2006 IEEE News Briefs | 
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Media Relations Contacts: 19 December – The IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT) is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special edition of Technology and Society Magazine. Articles in the winter 2006 issue include “Controversy and Achievement: History of IEEE Society and Technology Magazine” and “The Future of SSIT and the State of the Engineering Profession.” To view the table of contents visit the publication's Web site. 19 December – IEEE has partnered with Knowledge Master, Inc. to offer IEEE members a selection of 26 courses in microelectronics, semiconductors and integrated circuit design in Mandarin Chinese. This partnership fulfills two important objectives of IEEE: to serve the community of practitioners in the area of microelectronics and to serve a segment of its practitioner population that resides in China. Founded in 2004, Knowledge Master, Inc. is an online education company which provides online career development courses for Chinese or Chinese American working professionals. The organization specializes in the delivery of highly interactive online courses, lectures and training classes through their Web site. The courses are developed by Dr. Wen Ching Chang, an internationally-renowned professor of microelectronics, specializing in RFIC, CMOS, Analog IC, Optoelectronics and Wireless communications. To access courses offered by Knowledge Master, Inc. or to review other partners, visit the Education Partners Program Web site.History Center Adds 75 New Oral Histories to Web Site 19 December – The IEEE History Center has added 75 new oral histories to its online archive. The oral histories are organized into nine different collections and include interviews with Gordon Moore, the developer of Moore’s law and co-founder of Intel Corporation, Robert Noyce, one of the inventors of the integrated circuit and Wilson Greatbatch, who helped develop the implanted, cardiac pacemaker. All oral histories are in PDF format and include an abstract and an index. To view the list of collections, visit IEEE Oral Histories; for an alphabetical listing, visit IEEE Oral Histories (Alphabetical). IEEE Foundation Seeking 2007 Grant Applications 19 December – The IEEE Foundation is seeking grant applications for 2007 projects in accordance with its mission to improve the technological literacy of society from childhood through adulthood. During 2007, unsolicited applications will be accepted in three cycles from IEEE units and other organizations working in areas of relevance and importance to the IEEE and its membership. Projects should achieve one or more of the following objectives:
♦ Improve primary and secondary
science, technology, and math learning Application deadlines:
To learn more about the IEEE Foundation’s grant guidelines, and to submit an online application, visit the IEEE Foundation Web site. IEEE Communications Society to Launch Certification Program 7 December – The IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) has selected New York-based Professional Examination Service (PES) to develop a certification program for engineers working in communications technology. ComSoc is planning to roll out the first certification, in wireless cellular technology, late in 2007. When fully developed, the program will comprise a number of certifications in various areas of communications technology. During program development, PES will collaborate with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including practicing engineers from small and large companies worldwide, to conduct an extensive analysis of the knowledge and skills required by engineering professionals in wireless cellular communications technology. Following the analysis of practice, PES will conduct item and examination development workshops and a standard-setting study with representative groups of stakeholders, as well as provide consultative services to keep ComSoc informed of new trends and technologies in certification assessment. To read The Institute story, click here. For additional information contact Jack Howell at j.howell@ieee.org. Thomas Bartlett Named First Eric Herz IEEE Outstanding Staff Member Award Recipient 7 December – Thomas W. Bartlett, a retired former associate general manager for finance, for the IEEE, was presented with the first IEEE Eric Herz Outstanding Staff Member Award at a luncheon at the November Meeting Series. During part of his 47 year career, Tom held the highest financial position at the IEEE, reporting to the chief IEEE staff person. The award, established last year, is presented by the IEEE volunteers to a present or past full-time staff member in recognition of outstanding contributions to the organization. Tom was honored for developing and implementing financial management systems that contributed uniquely to the growth and achievements of the IEEE during his career. The longest-serving employee in the history of the IEEE, Tom also played an integral role in the merger of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) and Institute of Radio Engineers which formed the IEEE in 1963. 6 December – InQuestra Learning and IEEE have recently partnered to offer business and systems analysis-related courses to IEEE members at a discount. InQuestra Learning provides a 16 hour, online Business Systems Analyst Certificate program. A private company incorporated in 2003, InQuestra Learning has issued more than 3,000 Business Systems Analysis Certificates to qualified learners to date. All of the company’s online courses are professionally designed and developed by industry experts, focus on skills development and include hands-on labs, email support, and study guides to enhance each student’s self-paced learning experience. For more information, to access courses by InQuestra Learning or to review a list of other partners, visit the Education Partners Program Web site. Name Change for Expert Now IEEE 6 December – The name of Expert Now IEEE, a continuing education resource for technical professionals presented in hour-long learning courses, has been changed to IEEE Expert Now. References to this product in all presentations and other materials should be changed. 5 December – Dr. Thomas Kailath, a respected leader in digital signal processing and systems theory, has been named the recipient of the 2007 IEEE Medal of Honor for “exceptional development of powerful algorithms in the fields of communications, computing, control and signal processing.” Some of Kailath’s most recent research has influenced modern work in semiconductor manufacturing and wireless communications. Kailath, a professor of engineering at Stanford University, will be presented with the award at the annual IEEE Honors Ceremony in June 2007. The award is sponsored by the IEEE Foundation. For a full listing of 2007 IEEE Medal recipients and other honorees, visit the IEEE Awards Web page. To read the full press release, click here. Milestone Dedication in Israel Recognizes One of the World's First Electronic Computers 5 December – The IEEE dedicated an IEEE Milestone in Electrical Engineering for one of the world's first electronic computers. The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, built the Weizmann Automatic Computer (WEIZAC) during 1954-1955 with the scientific vision of Chaim Pekeris and the engineering leadership of Gerald Estrin. To read the full story in The Institute, click here. IEEE Alters Its Standards Patent Policy to Provide Fuller Disclosure on Licensing 4 December –The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) has approved a change in its patent policy effective 30 April 2007 that provides for the optional advance disclosure of ”not to exceed” licensing terms associated with patents that might be included in its standards. The change is intended to make the IEEE standards-setting process more transparent. IEEE-SA has also submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Justice for a business review letter confirming the Department’s guidance on the antitrust aspects of the new policy. Read the full press release. IEEE Standards Association Recognizes Motorola with 2006 Corporate Award 4 December – IEEE-SA has selected Motorola, Inc. as the recipient of the 2006 IEEE Standards Association Corporate Award in recognition for its “outstanding contributions to IEEE standards, which allow people to be mobile and connected across the globe.” Motorola has been a leader in the creation of several IEEE standards including the family of IEEE 802™ wireless standards and battery standards. Read the full press release. 2008 IEEE President-Elect Candidates and New Board of Directors Selected 27 November – During the IEEE November Meeting Series in New Orleans, Marc Apter, Pedro Ray and John Vig were nominated to run in the IEEE 2007 annual election as president-elect candidates by the IEEE Board of Directors. The winner of this election will serve as president-elect in 2008 and IEEE president in 2009. The IEEE Assembly named the following individuals to serve one-year terms on the IEEE Board of Directors, beginning 1 January 2007:
These individuals will join their colleagues on the Board who were elected previously by the eligible voting members of the IEEE. IEEE Board of Directors Elevate 268 Senior Members to Fellow Grade 27 November – The IEEE Board of Directors named 268 Fellows for the Class of 2007. To view the full list of Fellows, click here. IEEE Members Select Lewis Terman 2007 IEEE President-Elect 9 November – Lewis Terman, IBM Research Emeritus, IBM Research Division, Yorktown Heights, N.Y., U.S.A, has been selected as 2007 IEEE president-elect. Pending acceptance of the Teller's Committee report by the IEEE Board of Directors, Terman will begin serving as IEEE president on 1 Jan. 2008. He will succeed 2007 IEEE President Leah H. Jamieson, Dean of the Purdue University College of Engineering. To read the full press release, click here. GLOBECOMM 2006 to Examine State of Telecom Across the Globe 9 November – This year’s 2006 Global Telecommunications Conference (GLOBECOMM) will incorporate the theme of "Communications: The Global Bridge" into its general conference and technical symposia lineup. Sponsored by the IEEE Communications Society, IEEE San Francisco Section, and IEEE Region VI, the conference will be held in San Francisco, 27 November – 1 December. Co-located with the IEEE Communications Society’s Communications EXPO, GLOBECOMM will examine the continuing pervasiveness of telecommunications in all aspects of global society. Newly added this year is the Access ’06 Business Forum, a new executive forum focused on the technology and business issues associated with select emerging technologies including WiFi, WiMax, 3G, broadband over powerline and others. This year marks the 49th year of the conference. For more information, visit the GLOBECOMM Web site. New PBS "Design Squad" Engineering Reality Program Supported by IEEE 9 November – The IEEE is providing funding for a new PBS engineering reality competition, “Design