Honorary Speakers

Supachai Pathumnakul is Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), where he also serves as the ministry’s Chief Information Officer at both ministry and departmental level (MCIO/DCIO). He is the fourth person to hold the post since the ministry was established in 2019. His appointment was approved by the Cabinet on 6 August 2024, and he took up the position formally on 1 October 2024, succeeding Mr. Permsuk Sutchaphiwat.

Education
An industrial engineer by training, Professor Supachai holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Industrial Engineering (Second Class Honours) from Khon Kaen University, and both an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University, United States. He is an associate member (ภาคีสมาชิก) of the Royal Society of Thailand, Academy of Science, in the field of management technology.

Academic career
His academic base was the Faculty of Engineering, Khon Kaen University, where he rose to full professor and then into senior university management, serving as Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer and Director of the KKU Science Park, and subsequently as Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise.

His research and publications centre on industrial engineering and supply chain management. They include books on agricultural supply chains — among them work applying mathematical tools to the swine supply chain and a project on addressing volatility in the Thai pork market through supply chain management. His work also includes research on models for developing silk-industry clusters in Northeastern Thailand, and journal papers on facility layout, production scheduling to reduce peak electricity demand, and the use of genetic algorithms in optimisation.

Entry into the civil service
He transferred from university employment back into the civil service by royal command, taking up the post of Deputy Permanent Secretary of MHESI with effect from 27 January 2020, moving directly from the Vice President for Innovation and Enterprise role at Khon Kaen University. A news profile at the time described him as 49 years old and as a leading candidate for the permanent secretaryship.

As Deputy Permanent Secretary he became closely associated with higher-education reform. The Chair of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand publicly described him as a reformer with a strong command of the higher education system, citing in particular his work on the National Credit Bank policy, which opens access to learning and to new technologies for people at every stage of life. He was also a visible advocate of work-integrated and community-based learning schemes such as CWIE, U2T and Yuwachon Asa (Youth Volunteers).

As Permanent Secretary
His agenda as Permanent Secretary has emphasised lifelong learning, international quality standards, and the application of artificial intelligence across the higher education and research system.

In February 2025, shortly after taking office, he convened MHESI senior management in a workshop to set the ministry’s policy direction for higher education, research and innovation, positioning AI as a central mechanism for human capital development.

He has championed international accreditation of Thai engineering programmes. In October 2025 he announced that 14 engineering programmes across 8 Thai universities had achieved accreditation from the US Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), with a target of 28 accredited programmes in 2026.

He has also driven the ministry’s AI-in-education agenda, launching the THAI Academy – AI in Education initiative jointly with the Ministry of Education and Microsoft Thailand, supported by the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for General Education and Transferable Skills (GETS) in higher education institutions to strengthen twenty-first-century skills.

He remains active in the ministry’s research and community-engagement programmes — in June 2026, for example, he presided over the presentation of the Outstanding Social Engineer Community Development Awards at Thailand Research Expo 2026, recognising student innovation work across 38 Rajabhat universities. He also sits ex officio on the boards of MHESI agencies, including the Synchrotron Light Research Institute.

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Dr. Barbara Goldstein is the Associate Director of the Physical Measurement Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where she oversees one of the organization’s largest units, supporting measurement science for commercial, defense, and research applications. She also leads the “NIST on a Chip” program, which advances a new paradigm for precision measurement through deployable, quantum-based standards.

She plays an active role in international collaboration in quantum technologies, serving as Chair of IMEKO TC25 on quantum measurement and quantum information, and contributing to global standardization initiatives. With extensive experience in standards development and technology programs, she has led major efforts in areas such as e-commerce, the Internet of Things, and advanced manufacturing, supporting innovation and industry at scale.

This plenary presentation explores the development of quantum-enabled measurement systems and their role in shaping the future of metrology. It highlights advances in deployable, SI-traceable quantum technologies, including initiatives such as “NIST on a Chip,” which aim to bring precision measurement capabilities directly to end users. The talk will discuss how these innovations can transform measurement services by enhancing accessibility, reliability, and scalability. It will also consider the implications for quality infrastructure and international collaboration, particularly in supporting emerging industries and advanced technologies. The presentation provides a forward-looking perspective on integrating quantum measurement into practical applications and global metrology frameworks.

Frank Härtig studied mechanical engineering at the University of Karlsruhe in Germany, where he also obtained his PhD. For the first 10 years, he held senior positions in various companies. Since 1999, he has been working for the German metrology institute, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). Here, he gained extensive knowledge in various fields, ranging from fundamental research to the calibration of services. During this time, he was also awarded an honorary professorship. Today, Dr Härtig is Vice-President of the PTB. His wide-ranging responsibilities include membership of various organisations and committees, such as the Executive Committee of the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO), heading the PTB’s conformity assessment body, and coordinating the digital transformation in the field of digital metrological quality infrastructure both within and outside the PTB.

Digital quality infrastructure is becoming increasingly important and established in the field of metrology. As the highest metrological authority, the Metre Convention has therefore established the Forum on Metrology and Digitalisation (FORUM-MD) in order to develop the fundamental frameworks for the digital representation and digital dissemination of quantities. Within industry, these developments are already at a more advanced stage. For example, pre-normative documents already exist that enable metrological data and processes to be exchanged in a machine-actionable format. The documents in the ISO 170xx series form the primary basis for this. Applications in the field of intercomparisons and the validation of AI systems are presented as examples, demonstrating that these developments have taken hold in industry, amongst calibration service providers and at some metrology institutes.

Mr. Sho Tatsuno is the President and Chief Executive Officer of TATSUNO Corporation, a company specializing in energy infrastructure and fuel dispensing systems in Japan. He received his Master degree in Information Science at the University of Tokyo and MBA at the Columbia University. He is dedicated to lead to support energy distribution infrastructure and supply chain management. His company has developed modern fueling technology, including high-precision, ultra-durable metering components that enhance sustainable efficiency. He has also been actively involved in advancing practical low-carbon solutions, such as hydrogen dispensing system.

This plenary presentation addresses Japan’s efforts toward achieving a decarbonized and low-carbon society while ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply. It highlights the transition to diversified energy sources, expanding from conventional energy to incorporate emerging alternatives, including hydrogen and other low-carbon energy sources with efficiency. The talk will discuss key challenges in balancing energy security, sustainability, and technological innovation, as well as the necessity of inter-industry collaboration in driving this transition. The presentation offers insights into practical pathways for energy transition and the broader implications for global sustainability and industrial transformation.

Senri Tanida was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1972 and graduated from Saga University in 1997. After working at a major Japanese consulting firm, he joined TANITA Corporation in 2001. He served as a Director of TANITA Corporation of America, Inc. before becoming President & CEO in May 2008.

Under his leadership, TANITA, a leading manufacturer of body composition analyzers, published a massive bestselling cookbook featuring healthy recipes from its employee cafeteria. This success led to the launch of the "TANITA Shokudo" restaurant business and the "TANITA Health Program" for corporations and local governments. Through these initiatives, he successfully transformed TANITA from a company that "measures health" into a comprehensive health company that "creates health."

This keynote talk explores interactions and roles of sensor technologies and measurement solutions in advancing health products and effective health management. It highlights innovations in body composition analysis and health monitoring systems that support preventive healthcare and personalized wellness. The presentation will address the importance of accuracy, reliability, and user-centered design in developing health-related devices. By linking measurement technologies with health management strategies, the talk provides insights into how innovation can contribute to improved public health outcomes and sustainable healthcare systems.

