Niels Skou - (born 1947). Professor in Radar and Radiometer systems. Received the M. Sc., Ph. D., and D. Sc. degrees from the Technical University of Denmark, in 1972, 1981, and 1990, respectively. IEEE Fellow in 2003. Since 1999 member of the ”SMOS Science Advisory Group” (SMOS is ESA’s mission aiming at measuring soil moisture and ocean salinity from space by microwave radiometry). Danish delegate to ESA’s Programme Board for Earth Observation 2002-2006. Design and construction of microwave remote sensing instruments such as: airborne, imaging, multifrequency radiometer systems; L-band polarimetric radiometer systems; airborne side looking radar systems such as a C- and L-and polarimetric SAR system with interferometric capabilities. Research in microwave radiometer remote sensing with geophysical applications such as: Arctic sea ice signatures; oil pollution signatures at sea; wind direction over the oceans; sea salinity and soil moisture. Has contributed to, and been project manager on, 31 ESA study contracts concerning microwave instrumentation for future space missions. Planning and participation in a number of field operations in Greenland, Antarctica, and Europe. Author of the book: “Microwave Radiometer Systems: Design and Analysis”, Artech House. Author or co-author of 138 journal papers, conference papers, and scientific reports.