5 minute read
Hello, my name is Sam Flynn, and I work in the Radiotherapy and Radiation Dosimetry group at NPL. I’m currently on secondment to our Canadian counterparts in the Metrology Research Centre at the National Research Council (NRC), with the aim of deepening our understanding of each other’s work and exploring opportunities for collaboration. Catch up on my month three blog.
After a summer back in the UK, I returned to NRC in September with fresh ideas and renewed energy. It was great to reconnect with friends and family, but also to reflect with colleagues at NPL on how this secondment could bring tangible benefits to both institutions. These conversations helped ensure that my work here remains relevant and aligned with NPL’s priorities.
Now that I’m back in Ottawa, the focus is on putting some of those ideas into practice. While I won’t give away too many spoilers just yet of what I am working on, I can say that adapting NRC’s specialised procedures and equipment to suit NPL’s needs is a fascinating challenge and one that’s already sparking some creativity.
For the remainder of my secondment blogs, I’m launching a mini-interview series with key people at, or connected to, NRC, themed around what makes a great National Metrology Institute (NMI). The goal is to gather insights that we might reflect on and potentially implement back at NPL.
My first interviewee is Dr Frédéric Tessier, Group Leader, Ionizing Radiation Standards at NRC.
Photograph of me (left) with Dr Frédéric Tessier (right)
One of NRC’s standout contributions to the global dosimetry community is EGSnrc, an open-source Monte Carlo radiation transport code. Before becoming group leader, Frédéric spent many years developing and supporting EGSnrc. The software was originally created to model radiation detectors and calculate correction factors, but its precision and reliability have made it a widely adopted tool across the world, including at NPL.
By making EGSnrc freely available, NRC enables researchers and clinicians to better understand how radiation propagates, indirectly contributing to improved quality of care in Canada and beyond. As Frédéric put it:
“Open source creates a really fertile ground for cooperation and collaboration.”
The team here is deservedly proud of this achievement. It has also prompted me to reflect on how we approach software at NPL. Other groups have publicly shared tools in the past, but it’s not something I had previously considered in my own work. Publishing open source, even if it is just small analysis scripts that may save someone some time could build to something much larger, with benefit both for the UK and the wider scientific community.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this secondment has been the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and build connections across NRC. As Frédéric put it:
“Globally, we all benefit when we’re doing things that are similar.”
This sentiment really captures the spirit of cooperation between NMIs. While each institute has its own national responsibilities and operational constraints, the underlying scientific challenges of ensuring accurate, reliable measurement techniques are shared across borders. Loose alignment and independent approaches leads to very different skillsets and perspectives which contributes to a robust global metrology infrastructure. With different capabilities, there are many ideas for shared collaboration going forward.
Something Frédéric and I agreed on is that it is very refreshing that our international equivalents are not our competitors, there is a genuine sense of respect and shared commitment to advancing the field. Success at one institution is seen as a success for all, and there is a real willingness to celebrate each other’s achievements. Of course, there is always a bit of friendly rivalry, but it is rooted in admiration and a desire to learn from one another.
It was especially encouraging to hear Frédéric’s view of NPL:
“NPL has experts on the same playing field as the experts we have here.”
Finally, we touched on a challenge faced by NMIs around the world:
“Metrology has a double life: one is research and science; the other is calibration.”
Metrology may not always be in the spotlight, but the need to adapt and anticipate future demands is ever-present. In radiotherapy, for example, we must be ready to accurately measure the radiation delivered in emerging therapies to ensure patients receive the best possible care. Balancing the demands of today with the needs of tomorrow is no small task but it is one that both NRC and NPL are committed to navigating!
23 Oct 2025