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Sascha Eichstädt has led the department "Metrology for digital transformation" at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt since mid-2021. He earned his Diploma in Mathematics from Humboldt University Berlin (2008) and his PhD in Theoretical Physics from the Technical University Berlin (2012). A metrologist by passion since 2008, he began his career in PTB's mathematics group. In 2017, he embarked his journey into digital transformation of metrology and quality infrastructure. He chairs both the OIML Digitalisation Task Group (since 2022) and the IMEKO Technical Committee on Digitalisation (since 2021).

This talk explores the evolution of quality infrastructure from paper document-based processes to an integrated digital ecosystem. Based on examples from international collaborations such as the M4DT-IC CABUREK programme, the presentation discusses the journey from basic digitalisation to a full digital transformation. Key topics inlude digital calibration certificates (DCC), Digital Product Passport (DPP) and data spaces. Additionally, the talk examines the integration of artificial intelligence to build a trusted measurement framework for the future.

Dr Germaine Yong is a microbiome scientist with a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from University of California, San Francisco and a BS in Biology from Duke University. She is a Senior Scientist at A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), where her team studies how diet affects gut and metabolic health in Asians across health and life stages. Germaine was previously Lead Scientist at AMILI, Southeast Asia’s first and largest microbiome start up, where she developed microbiome-based measurement models and consumer solutions for precision health. Passionate about science communication, Germaine routinely gives public talks on the gut microbiome and has authored a kids comic book to help families and communities learn about the gut microbiome and healthy eating habits.

As healthcare advances from population-based strategies to precision health, the gut microbiome has emerged as a key measurable determinant of human health, diet and response to foods. It is increasingly linked to chronic disease risk, metabolic health, healthy ageing and the impact of food innovation. However, translating microbiome science into actionable clinical, regulatory and individual insights depends on granular, robust and longitudinal measurement frameworks. Key challenges include defining microbiome references, ensuring comparability across methods and geographies, and establishing reference materials and quality assurance systems that can support food safety, food security and health innovation. This talk will examine the growing role of metrology in microbiome, food and health, and outline future opportunities to integrate microbiome-based evidence into food innovation, precision health and personalised nutrition strategies.

Dr. Nicolas Spethmann obtained his PhD in 2012 at the University of Bonn and subsequently held a Marie Curie outgoing fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, performing research on tailored quantum systems at the quantum limit. Since 2019 he heads the Quantum Technology Competence Center (QTZ) at PTB, pursuing the transfer of quantum technology from laboratory into application with partners from industry and academia. He coordinates projects funded regionally, nationally and at European level, and contributes to standardization as a key aspect of building a quantum technology ecosystem, for instance as vice-chair of CEN-CENELEC’s Joint Technical Committee JTC 22 Quantum Technologies. He also serves on the steering committee of NMI-Q and chairs IMEKO’s TC25.

Quantum technologies are transitioning from fundamental research to applications and markets. This requires confidence in the properties and performance of quantum systems, and different implementations must be comparable on a rigorous scientific basis. Metrology provides both: by strengthening measurement capabilities, independent validation and standardization, it helps to turn laboratory demonstrations into reliable, user-friendly and reproducible quantum systems, and to build dependable supply chains — accelerating innovation and broadening the practical impact of quantum technologies across industries. On this basis, National Metrology Institutes can take a central role in supporting the emerging quantum innovation ecosystem. I will report on PTB’s activities in this field: characterization and test capabilities for quantum devices such as single-photon sources and ion traps, standardization work in CEN-CENELEC JTC 22 and IEC/ISO JTC 3, a growing range of joint projects with industry and academia, open test platforms and start-up incubation. Both the emerging global quantum market and metrology itself are inherently international, which makes collaboration essential. I will therefore discuss PTB’s contributions to the International Measurement Confederation IMEKO, in particular its Technical Committee TC 25 on Quantum Measurement and Quantum Information, and NMI-Q, a new international initiative of national metrology institutes to coordinate measurement best practice.

