ASTM International, one of the world’s largest standards developing organizations, is accepting papers for the 2008 ASTM Advantage Award, a paper competition with prizes up to $15,000. The award is an opportunity for the users of ASTM International standards worldwide to convey the positive outcomes of utilizing an ASTM standard or a group of ASTM standards.

The governments of the United States, Brazil and the European Union (EU)—the world’s major producers of biofuels—today released an analysis of current biofuel specifications with the goal of facilitating expanded trade of these renewable energy sources. Spurred by increased market demands, this report was solicited by the U.S. and Brazilian governments and the European Commission (EC) on behalf of the EU, with the work conducted by an international group of fuel standards experts.

ASTM International training courses in the area of petroleum standardization are offered in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Middle East and Asia. Since 2003, the Arabian Fuels Technology Center has been presenting “Aviation Fuels: Specifications and Test Methods” and “Transportation Fuels Technology: Gasoline, Diesel and Aviation Fuels” to interested participants throughout the region.

On Sept. 24, 2007, ASTM International (ASTM) will hold an organizational meeting for a new standards development activity on Home Inspection Services. The meeting will take place at ASTM Headquarters in West Conshohocken, Pa. (see http://www.astm.org/MEETINGS/directions.htm for directions and http://www.astm.org/MEETINGS/hotels.htm for accommodations). The meeting will commence at 9 a.m. and adjourn at approximately 4 p.m. NOTE: There is no fee to attend this meeting.

Children put pencils to paper and put their imaginations to work again this summer to participate in the MacKenzie Park T-Shirt Design Contest sponsored by ASTM International. The children are part of a summer park program located near ASTM International Headquarters in West Conshohocken, Pa.

This year’s winners were announced on August 10 at MacKenzie Park. First and second place winners in the following categories were: (3- to 7-year-olds) Bryanna Phillips, Brett Leflar; (8-  to 10-year-olds) Amanda Phillips, Christina Walski; and (11 and up) Chris Ryan, Michele Hodges.

ASTM International, one of the world's largest standards developing organizations, has announced the promotions of three senior level staff members.  The new appointments will go into effect on July 16, 2007. 

The national standards body of Russia signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ASTM International on April 4. The agreement was signed by Grigory I. Elkin, head of the Russian Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology (GOST R), and James A. Thomas, president, ASTM International, during a meeting between the two executives at the Russian Federal Agency’s headquarters in Moscow.
 

ASTM International, one of the world’s largest standards developing organizations, has initiated the ASTM International 2007 Advantage Award, a case study competition with prizes up to $25,000. The award is an opportunity for the users of ASTM standards worldwide to convey the positive outcomes of an ASTM International standard or a group of ASTM International standards.

ASTM International conducted its first campus visit of the year at the University of California, Irvine, on Jan. 31, 2007.  ASTM has marked 2007 as the Year of the Student in an effort to build greater awareness of standardization among students and educators worldwide.  This latest event was coordinated in conjunction with the ASTM standards development meetings held in Anaheim, Calif. the same week. 

STP 1474, Skiing Trauma and Safety:  Sixteenth Volume, is now available from ASTM International.  STP 1474 contains ten peer-reviewed papers that provide the latest information on winter sports safety.  Topics covered in the publication include: