BIPM150 Interview: Dr Pascale Defraigne on Redefining the Second and Measuring Time on the Moon
What does it take to redefine time itself? As atomic clocks become ever more precise—and as humanity sets its sights on the moon—timekeeping is entering a new frontier.
At the BIPM–UNESCO World Metrology Day Symposium, held during the 150th Anniversary of the Metre Convention, Dr Pascale Defraigne, Head of the Time and Frequency Service at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, joined a high-level panel discussion on emerging priorities in metrology and spoke with the BIPM about the future of timekeeping, from optical clocks to lunar time scales.
Watch Dr Defraigne's interview
In this short video, Dr Defraigne discusses why a redefinition of the second is needed, what’s driving this change and the scientific challenges of establishing timekeeping beyond Earth.
[4 minutes]
Watch the Panel Discussion
Watch the full panel discussion from #BIPM150, where Dr Defraigne joins fellow leaders in science and policy to explore how metrology can respond to global challenges—from maintaining Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) to strengthening scientific diplomacy.
[38 minutes]
Dr Pascale Defraigne leads the Time and Frequency Service at the Royal Observatory of Belgium. A global expert in precise time transfer and GNSS-based timekeeping, she plays a key role in the evolution of UTC and preparations for the redefinition of the second. Learn more.