Nobu-Hisa Kaneko received his Ph.D. in condensed matter physics from Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, in 1997. After research at the National Research Institute for Inorganic Materials, Tsukuba, he joined Stanford University’s Department of Applied Physics in 1999 as a postdoctoral researcher and later worked as a physicist at SLAC. In 2003, he joined the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ), AIST. His work focuses on precision measurements and quantum electrical standards based on the quantum Hall effect, Josephson effect, and single-electron tunneling. He has held leadership positions in electricity and magnetism, including section chief, division head, group leader, principal researcher, and team leader at G-QuAT, AIST’s quantum-AI research initiative. Since 2026, he has been Senior Principal Researcher at G-QuAT and NMIJ. He is an NMI-Q Steering Committee member and belongs to IEEE, JSAP, and IEEJ. He was selected for Quantum 100 for UNESCO’s International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.

Quantum technologies are advancing from laboratory demonstrations to engineered systems that require reproducible measurements, qualified components, and internationally aligned standards. This talk introduces activities at AIST’s G-QuAT and NMIJ, linking NMIJ’s long-standing expertise in quantum electrical metrology with emerging needs in quantum computing, sensing, and enabling hardware. It first reviews quantum electrical standards, including quantum Hall, Josephson, and single-electron standards, as foundations for traceability and measurement confidence. It then presents the Quantum Hardware Component Testbed (Qubed), which evaluates key components and subsystems—cryogenic RF cables, non-magnetic components, optical and photonic components, control electronics, and packaging technologies—under relevant operating conditions. Finally, the talk discusses how component-level metrology supports system performance, reliability, supply chains, and service operation, and outlines AIST’s contributions to international pre-standardization and standardization through NMI-Q and ISO/IEC JTC 3.

Thorsten Schrader (SM’11) received the Dipl.-Ing. and Dr.-Ing. degrees in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, in 1992 and 1997, respectively.

In 1998, he was with the EMC Test Systems, L.P., Austin, TX (now ETS-Lindgren, Cedar Park, TX).

In 1999, Thorsten Schrader joined the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Braunschweig, Germany. In 2000 he served the Presidential Staff Office. In 2004 he became head of the working group “Electromagnetic Fields and Electromagnetic Compatibility”. From 2006 to 2011 he was responsible for the Working Group “Antenna Measuring Techniques”. Between 2005 and 2020 he directed the department “High Frequency and Electromagnetic Fields”. Since May 2020 he is head of the division “Mechanics and Acoustics”.

This plenary presentation offers contributions to the assessment of the functional safety of automated vehicles. Before such vehicles are type-approved and placed on the market, their general suitability for the planned operational design domain (ODD) should be assessed in a cost-effective manner. To avoid the need for millions of test kilometers and, in particular, to be able to test critical traffic scenarios adequately, virtual testing and scenario-based test bench runs will play an increasingly important role. The scenarios must be derived in an appropriate manner from accident data, critical near-misses and the requirements of the typical driving environment for each ODD. For type-approval, there will likely be a core set of scenarios; however, manufacturers will carry out much more extensive testing – including throughout the development process. The development of such a catalogue of requirements in collaboration with the regulatory authority and the policymaker, the technical services, the research community, and the manufacturers (OEMs), should provide guidelines for the safe introduction of automated vehicles. Virtual tests must be examined for plausibility; this means implementing the link between real-world driving physics and the digital virtual world with sufficient accuracy.

Vehicle development is already moving away from mechanical engineering-centred vehicles with countless control units towards a software-based approach (software-defined vehicle). This development of a connected system model, in conjunction with a digital twin of the driving platform, facilitates the early integration of testing and verification right from the development phase. Verification of the software stack for the driving function could then be carried out virtually at an early stage using software-in-the-loop (SIL) methods or as shadow mode on road. Software updates throughout the product lifecycle could likewise be validated and rolled out cost-effectively. Tests of the entire vehicle system, including the sensor set (particularly under adverse weather conditions, and in relation to ageing, contamination and mechanical effects), carried out on test benches, at proving grounds and in real-world road conditions, will ensure the safe operation of automated vehicles in the future.

