the development and introduction of innovative solutions and new technologies in scientific organisations and enterprises, which includes reducing costs of many high-tech manufacturing processes.
Rosstandart coordinates Russian participation in redefining the System of Units at the global level. This will determine to a great extent whether Russia will be at a disadvantage as a result of this transition process or remain among the leading countries that ensure consistency and accuracy of measurements at the global level.
The changes are scheduled to take effect from May 2019.