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Matthew Griffin

Professor Matthew Griffin

Head of Astronomy Instrumentation Group
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology (Co-Director)

School of Physics and Astronomy

Email
GriffinMJ@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29208 74203
Campuses
Queen's Buildings - North Building, Room N3.15, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
Comment
Media commentator

Overview

I am a member (and currently Head) of the Astronomy Instrumentation Group, with many years experience in far infrared and submillimetre astronomy and instrumentation, both ground-based and space-borne.

Publication

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

  • Church, S. E., Price, M. C., Griffin, M. J., Ade, P. A. R., Emery, R. J. and Swinyard, B. M. 1992. Non-linear effects in doped-germanium photoconductors for the ISO long wavelength spectrometer. Presented at: ESA Symposium on photon detectors for space instrumentation: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands, 10-12 November 1992 Presented at Guyenne, T. D. and Hunt, J. J. eds.Proceedings of an ESA Symposium on photon detectors for space instrumentation. ESA SP Vol. 356. Paris, France: European Space Agency pp. 261-264.
  • Padman, R. et al. 1992. A dual-polarization InSb receiver for 461/492 GHz. International Journal of Infrared and Millimetre Waves 13(10), pp. 1487-1513. (10.1007/BF01009232)
  • Price, M. C., Griffin, M. J., Church, S. E., Murray, A. G. and Ade, P. A. R. 1992. Ionising radiation-induced effects in doped germanium FIR photoconductors. Presented at: ESA Symposium on photon detectors for space instrumentation: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands, 10-12 November 1992 Presented at Guyenne, T. D. and Hunt, J. J. eds.Proceedings of an ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 10- 12 November 1992. ESA. SP Paris, France: European Space Agency pp. 309-312.
  • Murray, A. G., Griffin, M. J., Ade, P. A. R., Leotin, J., Meny, C. and Sirmain, G. 1992. Optimisation of FIR photoconductors for atmospheric spectroscopy. Presented at: ESA Symposium on photon detectors for space instrumentation: ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands, 10-12 November 1992 Presented at Guyenne, T. and Hunt, J. eds.Proceedings of an ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 10- 12 November 1992. ESA. SP Vol. 356. Paris, France: European Space Agency pp. 159-163.
  • Engemann, D. et al. 1992. Extrinsic photoconductor detectors for the wavelength range 2 microns to 240 microns. Presented at: ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 10- 12 November 1992 Presented at Guyenne, T. D. and Hunt, J. J. eds.Proceedings of an ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 10- 12 November 1992. ESA SP Vol. 356. Paris, France: European Space Agency pp. 389-392.
  • Church, S. E., Griffin, M. J., Ade, P. A. R., Price, M. C., Emery, R. J. and Swinyard, B. M. 1992. Performance testing of doped-germanium photoconductors for the ISO long wavelength spectrometer. Presented at: ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 10- 12 November 1992 Presented at Guyenne, T. D. and Hunt, J. J. eds.Proceedings of an ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 10- 12 November 1992. ESA SP Vol. 356. Paris, France: European Space Agency pp. 255-260.

1990

1989

1988

1987

  • Hepburn, I. D., Ade, P. A. R., Griffin, M. J., Holland, W. S., Culhane, J. L., Kessel, R. and Walton, D. M. 1987. Development of X-ray calorimetric detectors and data processing techniques at London University. Presented at: Low Temperature Detectors for Neutrinos and Dark Matter, Ringberg Castle, Tegernsee, May 12–13, 1987 Presented at Pretzl, K., Schmitz, N. and Stodolsky, L. eds.Low Temperature Detectors for Neutrinos and Dark Matter Proceedings of a Workshop, Held at Ringberg Castle, Tegernsee, May 12–13, 1987. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag

1986

1985

1984

1983

Articles

Book sections

  • Griffin, M. J. and Ade, P. A. R. 2010. Narrow-band imaging by use of interferometers. In: Huber, M. C. E. et al. eds. Observing Photons in Space. ISSI Scientific Report Vol. SR-009. Noordwijk, the Netherlands: ESA Communications Productions, pp. 313-326.
  • Bernard, J. et al. 2007. PILOT: measuring polarization in the interstellar medium. In: Miville-Deschênes, M. and Boulanger, F. eds. Sky Polarisation at Far-Infrared to Radio Wavelengths: The Galactic Screen before the Cosmic Microwave Background. EAS Publications Series Vol. 23. European Astronomical Society, pp. 189-203., (10.1051/eas:2007012)

Conferences

Monographs

Research

Far infrared and submillimetre astronomy and instrumentation, especially developing technology and instruments for both ground-based and satellite-borne observatories.

Recent and present activities include:

  • Principal Investigator for the Herschel-SPIRE instrument
  • Coordinator of the SPACEKIDS European Union FP-7 project
  • Co-I on FP-7 projects HELP (Herschel-related extragalactic astronomy) and FISICA (FIR interferometry technology development)
  • Member of the SPICA collaboration and of the ESA SPICA Science Study Team. SPICA was studied by ESA and the Japanese space agency JAXA, for study as a candidate for the ESA M5 mission, but not selected
  • UK Co-PI for the ARIEL exoplanet characterisation mission, adopted by ESA as its M4 mission, with launch envisaged in 2029

Teaching

I am currently module organiser for the first-year core course "Electricity, Magnetism, and Waves". In recent years I have also taught "The Physics of Semiconductor Devices", "Electromagnetic Radiation Detection", "The Sun and Stars" and "Instrumentation for Astronomy".

Biography

I studied Electrical Engineering at University College Dublin, graduating in 1976, after which I worked in industry before doing an MSc in Astrophsyics and subsequently a PhD in Astrophysics at Queen Mary College London, graduating in 1985. I remained at Queen Mary until 2001, when I joined the Astronomy Instrumentation Group at Cardiff University.

Honours and awards

  • Royal Astronomical Society Group Achievement Award: SCUBA Team, 2009
  • Arthur C Clarke Individual Achievement Award, UK Space Conference, 2010
  • French Association for Aeronautics and Astronautics Grand Prix award to Herschel/Planck Team, 2010
  • Royal Astronomical Society Jackson-Gwilt medal, 2011
  • Arthur C Clarke Academic Study/Research Achievement Award: Herschel-SPIRE Team, UK Space Conference, 2013
  • Royal Astronomical Society, Group Achievement Award: Herschel-SPIRE Team, 2014
  • Honorary Doctorate (Docteur Honoris Causa), Université Aix-Marseille, 2018

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Institute of Physics
  • Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales
  • Member of the Royal Astronomical Society

Academic positions

1989 - 2000  Lecturer/Reader/Professor in the Department of Physics, Queen Mary, University of London

I was Head of the Cardiff School of Physics and Astronomy between 2014 and 2018.

Committees and reviewing

Currently:

  • Member of the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) Physics sub-panel
  • Member of the European Space Agency (ESA) Space Science Advisory Committee (SSAC)
  • Member of SRON, Netherlands, Science Advisory Committee
  • Chair of the UK Space Agency (UKSA) Athena Programme Management Board
  • Member of the UKSA Space Programme Advisory Committee (SPAC)
  • Member of the Research Councils' Individual Merit Promotion (IMP) Scheme Panel
  • Editorial Board for the Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation
  • Member of the Learned Society of Wales Fellowship Panel

Previously I have served on many RCUK peer review and policy-making committees, including the JCMT Board (as chair), STFC Science Board (as chair), the European Space Agency Science Programme Committee (UK delegate), and on European panels including the European Space Science Advisory Committee and the European Union FP-7 Science Advisory Group. I have also served on several national and international research evaluation panels including for Universities and agencies in France, Sweden, Ireland, and the USA.