Appendix C The Institute of Measurement and Control Role and objectives The science of measurement is very old and has advanced steadily in the precision with which measurements may be made and by the variety and sophistication of the methods available. in the last century the rate of advance was very rapid, stimulated in particular by the needs of industry. Con- trol engineering has a much more recent origin: with the advent of the complex requirements, such as those of the process and aerospace industries, there has been a veritable explosion of new theory and application during the last 50 years. in this period there has been a correspondingly rapid increase in the number of people working in these fields. The theory and application of measurement and control characteristically require a multidisciplinary approach and To further its objects the institute acts as a qualifying body, conferring membership only on those whose quali- fications comply with the institute's standards. it acts as a learned society by disseminating and advancing the knowl- edge of measurement and control and its application at all levels. it is the academic and professional body for the pro- fession, requiring members to observe a code of conduct. HistoRy Like many professional bodies, the institute of Measure- ment and Control arose through the need for a group of like- minded people to meet and exchange ideas. They first met