The Gas Analysis and Sensing Group (GASG)

The Gas Analysis and Sensing Group (GASG) is a technology association that brings together users, manufacturers, R&D organisations and academia to discuss all forms of gas and particulate sensors, detectors, monitors and analysers, their instrumentation including signal processing, and their applications. GASG’s purpose is to stimulate research and further the development and application of gas sensing techniques. It has been an important factor in ensuring that the strong UK gas detection community remains at the forefront of technology.

The history of GASG can be traced back to 1993, when the government Department of Trade and Industry assisted in the formation of several ‘Interest Groups’ through its Advanced Sensor Technology Transfer Programme scheme.  GASG was one of the original groups and convened its inaugural meeting in December of that year.  Joe Watson of Swansea University (now GASG President) was elected Chairman of the Group together with a small committee. It is one of only two such interest groups that still exist today.

In 2015 GASG became a non-profit-making company limited by guarantee, managed by the Board of Directors and supported by the secretariat. GASG is self-funded by membership subscriptions and fees for attendance at colloquia, the latter being subsidised for members. The membership includes representatives from academic, government and private organisations focusing on gas sensing, monitoring and analysis; and gas sensor and equipment manufacturers, primarily in the UK. GASG also welcomes overseas membership and maintains contact with organisations in other European countries, USA and Japan. Various types of membership are available, see our website http://www.gasg.info/membership/membership-sign-up/ or contact admin@gasg.info

GASG holds one-day meetings (colloquia) three times per year in spring, summer and winter (December). The December colloquium is our flagship event, takes place in central London, and incorporates the Annual General Meeting.  Other colloquia may be hosted by organisations that provide tours of their facilities. In 2016 we introduced an Early Career Forum as an opportunity for students, graduates and post docs to give short talks (about 10 minutes) or posters on their work. This, combined with a plenary lecture given by an invited speaker, provides an excellent opportunity to hear about and present the latest research, with opportunities for members to use this event for recruitment. A feature of all our meetings is that they provide extensive networking opportunities in stimulating environments. Both a Newsletter and Proceedings are distributed to members after each colloquium, and presentations are archived on the members’ section of our website. Our spring meeting, held on 15th March 2018 at the Royal Society Kavli International Centre, Chicheley Hall,  was an Early Career Forum and our 70th colloquium in our 25th year. 

Our next summer meeting will be on 21st June 2018 at the Open University, Milton Keynes, with the theme “New ideas in gas detection”. 

GASG Directors:

Joe Watson (President); Jane Hodgkinson (Chair), Cranfield University; Peter Walsh (Vice Chair), formerly HSE; Richard Chambers (Publications Director), City Technology; Christopher Holmes (IT Director), University of Southampton; Thierry Maffeis (Membership Director), Swansea University; Kevin Brown, DD Scientific Ltd; Jonathan Gilby, HH60 Consultants Ltd; Adrian King, AWE Plc; Norman Ratcliffe, University of the West of England; Laura Roberts, PPM Technology; John Saffell, Alphasense.

Company Secretary:  Dave Curtis, DRC Consultancy Services.