Sivinee Sawatdiaree is Head of the Electrical Metrology Department at the National Institute of Metrology (Thailand), NIMT, and a physicist specialising in quantum-based electrical measurement standards. She holds a Dr. rer. nat. (doctor of natural science) in Theoretical Physics from the Universität Hannover, Germany, following doctoral research at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB).

A leading voice on Thailand's national quality infrastructure (NQI), she serves as Member and Secretary of the National Quality Infrastructure Program and advises national committees on quality infrastructure for competitiveness, and has testified before the Senate of Thailand on strengthening the country's QI. She also served as Secretary of the ASEAN Experts Group on Metrology and of the APMP Developing Economies' Committee, working to align measurement and conformity across the region in support of trade.

Trust used to come with a person attached. It does not any more. A claim about a product now has to cross a border on its own, be read by a system nobody introduced it to, and be checked in seconds. This keynote asks what has to travel with it.
The rules driving this did not begin as trade measures. A circular economy is a set of claims about a product, and a claim nobody can check is worth nothing. Worse, it drives out the producer who did the work. Europe, China, Japan and Korea are converging on the same requirement from four different motives, on dates that are already fixed.
What they ask for is not faster paperwork. A certificate sent as a document arrives at a border as a filename: no issuer to look up, no scope to check, no uncertainty to act on, no rule to apply. The talk sets out the four questions a machine asks before it accepts a certificate, and places each one in a different part of the quality infrastructure — metrology, standardisation, conformity assessment, and the accreditation that stands behind two of them. It also draws a distinction that is often lost. A digital product passport is not a digital quality infrastructure. The passport is the shop window; everything beneath it is what makes anything in the window true. A United Nations protocol for carrying all of this already exists, free to use and open to anyone.

Thailand is then taken as a worked example, because one country examined closely is worth more than a general answer. It has all four components, and a diagnosis of its own weaknesses that has not needed rewriting in a decade. What it lacks is the joins between them: no shared direction, no shared plan, no shared measures of success. The talk closes with five decisions that could be taken this year, none of which waits for new legislation.

Evidence travels only as far as the weakest join behind it, and not one border further.

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Woong Kang is the head of thermometry and fluid flow metrology group at KRISS. He received a Ph.D in mechanical engineering from KAIST, Korea in 2009. He joined the division of physical metrology of KRISS in 2011. His research interests are hydrogen flow metering, greenhouse gas flow measurement and natural gas flow measurement. He is currently working as APMP TCFF(Technical Committee of Fluid Flow) Chair since 2023.

As interest in developing eco-friendly cars grew due to global warming and air pollution problems, the Korean government has formulated and implemented various policies to build 3 million hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and 1,200 hydrogen refueling stations in the 2040 year according to the national roadmap for revitalizing the hydrogen economy. Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are typically refueled with a wide range of temperatures (-40 °C to 85 °C) and high pressure (up to 875 bar) in accordance with the worldwide accepted standard SAE 2601. The metrological and technical requirements stipulated in OIML R 139-1 and SAE J2601 should be followed, with a target accuracy of 2 - 4%. However, it is difficult to measure the flow rate accurately with conventional flow rate measurement methods. Currently, a mass flow meter (Coriolis-type) is used inside the hydrogen dispenser in the station, but the calibration of the flow meter for verification of measurement accuracy is carried out in the water as a different medium other than hydrogen, not high pressure when injecting hydrogen in Korea.

