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Uni labs to further leading edge research

Brand new laboratory facilities worth over £600,000 have been unveiled by the School of Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences (CEIS) at Northumbria University this week. In collaboration with Agilent Technologies, suppliers of test and measurement equipment, the new labs will support research and teaching in the areas of Photonic and Radio-Frequency (RF), Microwave Communications and Microwave Holography. The new facilities were officially opened by Alan Duncan MP, Shadow Secretary of State and Shadow Minister for Tyneside.

The Photonic and RF research laboratory is the first Photonic laboratory of its kind in the North of England, and will showcase the latest design and measurement tools for research into new photonic networks. Photonics involves using light for high speed transfer of information, and its development will play a role in meeting the demand for access to high speed internet links.

Professor Alistair Sambell, Dean of the School of Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences, said: “The microwave imaging technology we now have will position Northumbria as one of the leading Universities in terms of facilities in this field. We are currently developing a microwave-based technique that can generate holographic high-quality images of hidden objects, such as breast cancer tumours, in our microwave imaging lab, and the new equipment may mean this method may reach the clinic trial stage sooner than we’d initially hoped. The technology is also very versatile and suited for use in other medical, security and industrial applications.”

Ueli Nussbaumer, European Geographic Business Manager at Agilent Technologies, said; “Agilent has a continuing strategy of supporting research and educational establishments across Europe. As a company we have the technology and measurement expertise necessary to facilitate the leading edge research being undertaken in universities like Northumbria. We are very pleased to be involved in this exciting project and look forward to supporting the research and teaching activities at Northumbria University with the very latest design, test and measurement equipment.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .