About

The aim of this blog is to comment on, report interesting items on plasma physics and its application.  I will try to post daily and try to be topical.  But, I will spend some time thinking about what is in the news rather than just pass on dubious items or claims. Hope this is of some value to you.

Currently, I am CEO of Impedans.  Impedans is a sensor company in the area of plasma measurement with relationship to equipment for semiconductor, solar, flat panel, medical devices and research.

In the past I was Theme Leader at Dublin City University, working on foresight and strategy. Key themes – Sustainable Energy and Intelligent/Precision Manufacture. I reported directly to the President of DCU. I was principle investigator (PI) on the Science Foundations Ireland (SFI) funded research cluster at DCU, Precision. I was a founding director of the plasma research group at DCU, now the National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology. I was the founding chairman of the Chemical and Physical Sciences Committee of the Royal Irish Academy.

Before being an academic I worked for 11 years as a Meteorologist for Met Éireann. I also worked in research and teaching at the University of Ulster and DCU.  I was a founder and chairman of Plasma Ireland in 1993, the technology was sold to Dow Corning in 1999.  I was also founder and CEO of Scientific Systems Ltd in 1998. This company won the Irish Innovation Award in 2000 and was sold to Lam Research (LRCX) in 2008. I was a Research Fellow at Ecole Polytechnique, Paris and UCLA, Berkley.

I am interested in Plasma Physics and applications. I look to support innovation. I have campaigned for change in Ireland to promote innovation. I have adviced start-ups and I have invested in a number of start ups. I have a political opinion especially on issue that effect science and business.

Current portfolio  Impedans, Qualflow, Simpitiko

On a personal level, I like to walk, run and swim, I am a solo nerd really. I plan to do the Dublin Marathon in October 2018.   I play traditional Irish music mainly on the concertina.  I have an attachment to this instrument as it was invented by Wheatstone a British physicist.

Please follow me and make comments, ask questions. I get a bit more time now as I get older and try and slow down. //