STANDARDS FOR SURFACE-ANALYSIS - A CLASH BETWEEN BUREAUCRACY AND SCIENCE

Scientists at the frontiers of research are often disturbed by the thr eat that they themselves may have to conform to standards or that they may have to use standards which curtail their freedom of action. Henc e the perceived 'clash' of the title. It is important to recognize tha t there are two main classes of standards: (i) reference standards, wi th traceability to the SI system of measurement; and (ii) documentary standards, established through approved bodies with due consultation w ith relevant experts. In the first class of standard, it is clear that very few measurements can be meaningfully transferred from laboratory to laboratory without a degree of traceability. Furthermore, as the t raceability increases, the value of networking increases and cooperati ve activity becomes more constructive. The value of traceability will be illustrated by developments in electron spectroscopy which make dat a-basing activities very powerful and which allow crucial tests of the ory. In the second class, standards are now being established through ISO. Properly constituted, two aspects deserve discussion. Firstly, do cumentary standards may embody a distillation of our expertise which m ay reach a far greater body of users than most other written articles and, secondly, these standards enable us to do our own research more e ffectively.