Olshefsky Attends Standards Workshop and Visits University in Rio de Janeiro

ASTM in Brazil

On Aug. 18-20, ASTM International, in collaboration with several U.S.- and Brazilian-based organizations, participated in the U.S. Codes and Standards Workshop: Applications for the Brazilian Oil and Gas and Nuclear Industries, at the Foreign Trade Chambers Federation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The two-day workshop consisted of a review of the successful adoption and use of U.S.-based international codes and standards in the oil and gas sector and how the use of globally accepted U.S.-based nuclear codes and standards could benefit Brazil and its expanding nuclear program.

James Olshefsky, director of external relations, ASTM, delivered two presentations during the program, one focusing on ASTM International standards for the oil and gas industries and one for the nuclear sector. Olshefsky presented information about the relevant technical committees and high quality, market-relevant standards available in these subject areas.

A key theme presented was ASTM's direct participation model, which offers opportunities for significant technical collaboration. Other speakers addressed the use of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' codes in both the oil/gas and nuclear sectors, and the regulatory environment in the United States and Brazil.

Also while in Brazil, Olshefsky met with José Araruna and Maurício Frota, professors at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Rio de Janeiro. PUC was the first private university in the country, founded in 1940, now with more than 15,000 full-time students. Professor Frota helped to establish a graduate program in metrology for the university in 1996. The program, which includes a course about standards, aims to train professionals to a high level of technical and scientific competence to cope with the challenges arising from advances and sophistication of metrology.

Olshefsky shared information about the tools and resources available to support standardization education. PUC is a part of CAPES, the Brazilian national electronic library consortium for science and technology, which signed a multiyear renewal with ASTM in 2009.

For more information about ASTM's academic outreach activities, contact James Olshefsky, ASTM International (Phone: 610-832-9714; jolshefs@astm.org) or visit www.astm.org/campus.

James Olshefsky (center), ASTM, met with José Araruna (left) and Maurício Frota (right), professors at Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Rio de Janeiro.