Skip to main content
Matthew Griffin

Professor Matthew Griffin

Comment
Media commentator

Teams and roles for Matthew Griffin

Overview

I am an emeritus member (and formerly Head) of the Astronomy Instrumentation Group, with many years experience in far infrared and submillimetre astronomy and instrumentation, both ground-based and space-borne.

Publication

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

  • Church, S. E. et al., 1992. Performance testing of doped-germanium photoconductors for the ISO long wavelength spectrometer. Presented at: ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC Noordwijk, The Netherlands 10- 12 November 1992. Published in: Guyenne, T. D. and Hunt, J. J. eds. Proceedings of an ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 10- 12 November 1992. ESA SP Vol. 356. Paris, France: European Space Agency. , pp.255-260.
  • Church, S. E. et al., 1992. Non-linear effects in doped-germanium photoconductors for the ISO long wavelength spectrometer. Presented at: ESA Symposium on photon detectors for space instrumentation: ESTEC Noordwijk, Netherlands 10-12 November 1992. Published in: Guyenne, T. D. and Hunt, J. J. eds. Proceedings of an ESA Symposium on photon detectors for space instrumentation. ESA SP Vol. 356. Paris, France: European Space Agency. , pp.261-264.
  • Engemann, D. et al., 1992. Extrinsic photoconductor detectors for the wavelength range 2 microns to 240 microns. Presented at: ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC Noordwijk, The Netherlands 10- 12 November 1992. Published in: Guyenne, T. D. and Hunt, J. J. eds. Proceedings of an ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 10- 12 November 1992. ESA SP Vol. 356. Paris, France: European Space Agency. , pp.389-392.
  • Murray, A. G. et al., 1992. Optimisation of FIR photoconductors for atmospheric spectroscopy. Presented at: ESA Symposium on photon detectors for space instrumentation: ESTEC Noordwijk, Netherlands 10-12 November 1992. Published in: Guyenne, T. and Hunt, J. eds. Proceedings of an ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 10- 12 November 1992. ESA. SP Vol. 356. Paris, France: European Space Agency. , pp.159-163.
  • Padman, R. et al., 1992. A dual-polarization InSb receiver for 461/492 GHz. International Journal of Infrared and Millimetre Waves 13 (10), pp.1487-1513. (10.1007/BF01009232)
  • Price, M. C. et al., 1992. Ionising radiation-induced effects in doped germanium FIR photoconductors. Presented at: ESA Symposium on photon detectors for space instrumentation: ESTEC Noordwijk, Netherlands 10-12 November 1992. Published in: Guyenne, T. D. and Hunt, J. J. eds. Proceedings of an ESA Symposium on Photon Detectors for Space Instrumentation : ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 10- 12 November 1992. ESA. SP Paris, France: European Space Agency. , pp.309-312.

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

Articles

Book sections

Conferences

Monographs

Research

Far infrared and submillimetre astronomy and instrumentation, especially developing technology and instruments for both ground-based and satellite-borne observatories.

Past and present activities include:

  • Co-Investigator on the Infrared Space Observatory Long Wavelength Spectrometer instrument
  • Member of the SCUBA and SCUBA-2 instrument teams
  • Principal Investigator for the Herschel-SPIRE instrument
  • Coordinator of the SPACEKIDS European Union FP-7 project
  • Co-I on FP-7 projects HELP (Herschel-related extragalactic astronomy) and FISICA (FIR interferometry technology development)
  • Member of the SPICA collaboration and of the ESA SPICA Science Study Team. SPICA was studied by ESA and the Japanese space agency JAXA, for study as a candidate for the ESA M5 mission, but not selected
  • UK Co-PI for the Ariel exoplanet characterisation mission, ESA's M4 mission, with launch envisaged in 2031
  • Member of the UK team for NASA's Astrophyiscs Probe mission candidate, PRIMA

Biography

I studied Electrical Engineering at University College Dublin, graduating in 1976, after which I worked in industry before doing an MSc in Astrophsyics and subsequently a PhD in Astrophysics at Queen Mary College London, graduating in 1985. I remained at Queen Mary until 2001, when I joined the Astronomy Instrumentation Group (AIG) at Cardiff University.  I have been formally retired since January 2025, but remain active in supporting AIG activities and projects, especially the Ariel exoplanet spectroscopy space mission (ESA's M4 mission, scheduled for launch in 2031) and NASA's far-infrared observatory PRIMA (possible selection for flight in 2026 and launch in 2032), and also through membership of various UK and international committees.  

