Policy

The Institute plays its part in policy formulation through its representation on such bodies as the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, the Engineering Council, the Business and Technician Education Council, the British Standards Institution, the United Kingdom Automatic Control Council, the City and Guilds of London Institute, and numerous other national and local groups and committees.

Awards and Prizes

The Institute has a considerable number of awards and prizes, ranging from the high-prestige Sir George Thomson Gold Medal awarded every 5 years to a person whose contribution to measurement and science has resulted in fundamental improvements in the understanding of the nature of the physical world, to prizes for students in measurement and control on national courses and to school students. Further details of the Institute’s awards and prizes are available on request.

Government and Administration

The Institute is governed by its Council which consists of the President, 3 most recent Past Presidents, up to 6 Vice-Presidents, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary and between 28 and 36 Ordinary Members. The President, Vice-Presidents, Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary are elected by Council. Between 16 and 24 Ordinary Members of Council are elected by Local Sections. 12 Ordinary Members of Council are nationally elected. Additional non-voting members are co-opted by Council (some Chairmen of Local Sections and at least 2 non-corporate members). In addition to the Council there is an Executive Board and 5 standing committees which report to Council.

These are:

• - Learned Society Board
• - Professional Standards and Membership Board
• - Local Sections Committee
• - Science and Technology Committee
• - Prizes and Awards Committee

The Institute has 9 employees in its full-time secretariat. In 1984 the Institute purchased an elegant Georgian building for its headquarters. The building contains committee rooms, members’ room, and administration and office facilities for the secretariat.