Biography
of Francis Massen
Married to Colette Heirendt, who is a teacher of computing and mathematics
at the Lycée Technique Hôtelier, Diekirch, Luxembourg. 4 children
Hobbies: computing, restauration of vintage computers and calculators,
caving (now ex-caver), walking, music (piano, ex-saxophone, ex-classical
recorder).
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Born 1943 together with an undistinguishable twin brother (Robert Massen) in
Petange, Luxembourg
1950 - 1957: Primary school in Obercorn, Luxembourg.
1957 – 1964: Secondary school at the Lycée Classique de Diekirch,
Luxembourg (LCD)
Languages: Latin, German, French, English, Luxembourgish
(fluent speaking/reading/writing all of these except only left-over read/write
skills in Latin)
Specialised mathematical section during the last 4 years of secondary school.
Final examen (similar to the baccalauréat) in 1964
University studies in physics:
1964-1965:: First year university studies at the Cours Supérieurs in
Luxembourg, mathematical-physical section
1965 – 1966:: Second year university studies at the University of Nancy,
France
1966- 1968: Third and fourth year university studies at the University of Liège,
Belgium
Final exam of "professeur-docteur" in Luxembourg (mention Bien).
1968: Start of candidate teaching at the Lycée Classique de Diekirch
1968-1969: Thesis on fluidic elements (built bottle filling machine without
moving parts), candidate teaching and studies, final exam to be admitted as
"professeur de physique et de mathématiques"
Full-time teaching job in physics, mathematics and later computing at the
Lycée Classique de Diekirch until retirement
2009, September: retired. Continues to manage meteoLCD, project leader of
the Computarium
Computing and teaching work:
Built with colleague Jean Mootz the first microcomputers of Luxembourg
(SWTPc) in 1976
Started teaching programming in 1974 (Basic and Pascal)
Member of all official commissions of Luxembourg preparing and defining
computing equipment for Luxembourg's secondary schools (work still on
progress) Since 1978 CIO of the Lycée Classique de Diekirch (3 buildings,
2000 students, 250 teaching staff).
Manager of the Physics Department
Manager of the Computing Department
Manager of meteoLCD, the meteorological station of the LCD (WMO/WOUDC
station 412)
Post-university level teaching for candidates (computers in physics teaching)
for several years in the 1990's at the Centre Universitaire, Luxembourg
Project leader for a museum of historic calculators and computers
(http://computarium.lcd.lu)
Research and related work
1990 – 1995: Project leader of "Phymoes", a five year project of the "Centre
Universitaire" (now University of Luxembourg) to study the climate and
geology of Luxembourg's largest maze cave
1992: Co-organisator of the CIK, Colloque International de Karstology,
Luxembourg
1994: Key note speaker at DADiSP meeting of European dealers in London
1982 to 2009:
Design and development of the computer network infrastructure of the LCD
Design and development of the “Infomobile”, the first WLAN application in a
Luxembourg school
Design and building of meteoLCD, a meteorological station specialising in
solar radiation and atmospheric gases (WOUDC station 412), operational
since 1994.
Design and development of a heat-stress measuring system (WBGT) to be
used by the Medical Service of Luxembourg’s army
Development (with colleague Marcel Kramer) of an in-house digital signage
information system
Research work on radon variations under the basin of the SEO pumped
storage station (ongoing work with Prof. Antoine Kies, Laboratory of Physical
Radiations, University of Luxembourg)
Research on short-time CO2 variations at Diekirch (ongoing work)
Research on differences in total ozone column measurements done with
Brewer and Microtops instruments (ongoing work)
Publications and Presentations.
Presentation of first results of project Phymoes at the CIK, 1992
Massen, F and Maquil R. editors: Comptes Rendus du Colloque International
de Karstologie à Luxembourg, 1994
Massen F., editor: The Moestroff Cave, a study on the geology and climate of
Luxembourg's largest maze cave (editor and author of many chapters). 1997,
ISBN 2-919900-00-5
1996: Conference at the Centre Universitaire in Luxembourg on the Phymoes
project
Massen F., Dusar M., Loy W., Vandenberghe N: Cave Volume computed on
the behaviour of a blowing well (Tournai basin, W. Belgium). Terra Nova 10,
131-135, 1998. Blackwell Science Ltd.