Squad,” targeted toward 9 to 12 year old students. The series follows two teams of high school students, mentored by professional engineers, as they compete to design and build functional, whimsical machines. The IEEE will be recognized for its contribution in program marketing materials, in announcements at the beginning and end of each program and on the “Design Squad” Web site. Produced by WGBH in Boston, "Design Squad" will premiere on local PBS stations in the United States during National Engineers Week, 18-24 February 2007. To view sample "Design Squad" programs, visit the Design Squad Web site. For more information on the IEEE's involvement in the program, contact Doug Gorham, Educational Activities, at d.g.gorham@ieee.org or Pender McCarter, IEEE-USA, at p.mccarter@ieee.org. IEEE Begins Revision of Laptop Battery Standard7 November – The IEEE will revise its laptop battery standard, IEEE 1625™, “IEEE Standard for Rechargeable Batteries for Portable Computing”, which was approved in 2004. This update targets an improvement in the overall performance of laptop battery systems and seeks to address recent calls to make these systems more reliable and robust. To read the full press release, click here. The Institute Seeks Society, Section and Region News 2 November – The Institute member newspaper is seeking more society, section and region news items in an effort to broaden its news coverage. Appropriate subjects include:
Send the basic "who, what, when, where and how," and the editors will be in contact if more information is needed. The editors are also looking for suggestions for topics to write about, whether it's IEEE related or something about the engineering field. Email news items to: theinstitute@ieee.org. Member-get-a-Member Recruitment Program Provides Added Incentives 2 November – The IEEE Member-get-a-Member (MGM) program, a peer-to-peer recruitment tactic targeted at prospective members, has revised its incentive program. Current members who successfully recruit new higher-grade members will now receive a US$15 MGM voucher for each recruited member, an increase from the previous US$5 incentive. Additionally, members now have the option of either donating the value of the MGM voucher to the IEEE Foundation, or using it toward an IEEE purchase, including renewal of their IEEE membership. Vouchers will be issued at the close of the program in September 2007. Nominations Sought for "New Faces of Engineering" Program 1 November – The IEEE and IEEE-USA are seeking nominations for the 2007 Engineers Week (EWeek) “New Faces of Engineering” recognition program. The campaign recognizes engineers new to the profession with outstanding educational and career accomplishments, and is open to IEEE members worldwide. An annual event since 2002, the EWeek “New Faces” program promotes the importance of technical education, celebrates engineering careers and recognizes significant contributions to the engineering profession and society. Each year, the EWeek Web site features the photos and biographies of five notable young engineers from each EWeek sponsoring society. In addition, a full-page USA Today ad that runs during EWeek recognizes the top individual nominees from each society. EWeek 2007 is 18-24 February. To be nominated for the “New Faces in Engineering” program, engineers must be 30 or younger as of 1 Dec. 2006, have a degree in engineering and be a member of a sponsoring EWeek partner. The nomination form is available. For more information, visit http://www.eweek.org. Special Citation Commemorates 150th Birthday of Nikola Tesla 30 October – IEEE marked the 150th birthday of Nikola Tesla by dedicating a special citation at The Tesla Museum in Belgrade, Serbia. The citation, which recognizes Tesla’s seminal work in the field of electrical engineering, was sponsored by the IEEE Serbia and Montenegro Section. For more information, click here. Reminder: IEEE Election Ballots Due By 1 November 19 October – All ballots for the 2006 IEEE Annual Election must be received by the election vendor by 1 November 2006 at 12 noon, Central Time USA (18:00 Greenwich Mean Time) to be counted. Ballot materials can also be accessed electronically at https://www.directvote.net/ieee/. For additional information about the IEEE Annual Election, please visit http://www.ieee.org/elections or contact: corp-election@ieee.org . IEEE GOLD Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Online Challenge 19 October – In honor of the 10th anniversary of IEEE GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade), members are invited to participate in an online challenge from 20-29 October that tests their knowledge of IEEE. Prizes include MP3 players and USB flash wristbands, among others. Other activities celebrating the milestone include a new GOLD online bulletin board designed to connect recent graduates worldwide, and an updated Web site that includes history, achievements and current information about GOLD programs. For additional information, contact gold@ieee.org . Milestone Recognizes Development of VHS Recording Format 19 October – The IEEE dedicated an IEEE Milestone in Electrical Engineering and Computing 11 October at the Yokohama Plant of Victor Company of Japan, Limited where a team of engineers developed the VHS (Video Home System) recording format. The first videocassette recorder with the VHS format, model JVC HR-330, was announced on 9 September 1976. The milestone was sponsored by the IEEE Tokyo Section. For more information, click here. IEEE Begins Standard for Calculating