Magnetic resonance (MR) techniques are now being used widely in chemical engineering research. In recognition of Mike Winterbottom's contribution to the field of ceramic monolith reactors, recent developments in the application of MR techniques to the study of two-phase flow in parallel channel ceramic monoliths are reported. Two new approaches are described, both of which can be applied to single-and two-phase flow. In particular, we report the development of a displacement tracking technique which allows temporal variations in velocity, occurring on timescales of similar to 10 ms, to be monitored over periods of up to 1 s. The upper limit on liquid velocity that can be measured using this approach is similar to 5-10 m s(-1). The techniques are introduced and illustrated with reference to co-current gas-liquid up-flow operation in a monolith rated at 200 channels per square inch. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.