Bonert Charles, Massen Francis: Ambiance Chaude. Mise en place du projet
WBGT à l’Armée Luxembourgeoise. Bulletin de la Société des Sciences
Médicales du G-D. de Luxembourg, 2/2001, pp.7 - 18
Kies, A, Massen, F., Tosheva, Z.: Influence of variable stress on underground
radon concentrations. Geofysica Internacional, 2002, Vol. 41, Num. 3, pp.
325-329
Presentations at the Journées de Spéléologie Scientifique, Han sur Lesse,
Belgium, on radon concentrations under the basin of the SEO pumped
storage station. 2000, 2004
Presentation at the Journées de Spéléologie Scientifique, Han sur Lesse,
Belgium on computing the volume of a blowing cave (Trou du Vent, France),
2002
Presentation at the Journées de Spéléologie Scientifique, Han sur Lesse,
Belgium on handling extreme large data series with DADiSP, 2007
A subset of papers published at http://meteo.lcd.lu/papers
1997: - The UVI poster
- Calibrating the DELTA_T UVB
- Total ozone measurements
- Radonkonzentration im Drainagestollen des Oberbeckens der SEO,
Vianden (Massen F., Kies A.)
1998: - A comparison of three portable UV sensors
- A preliminary analysis of the Safesun personal UV sensor and a
comparison with the Saitek and UV mod. 3D sensors (Massen F.,
Harpes N.)
1999: - Meteorological Impact of the 11th August 99 Solar Eclipse
2001: - The new wind chill formula
- Effective UVB irradiance and total ozone column 1997 to 2002, 2002
- Ambiance Chaude (Massen F. Bonert Ch)
2003: - Zero-Offset and Deviant Temperature Stabilization of a Solar Light
Co. UVA Biometer
- Influence of intentionally mis-pointing on Microtops II readings
- Mean and extreme daily air temperature trends (Diekirch,
Luxemburg): 1998 to 2003
2006: - A comparison of the total ozone measurements done with Microtops II
sun photometers, Brewer, Sciamachy and Toms spectrophotometers
- Ozone and UVR trends from 1998 to 2005 at Diekirch (L) (Massen,
Kies, Harpes, de Backer)
- Smarts293f.pl: A Perl script to allow interactive use of the SMARTS
solar radiation program of Christian Gueymard
2007: - Seasonal and Diurnal CO2 Patterns at Diekirch, LU 2003 - 2005
(Massen, Kies, Harpes)
2008: - Trends and Patterns in Atmospheric Optical Depth at Diekirch,
Luxembourg (1997-2007), 2008
A subset of contributions to the AGW and related problems debate:
(several at http://meteo.lcd.lu/globalwarming)
La Grande Illusion: courant vert ou courant bleu. Luxemburger Wort , 2007
Zehn Fragen und Antworten des Klimaskeptikers. Marienkalender, 2008
Kosmisch-Solar. Luxemburger Wort, 2007
Gloom and Doom, Luxemburger Wort, 2007
Smog 60 - nutzlos? Luxemburger Wort, 2006
Sea ice extent: how to get your favorite trend. meteoLCD, 2006
Kyoto: Schein oder Sein?. Luxemburger Wort, 2006
Kioto Kater-Stimmung. Luxemburger Wort, 2006
Auto pfui. Luxemburger Wort, 2007
Kyoto folie 2. Luxemburger Wort, 2004
Etes-vous Kyoto-crédule?. Luxemburger Wort, 2004
Global Warming? Conference given in Diekirch, 2002
Television and Radio
IMPULS, 2nd Dec. 2007: Debate on RTL-TV with green MoP Camille Gira
RTL-Radio: Debate on climate. Jan. 2008
Websites:
http://meteo.lcd.lu: The meteorological station of the LCD
http://computarium.lcd.lu. The Computarium of the LCD
http://bmb.lcd.lu: Live experimentation of switching withstand and longevity of
compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL’s)