Honours and awards

  • Royal Astronomical Society Group Achievement Award: SCUBA Team, 2009
  • Arthur C Clarke Individual Achievement Award, UK Space Conference, 2010
  • French Association for Aeronautics and Astronautics Grand Prix award to Herschel/Planck Team, 2010
  • Royal Astronomical Society Jackson-Gwilt medal, 2011
  • Arthur C Clarke Academic Study/Research Achievement Award: Herschel-SPIRE Team, UK Space Conference, 2013
  • Royal Astronomical Society, Group Achievement Award: Herschel-SPIRE Team, 2014
  • Honorary Doctorate (Docteur Honoris Causa), Université Aix-Marseille, 2018
  • COSPAR William Nordberg Medal, 2024 (minor planet 20062 named Matthewgriffin)

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FINSTP)
  • Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (FLSW)
  • Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Sciety (FRAS)

Academic positions

2024 - present   Emeritus Professor, Cardiff Universtiy Schol of Physics and Astronomy

2018 - 2024   Head of Cardiff University Astronomy Instrumentation Group

2014 - 2018   Head of Cardiff School of Physics and Astronomy

2001 - 2024   Professor, Cardiff Universtiy Schol of Physics and Astronomy

1989 - 2001  Lecturer/Reader/Professor in the Department of Physics, Queen Mary, University of London

Committees and reviewing

Currently:

  • Council of the Royal Astronomical Society
  • Council of the Learned Society of Wales
  • UK Space Agency (UKSA) Discovery Advisory Committee for Science (DACS) 
  • UKSA/STFC Frontiers Steering Committee (Deputy Chair)
  • UK Space Agency (UKSA) Athena Programme Management Board (Chair)
  • UK Space Agency (UKSA) ARRAKIHS Programme Management Board 
  • UKRI Individual Merit Promotions Panel 
  • Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Spain, Science Advisory Board
  • Editorial Board for the Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation

Previously I have served on many RCUK peer review and policy-making committees, including the JCMT Board (as chair), STFC Science Board (as chair), the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) Physics sub-panel, the European Space Agency Science Programme Committee (UK delegate), and on European panels including the European Space Science Advisory Committee and the European Union FP-7 Science Advisory Group. I have also served on various national and international research evaluation panels including for Universities and agencies in Austria, Canada, France, Sweden, Ireland, and the USA. 

News articles

Global competition returns with more sophisticated simulations to help decode secrets of distant worlds

Ariel Data Challenge 2025: Advanced exoplanet atmosphere detection returns with enhanced realism

01 July 2025

Global competition returns with more sophisticated simulations to help decode secrets of distant worlds

Cardiff Astronomy Instrumentation Group will provide filters and other optics for NASA space observatory scheduled to launch in 2032

Cardiff scientists part of team bidding for $1bn NASA mission

22 October 2024

Cardiff Astronomy Instrumentation Group will provide filters and other optics for NASA space observatory scheduled to launch in 2032

New funding will help Cardiff University scientists explore how 1,000 known planets outside our solar system were formed and evolved.

Exoplanet mission given £30m boost

27 June 2022

New funding will help Cardiff University scientists explore how 1,000 known planets outside our solar system were formed and evolved.

Academics from the School of Physics and Astronomy are taking part in a pioneering space telescope project to understand more about planets beyond our Solar System

Cardiff astronomers join Twinkle space mission

10 June 2021

Academics from the School of Physics and Astronomy are taking part in a pioneering space telescope project to understand more about planets beyond our Solar System

Dr Katherine Dooley picks up Philip Leverhulme Prize for her contribution to the first ever detection of gravitational waves

Cardiff scientist wins prestigious award for gravitational wave detection

31 October 2018

Dr Katherine Dooley picks up Philip Leverhulme Prize for her contribution to the first ever detection of gravitational waves

SPICA mission will be considered by European Space Agency for its next medium-class space mission

“Super-cool” observatory to explore hidden universe

14 May 2018

SPICA mission will be considered by European Space Agency for its next medium-class space mission

European Space Agency announces details of international science mission, including scientists from Cardiff University, to explore how exoplanets – planets around distant  stars – form and evolve

Green light for exoplanet mission

20 March 2018

European Space Agency announces details of international science mission, including scientists from Cardiff University, to explore how exoplanets – planets around distant stars – form and evolve

Contact Details

Email [email protected]
Telephone +44 29208 74203
Campuses Queen's Buildings - West Building Extension, Room WX3.12, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA