A major one-day conference exploring the evolution of measurement will take place at the Mathematical Institute, Oxford, on Saturday 7 June 2025.
Measure for Measure: A History of Measurement is organised by the St Cross Centre for the History and Philosophy of Physics (HAPP) and will bring together leading experts to chart the development of measurement from antiquity to the present day.
The conference will trace the journey of measurement, beginning with ancient practices and progressing through the development of measuring instruments, the establishment of the metric system, and landmark experiments that have shaped our understanding of the world. The day will conclude with a philosophical discussion on the nature and significance of measurement in science and society.
Programme highlights
- James Vincent, author of Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement, will discuss “Ancient measures: from the body to the state”.
- Dr Jane Wess (Royal Geographical Society) will present on “A history of measuring instruments”.
- Professor Richard Brown (National Physical Laboratory) will explore “The measure of all things: the development of the metric system and the International System of Units”.
- Professor Hasok Chang (University of Cambridge) will address the challenges of “Measuring unobservables through the ages”.
- Dr Jo Wolff (University of Edinburgh) will consider the question “Can we be realists about measurement?”
The evening will feature an after-dinner talk by Dr Olivia Horsfall Turner, Chief Curator at the Royal Institute of British Architects, on the historical development of the golden ratio in architecture. Attendance is free, but advance booking is required for both in-person and online participation.
Book here.
