WMJ: Microwave Sensors from Near-Field Advanced and Sustainable Materials to Remote Far-Field Sensing

Presentation Abstract
Microwaves emerged as a pervasive interface to read advanced materials, and to remotely detect measurands. This workshop will present state-of-the-art insights by inter-disciplinary research leaders around different microwave sensing modalities, illustrating a holistic image from advanced materials at MHz to sub-THz frequencies, to remote sensing using novel microwave front-ends, and system co-design. Microwave sensing characterisation will be presented for the first time for new materials including 2D materials, polymers and biodegradable metals. Moving to readouts/remote sensing, co-advances in circuits and antennas will be presented with a focus on adapting radio astronomy, mm-wave radar, exploiting losses, and other novel readout techniques. Through both applications, sustainable design guidelines will be presented including low-power front-end design, battery-free wireless-powered and chipless systems, as well as, for the first time, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of microwave circuits. In addition to expert speakers, our workshop will bring lightning talks from excellent students/young professionals. Thus fostering 2-way knowledge exchange and showcasing the diversity and future of MTT. The talks are: Prof. Ferran Martin, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, “Lossy Microwave Sensors”; Dr Sara Salem Hesari, National Research Centre Canada, “Leveraging Radio Astronomy Techniques for Enhanced RF and Microwave Sensing”; Dr Laila Salman, Ansys Canada, “Multiphysics Design and Analysis of Silver-Based Low-Emissivity Coating Technology for Energy Saving Sustainable Windows Applications”; Prof. Aline Eid, University of Michigan, “Ultra-Low-Power, Long-Range Trackers enabled by mm-Wave Backscatter and Radar Principles”; Prof. Will Whittow, Loughborough University, “Additive Metamaterials and Far-Field Techniques for Sensing”; (Co-Chair) Prof Mohammad Zarif, University of British Columbia, “RF/Microwave Wearable Devices for Body Armor and Personal Protective Equipment”; (Co-Chair) Prof Mahmoud Wagih, University of Glasgow, “Sustainable Materials-Enabled Microwave Sensors: Are We Considering Manufacturing?”.