The Gas Analysis and Sensing Group – Celebrating 30 Years!

2023 marks 30 years since the inauguration of the UK Gas Analysis and Sensing Group (GASG). To recognise this significant milestone, a celebration will take place at our 85th Colloquium, to be held at Crowcon's premises in Abingdon, Oxfordshire on 15th June. The meeting will feature a wide range of experts in fields including safety, air quality and VOC analysis who will provide retrospectives of the last 3 decades and insights into what we may expect in the next 30 years. We also plan a look at the needs driven by ongoing transitions in the energy market, which has been a mainstay of much of our members’ work throughout the history of the organisation. Our hosts have kindly offered tours of their impressive facilities, so this promises to be an interesting and enjoyable day.

More details will be available on the website as we finalise the programme.

GASG Chair, Jane Hodgkinson, said ‘The GASG has a long history of providing a unique forum in which gas detection specialists from academic, commercial, regulatory and applications backgrounds can meet to share information and learn about new and important developments in the field. Our recent Early Careers Meeting, which featured 10 researchers presenting innovative projects as well as an internationally renowned plenary speaker was an excellent example of our ability to cover a wide range of topics of interest to those in this vibrant field. We are already planning meetings covering subjects such as Air Quality, The Hydrogen Economy and Materials For Gas Detection, so our future programme promises to be both relevant and informative.

Vice-Chair Peter Walsh commented ‘Yes, I was there at the beginning, representing the HSE, along with Joe Watson who was the driving force behind launching GASG. 30 years and 85 meetings later we’re still going strong. What has appealed to me over this period is the sheer breadth of our coverage of all things gas sensing – and aspects of particle sensing too. During those meetings, more than 500 presentations would seem to have addressed almost every conceivable aspect. But we continually find new and exciting areas for focus as the science, technology and applications evolve. That’s why we’re looking forward to the next 30 years.

The diversity of themes and presentations at our meetings engenders lively discussion, both with the expert presenters and more widely among attendees in the networking intervals. The GASG strives to foster this convivial environment which generates both ideas and contacts. I hope it has helped our members and will long continue to do so.

Please put this date into your diaries and we look forward to seeing you there as we celebrate our 30th birthday!’