NPL's Nick Ridler has been elected the new President of the Board of Directors of ARFTG - the Automatic RF Techniques Group. Nick becomes the first European to hold the post, with the majority of the other Board of Directors members coming from the United States of America.

ARFTG is a technical organisation interested in all aspects of RF (radio frequency), microwave and millimetre-wave test and measurement. These electromagnetic measurements are vital for industries such as telecommunications, aerospace, health, security and defence.

ARFTG was originally set up in 1972 to help end-users get the most from the latest generation of test and measurement equipment. It has been in continuous operation ever since, and today operates as a not-for-profit corporation affiliated with IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).

The main activities of ARFTG include:

• organising and delivering two international scientific conferences each year
• offering Student Fellowship financial sponsorships for research
• running training courses and education programmes
• organising workshop and user forum meetings

Nick's own research concentrates on measurements at millimetre and sub-millimetre wavelengths. as well as measurements of high-speed signals on printed circuit boards. His appointment as President of the ARFTG puts NPL in a leading position within the organisation and demonstrates the international reputation of NPL in the traceable measurement of electromagnetic parameters at RF and Microwave frequencies.

NPL's measurement scientists pass on their knowledge and experience to industry and end-users wherever possible to help remove measurement barriers to innovation. Along with industrial collaborations, consultancies and workshops, the membership of international bodies such as ARFTG is an extremely effective way of facilitating this knowledge exchange.

More on NPL's research on RF & Microwave

For more information, please contact Nick Ridler