Radar experts making waves

Engineering

More than 200 radar experts from around the world will attend an international conference hosted by the University of Adelaide this month, advancing South Australia's reputation as a world leader in radar and defence research.

Professor Bevan Bates from the University's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering will chair Radar 2008 from September 2-5, welcoming participants from over 20 different countries including from the United States, United Kingdom, China, France and Australia.

"This conference returns to Adelaide on a five year cycle and represents a major international gathering of radar systems experts. This year the theme of maritime surveillance reflects the importance of radar in maintaining the security of our island continent," Professor Bates said.

British airborne radar specialist Professor John Roulston will give the opening address on Wednesday 3 September at the Adelaide Hilton, providing a UK perspective of the post-war development of fighter radar in Europe.

Professor Roulston will discuss the wartime history of radar as well as the advances in technology in successive years and predictions for radar use in the future.

He is recognised as an international expert and a pioneer of the European thrust into airborne active array radars and has been made an Officer of the British Empire for his services to defence.

The Governor of South Australia, His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, will officially open the conference, highlighting the importance of defence to South Australia's economic base.

"Successive State governments have recognised this and fostered initiatives to grow our defence industry, including the development of radar," Rear Admiral Scarce said.

"South Australia is home to a national concentration of defence industries covering a broad spectrum, from naval ship and submarine design and construction, to research and development of advanced defence systems."

Other speakers include:

• Professor Simon Watts, Vice President and Deputy Scientific Director Thales UK Aerospace Division: "Sea Clutter: recent advances in research and future challenges"
  
• Dr Carl E. Baum, The University of New Mexico, USA: "Identification of Buried Unexploded Ordnance"
  
• Dr Stuart Anderson, DSTO, Australia: "Radar investigations of ocean surface geometry and dynamics"
  
• Professor Dennis Longstaff, University of Queensland: "New technologies and new techniques: radar developments in Australia"

Story by Candy Gibson