To develop the necessary methodologies and calibration facilities to allow hydrogen refueling stations, we have developed a KRISS Hydrogen Field Test Standard(HFTS). KRISS HFTS is based on the gravimetric principle with three 52 L pressure cylinder tanks (type IV) and a 300 kg-weighing system. In 2022, for the first time in Korea, an on-site test for field verifications and calibrations of the measurement accuracy was carried out at the Naepo hydrogen station located in Korea using KRISS HFTS. It was confirmed that the maximum allowable error in type evaluation on OIML R 139 was sufficiently satisfied from 2% to 4%. Since the first on-site test of hydrogen station in Korea from 2022, the KRISS HFTS has been used to select more stations in four regions in Korea and conduct verification tests.

Dr. Fernando Castro is the Head of Science at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), UK, where he leads Advanced Materials and Semiconductors. He is a recognized international expert in metrology, with extensive experience across academia, industry, and government.

His work focuses on emerging semiconductor materials and advanced measurement techniques, including nanoscale characterization, scanning probe microscopy, and optical spectroscopy. He also contributes to standardization, pre-standards research, and international coordination in advanced materials and semiconductor technologies.

He plays a leading role in shaping global metrology strategies and has contributed to major international research and policy initiatives. He holds several prominent international roles, including the Chair of the European Metrology Network on Advanced Manufacturing and leadership positions within VAMAS.

This keynote highlights the critical role of measurement science in advancing materials and semiconductor technologies that underpin modern industry. It will address the growing need for high-precision, traceable measurements to support the development, characterization, and quality assurance of advanced materials. The talk will explore challenges related to nanoscale measurement, standardisation, and reproducibility, particularly in the context of rapidly evolving semiconductor applications. It will also discuss the importance of international collaboration and coordinated research efforts in strengthening measurement capabilities. By enabling reliable and comparable data, metrology plays a key role in accelerating innovation, supporting industrial competitiveness, and ensuring the integrity of next-generation technologies.

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The talk by Heidi Goenaga-Infante will focus on the role of metrology in ensuring accurate, reliable, and comparable measurements for particle characterization. It will highlight advances in measurement science applied to complex particulate systems, including engineered nanomaterials, biological particles, and microplastics. The presentation is expected to address key challenges such as particle size, composition, and heterogeneity, as well as the development of standardized methods and reference materials to support data quality and regulatory needs across environmental, biomedical, and materials science applications.

Mr. Josiah Meng - is the sales manager for APAC of Additel corporation, who graduated from Clarkson University with a Master of Science degree in Aerodynamics. He has been working for Additel since 2015, involved in market research and R&D of many products and visited all countries in Asia Pacific. Josiah has a deep understanding and experience with calibration applications, especially for the Southeast Asian market. In addition, he has extensive experience with automated calibration solutions.

Introduces advanced technologies and concepts for modern temperature and pressure calibration by integrating high-accuracy reference instruments, automated control, network connectivity, and intelligent data-management software into a unified system. It covers the complete calibration workflow—from defining calibration points and controlling and monitoring system stability to acquiring and analyzing measurement data and automatically generating calibration reports. This integrated approach minimizes operator-related errors, improves process efficiency and consistency, and supports metrological traceability to the International System of Units (SI) and laboratory operations in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025.

Toru Miura is a principal scientist and head of the Reference Material Group at FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation, where he has worked since 2011. Prior to joining FUJIFILM Wako, he worked as a research chemist at the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ), focusing on the development of certified reference materials using quantitative NMR (qNMR).

He currently serves as a member of working groups of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia dealing with qNMR applications in herbal medicines and chemical pharmaceuticals. He is also a committee member of the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) K 0138 committee and qNMR-related Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) committees, as well as an invited expert on ISO/TC 34 (Food products) and the Japanese National Committee for ISO/TC 334 (Reference materials).

Since 2020, he has served as a member of the United States Pharmacopeia Expert Panel on qNMR, which is responsible for revising USP General Chapters.

ISO/IEC 17025 requires metrological traceability for analytical results, while ISO 17034 specifies competence requirements for producers of certified reference materials (CRMs). In organic analysis, the limited availability of primary standards and analyte-specific CRMs makes quantitative NMR (qNMR), using a chemically distinct internal standard, an effective tool for establishing metrological traceability. This presentation describes our contributions to qNMR standardization, our ISO 17034 flexible-scope accreditation for 1H and 19F qNMR value-assignment methods, and our CRM production activities. Since 2009, collaborative research with NMIJ and NIHS has enabled us to establish in-house qNMR capabilities and contribute to the development of qNMR documentary standards, the Japanese Pharmacopoeia, JIS K 0138, and ISO 24583. We obtained NITE accreditation for 1H qNMR in 2023 and for 19F qNMR in 2025, and now supply CRMs worldwide for pharmaceutical, food, environmental, and PFAS analyses.

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Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is a powerful technique for directly observing the electronic structure with energy- and momentum-resolved information. By experimentally detecting the electronic structure, the fundamental physics can be revealed. In this talk, I will discuss ARPES studies of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in transition metal oxides [1-3] and chalcogenides [4]. The focused quantum effects include negative electronic compressibility and the unique character of strongly correlated systems, specifically Mott-insulators, in the context of advancing battery electrode materials.

Keywords: 2D electrons; Quantum materials; Electronic structure; ARPES; Energy storage

Kenenth Grattan graduated in physics from Queen's University Belfast, followed by a PhD in laser physics. He joined City University London in 1983 and was appointed George Daniels Professor of Scientific Instrumentation in 2013 and to a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in 2014. His research interests include the development and use of fibre optic and optical systems in the measurement of a range of physical and chemical parameters.

He was elected President of the International Measurement Confederation (IMEKO) in 2014, serving from 2015 to 2018. He was elected to the Royal Academy of Engineering, the UK National Academy of Engineering, in 2008. He was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle in November 2018.

He is internationally acknowledged for his influential research contributions over more than four decades to the creation and use of innovative photonic and optical fibre measurement, sensor and instrumentation techniques, on both the microscopic and macroscopic levels, creating impact through their exploitation with industry and end-users in the UK and abroad.

Professor Grattan had been Deputy Editor of the Journal Measurement Science and Technology for several years and currently serves on the Editorial Board of several major journals in his field in the USA and Europe. From 2001 to 2017, he was Editor of the IMEKO Journal Measurement and also serves on their General Council. He has been appointed Editor-in-Chief of the journal Measurement: Sensors in 2019 and is now Editor Emeritus.

Professor Grattan is the author and co-author of over nine hundred refereed publications in major international journals and a similar number at conferences and is the co-editor (with Professor B T Meggitt) of a five-volume topical series on optical fiber sensor technology. His work is highly cited by his peers nationally and internationally.

This paper provides an overview of a number of optical fiber-based methods for industrial thermometry, in particular focusing on the optimum way to make the choice across two of the most popular approaches used by industry, fluorescence-based and Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG)-based methods. The aim is to set out the key criteria in making the best choice, given not only the range of factors seen in different industries but also how the different approaches to better fiber optic-based measurement compare in terms of key parameters such as their best operational range, issues around the fabrication of the sensor and its ‘packaging’ for the environment in which it is used, the ability to multiplex the sensors along a single fiber network, the ‘cross-talk’ issues due to extraneous parameters such as strain or pressure and the ease with which the sensor data can be extracted and compared to the calibration. Finally issues of stability are addressed and several ‘case studies’ referenced.

Keywords: Optical fiber sensor systems, fiber optic thermometry, Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG-based thermometry, luminescent thermometry, industrial applications of fiber optic thermometry.

Dr. Yothin Chimupala is a faculty member in the Department of Industrial Chemistry and Manager of Advanced Scientific Instruments Unit, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. He received his PhD in Chemical and Process Engineering from the University of Leeds, UK, in 2016. His research focuses on TiO₂ and ZnO photocatalysts, phase transformation and modification of TiO₂(B), porous carbon materials, Metal-organic frameworks(MOF), electrocatalysts for hydrogen production, and advanced materials for energy and environmental applications. He has also contributed to the scale-up production of advanced materials. His achievements include the Outstanding Young Researcher Award from the Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, in 2024, along with several research publications and presentation awards.

