Agilent Named One of Newsweek’s Greenest American Corporations

Agilent has made the top 50 in Newsweek’s survey of the greenest companies among America’s 500 largest corporations. Agilent came in at No. 37, between Coca-Cola and Gap, and was ranked No. 1 in its subcategory, Industrial Goods. Companies were evaluated on actual environmental performance, policies and reputation. The survey mentioned Agilent’s “exemplary environmental management system and aggressive programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its operations.”

Agilent Foundation Helps Grow Program for New Science Teachers

The Agilent Technologies Foundation will fund the participation of 10 science teachers in the National Science Teachers Association’s (NSTA) New Science Teacher Academy, a yearlong program designed to help reduce the high attrition rate among new science teachers. The funding will help expand the academy and aligns with the Foundation’s primary philanthropic focus area of science education.

The NSTA is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning. Its new-teacher academy is designed to promote quality teaching, enhance confidence and improve content knowledge.

The Agilent Foundation joins Astellas Pharma US and Bayer Corp., along with academy co-founder Amgen Foundation, in providing funding for a total of 185 new middle- and secondary-school science teachers from across the United States.

“Science education is critical to preparing a 21st century workforce,” said Karen Lewis, executive director, Agilent Foundation. “With the expectation that each educator will go on to instill a passion for science in many students, the Agilent Foundation is pleased to work with NSTA and other partners in this collective effort.”    

The 10 Foundation-funded teachers are located in California and Colorado, where Agilent has a strong community presence. They will be known as Agilent Foundation-NSTA Fellows.

Agilent Wins Web Award

Agilent’s A.com Web site this week received an Outstanding Achievement in Web Development award from the Web Marketing Association for excellence in design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copywriting and ease of use. Since 1997, the Web Marketing Association’s annual WebAward competition has set the standard of excellence for Web site development. Independent expert judges from around the world review sites in 96 industries. The best are recognized with a WebAward which helps interactive-Web professionals promote themselves, their companies, and their best work to a global audience. The WebAward competition is the premier award recognition program for Web developers and marketers worldwide.

New application note focuses on baseband IQ analysis

Agilent’s new application note “Solutions for Addressing Baseband IQ Analysis – Ensuring Quick, Accurate Baseband IQ Analysis of Radio Communications Devices at a Lower Cost of Test“, discusses how engineers can perform fast, accurate and comprehensive baseband IQ analysis early in analog baseband development. The Agilent MXA signal analyzer, highlighted in this application note, plays a key role in helping engineers with this challenging task.

Live Webcast: Developing Terrestrial Solar Cell/Module I-V Characterization

You’re invited to attend this complimentary webcast, airing September 23, 2009 at 1 pm EDT.  The explosive growth in the solar industry has intensified the need for solar cell and module test and measurement solutions.  Either turnkey solutions or test-system building blocks with software are available.  However, real tradeoffs must be made between cost, speed-to-test and swift solution obsolescence due to this industry’s rapidly developing technologies.  This Webcast will provide insight on configuring and implementing a flexible I-V characterization solution for high-powered solar cells, modules, and solar concentrators that has the unique ability to capture I-V curves under illuminated conditions, or characterize the dark or reverse bias region of the cell or module under test.  The solution discussed in the Webcast will decrease test costs without sacrificing performance, while increasing test flexibility to handle a rapidly changing testing environment.

Who should view this webcast: Designers/manufacturers/installers of solar cells, solar panel, solar concentrators or solar power systems for residential and commercial terrestrial solar applications. Giveaway: Registrants who completely fill out the feedback form by December 23, 2009 will be eligible to win one of two $75.00 Amazon.com gift cards.

Check out LTE Measurements Forum

Agilent is now hosting a forum in which participants can discuss LTE technical topics.  This forum provides a venue for the sharing of information useful to design engineers who are working on LTE chipsets, modules, and systems.

Choices for measuring solar-cell output power

Check out this article by Agilent’s Bob Zollo on measuring solar-cell output power.

In a world dealing with environmental issues and energy shortages, the promise of clean, renewable energy from solar power is driving development of solar-cell technologies. This growth in the solar industry has intensified the need for solar-cell (and solar-module) test and measurement solutions and, as solar-cell size and efficiency grow, cell testing involves managing higher current and power levels, creating the need for more-flexible test equipment.

For more information, Agilent Technologies offers application note Solar Cell and Module Testing, publication number 5990-3262EN.