The Duke of York visits the National Physical Laboratory
Butterworth in NPL's Reverberation Chamber
HRH The Duke of York, KG visited the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in Teddington on Monday 25 February 2013 to see our latest research and find out about its impact on UK society and the economy.
On arrival His Royal Highness was met by Sir Peter Williams, NPL's Chairman, and was briefed on NPL's historic achievements, including work on radar, the world's first Automatic Computing Engine and the first working atomic clock. The Duke was then taken on a laboratory tour to see the latest research being carried out at NPL, and the impact that it is having on business and quality of life.
The tour, led by NPL's Managing Director, Dr Brian Bowsher, began with a look at some of NPL's Climate Change research, which includes a proposed satellite mission called 'TRUTHS', and the world's most accurate clock, the caesium fountain, which will only lose or gain one second over 138 million years. His Royal Highness then saw NPL's quantum technologies, which includes work on the 'wonder-material' graphene. The Duke of York also visited NPL's Microwave Antenna facility and the clinical linear accelerator (linac), which provides accurate measurements for radiotherapy used to treat cancer patients. The final stages of the tour took in the surface and nanoanalysis laboratories and the hemi-anechoic and reverberation chambers, used for NPL's work in acoustics.
After the tour, a presentation was made on NPL's education and outreach programme and the role that NPL plays in promoting science and engineering to the next generation. His Royal Highness was visiting NPL as part of his work to promote and support the British science and engineering sectors.
NPL's Microwave Antenna facility
Brian Bowsher, NPL Managing Director, said:
"It was a great honour to be able to show The Duke of York some of the outstanding work going on at NPL, especially at a time when investment in science and technology is vital for strengthening the UK economy. He showed great interest in our research and knowledge of the technical challenges we are working to overcome in areas such as graphene and nanotechnology. His Royal Highness was particularly supportive of our work to support SMEs and to grow our business internationally."