TiO₂(B), or bronze-phase TiO₂, is a metastable polymorph of titanium dioxide that is difficult to obtain in pure form and is rarely found in nature. Its distinctive open crystal structure, containing large channels and voids, makes TiO₂(B) particularly attractive for photocatalytic applications and as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. This work explores the synthesis and phase-formation mechanisms of TiO₂(B) using both hydrothermal and low-pressure chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD) approaches.

Hydrothermal synthesis was first employed to produce TiO₂(B) nanorods through the transformation of sodium titanate intermediates. Detailed characterisation of products at different reaction stages using powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and Electron microscopy enabled an integrated mechanism for TiO₂(B) formation to be proposed. These findings highlighted the important role of Na⁺ ions in directing structural transformation toward the TiO₂(B) phase.

Building on this understanding, mixed-phase TiO₂(B)/anatase thin films were successfully deposited on soda-lime glass by Chemical Vapor Deposition(CVD). Surface pre-treatment with Na⁺-containing solutions was subsequently developed to promote TiO₂(B) formation on a wider range of substrates, including silicon, fused quartz, and carbon-based materials. Comparative studies of Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ revealed that Na⁺ most effectively promotes TiO₂(B) formation, while K⁺ has a limited effect and Li⁺ does not induce the phase. A phase-formation mechanism involving alkali-metal migration and intermediate titanate formation is proposed, providing new insight into the controlled synthesis of TiO₂(B)-containing nanostructures and thin films.

I am a researcher in materials science and engineering, with an educational background in atomic-scale materials characterization. I have over 10 years of experience in in-depth physical and chemical characterization, focused on understanding the relationships between structure, properties, and performance across a range of materials, including sensing materials, functional materials, and metal composites. My current research focuses on green materials for environmental applications, particularly environmental monitoring and remediation, aiming to translate fundamental materials understanding into practical, sustainable solutions.

Environmental contamination by heavy metals and pesticides in surface water and agricultural produce poses persistent risks to ecosystems and public health, particularly across agriculture-intensive regions. Conventional laboratory techniques such as ICP-MS and chromatography, while highly accurate, are constrained by high instrumentation cost, long turnaround time, and limited field deployability. Electrochemical sensing built on low-cost screen-printed electrodes offers a practical alternative for on-site environmental surveillance, combining sensitivity, affordability, and portability. This presentation surveys the development of three complementary electrochemical sensor platforms for environmental pollution monitoring, spanning both pesticide and heavy metal contaminants.

For pesticide screening, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme sensors were developed on modified screen-printed electrodes for the detection of chlorpyrifos, exploiting the enzyme's inhibition response to organophosphate exposure. While effective and highly sensitive, enzyme-based sensors face inherent limitations in long-term stability and storage requirements. To overcome these constraints, molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensors were developed as a more robust and cost-effective alternative, targeting a broader panel of pesticides including organophosphate, carbamate, pyrethroid, and herbicide compounds, with functionality tailored through molecular imprinting of the target analytes. For heavy metal surveillance, disposable three-electrode screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) sensors were developed for arsenic, cadmium, and lead, each optimized through distinct surface modification strategies to enhance selectivity and sensitivity toward its respective target ions.

Across all three platforms, sensor performance was evaluated in both laboratory-prepared standards and real environmental samples, including natural water sources and agricultural produce, demonstrating their suitability for field-based screening applications. Together, these developments illustrate a coherent progression in electrochemical sensor design, from enzymatic to synthetic recognition elements to nanomaterial-modified electrodes, as scalable, field-deployable tools for environmental pollution surveillance, supporting water quality management and food safety screening in agricultural regions.