ASTM International members, staff, and partners are always engaged in efforts to build bridges across the globe. Each month, Standardization News provides updates on just some of those efforts, from memorandum of understanding (MoU) partnerships to exchanges and educational programming. Here are some of the latest events from our May/June 2024 issue.

ASTM Signs MoU with Federation of International Hemp Organizations

ASTM International recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with FIHO - Federation of International Hemp Organizations.

The agreement was signed at ASTM’s Brussels office by Frederic Vallier, FIHO’s secretary general, and Sara Gobbi, ASTM International’s director of European affairs.

The purpose of the MoU is to outline a framework of cooperation between ASTM and FIHO for the development of standards for industrial hemp.

Frederic Vallier (left), secretary general, Federation of International Hemp Organizations, and Sara Gobbi, ASTM’s director of European affairs, sign the MoU at ASTM’s Brussels office.

ASTM Staff Participates in UN Commission of Women Event

Alyson Fick, technical committee manager, ASTM International, and Emmanuel Escoto, global cooperation manager, ASTM, attended the 68th United Nations Commission of Women event: “Power with Full Force: Getting Gender Equality in the Hydropower Sector” organized by the World Bank.

Fick had the opportunity to introduce ASTM’s inclusive standards-development process, including standards on energy, and asked the panel how we could attract organizations to bring more women to add their voices to ASTM’s standards-development process.

At the end of the event, Fick had the opportunity to discuss ASTM’s standards on biofuels with the following World Bank representatives: Elín Hallgrímsdóttir, senior geothermal specialist (middle in group photo), and H. Stephen Halloway, senior advisor, as well as Nina Kolybashkina, senior social development specialist at Climate Investment Funds.

ASTM and the World Bank/IFC - International Finance Corporation previously collaborated on capacity-building programs with ASTM’s Memorandum of Understanding partners in Jordan and Viet Nam on the topic of personal protective equipment standards.

Alyson Fick (left), technical committee manager, ASTM, attended the 68th United Nations Commission of Women event, “Power with Full Force: Getting Gender Equality in the Hydropower Sector,” organized by the World Bank. Fick was joined by Emmanuel Escoto (not pictured), manager, global cooperation, ASTM.  

ASTM International Welcomes Visitors from Saudi Standards Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO)

April 17 marked the beginning of ASTM International’s four-week attachment program for two visitors from the Saudi Standards Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO).

Two attachments, Eng. Mshari Al-Salah (left) and Rakan Alharthi (third from left) were greeted by Cesar Constantino, past chair, ASTM board of directors (second from left), and Amer Bin Ahmed, current vice chair of the board (right).

Participants in the attachment program learn about the history of ASTM and its standards-development process during their time at ASTM headquarters in West Conshohocken, PA. 

ASTM Hosts Webinar for MoU Partners and Stakeholders in Africa

In early April, as part of ASTM International’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) efforts aimed at creating an inclusive environment in our technical committees, Maria Jiverage, manager for global cooperation, and training, and Alyson Fick, staff manager and member of ASTM’s DEIB Council, hosted a webinar titled “MoU Member Onboarding and Engagement” for ASTM MoU partners and stakeholders in Africa.

Over 70 members of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) attended the event, including senior leadership of the national standard bodies of several African countries.