Rail Transit Vehicle Braking Distances 19 October – The IEEE has begun work on a new rail transit standard, IEEE P1698(TM), "Guide for the Calculation of Braking Distances for Rail Transit Vehicles." The methods and assumptions in this guide will encompass automatic train protection and signal system operation, as well as propulsion and brake system operation, environmental conditions, operator interfaces, tolerances and failure modes. To read the full press release, click here. Tech Insider Webinar Series Available Through IEEE Spectrum Online 6 October – Beginning this month, IEEE Spectrum Online will offer a series of free Webinars hosted by industry experts who will share their expertise on developments and trends in technology. The series includes an online Career Accelerator Forum designed to provide information on different career tracks and graduate and post graduate studies programs. Each Webinar is followed by an online question and answer period. To view the full list of Webinars, or to register online, click here. IEEE Hosts Students at First Leadership Summit 4 October – The leaders of 10 IEEE Student Branches from universities across the United States gathered at the IEEE Operations Center in Piscataway, NJ, USA for the first Leaders Summit sponsored by the IEEE University Partnership Program (UPP) on 28-29 September. The IEEE UPP develops unique educational and networking opportunities for the students, faculty and librarians at 13 member schools, including UCLA, Stanford, Berkeley, California Institute of Technology, UC San Diego, MIT, Dartmouth College, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Drexel University, Columbia University, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In informal sessions and formal presentations, the student leaders and IEEE staff discussed pressing issues for young engineers. This included the value of professional organizations when building career and research relationships in academic, corporate and government markets. “I found out so much more about the IEEE than I had not known before, the resources and what we can do,” said Chris Weldon, a senior and chair of the IEEE student chapter at Texas A & M University. “The UPP program has given me great insight that I will bring back to not only the other officers in our student chapter but also other student members. The UPP summit allowed me to meet peers from other schools and find out what they are doing. It gives us the opportunity to mirror some of their programs and activities in our schools.” For more information on the UPP program, contact Kristen Fitzpatrick, Sales and Marketing, k.fitzpatrick@ieee.org.Online Renewal Period Opens for IEEE Members 4 October – IEEE members can currently renew their membership for 2007 online. Members who renew online by 1 December will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a Dell Inspiron Laptop computer. Membership renewal notices will also be mailed to current members by the end of the month. Individuals with questions can fill out an online form. Public Can Now View Programs on IEEE.tv 4 October –The general public can now view select content on IEEE.tv, the Internet-based video service launched in August as an IEEE member-only benefit. Programs include careers in technology, IEEE products, the Member Digital Library and Expert Now IEEE. All visitors also can view videos of the IEEE President-Elect Candidates' Debate and Q&A Session through IEEE.tv. Two new members-only programs were added in September. “Doing the Right Thing: Social Implications of Technology” and "Testing for EMC Compliance: Approaches and Techniques" can now be viewed by members with an IEEE Web account. New programming will be added each month. For more information, contact tv@ieee.org. IEEE Mentoring Connection Program Seeks Members to Mentor Young Professionals 26 September – The IEEE Mentoring Connection Program is looking for “online” mentors to help guide younger professionals in career planning and professional development. Currently, 489 mentees and 264 mentors have registered. Mentor participation is open to all higher grade IEEE members. The program enables mentees to select their mentoring partner online from a list of individuals who have volunteered to serve as mentors. After mentors are identified as a potential match, they are contacted and asked to begin establishing a relationship. Interested members can visit http://www.ieee.org/mentoring for information on the roles and responsibilities of each mentoring partner, including additional program information and an FAQ page. Potential mentors are asked to review the time and effort commitment to the program necessary to ensure a successful mentoring partnership. For more information, contact Cathy Downer, Regional Activities, at c.downer@ieee.org.
Dozens of New Ads
Available Through IEEE Online Promotional Library
26 September – More than 35 new print-ready advertisements promoting IEEE membership and its benefits are now available for download from the IEEE Online Promotional Library. This update includes ads in the seven standard sizes typically used by IEEE magazines. Sizes range from full-page to one-ninth-page ads. Among the new promotions are ads for MyIEEE, Student Membership, IEEE Standards, and IEEE conferences. The IEEE Online Promotional Library, a free service for IEEE editors and volunteers, offers hundreds of print and online promotional items with the IEEE themes of value, quality and service to the profession. To download promotions, visit the IEEE Online Promotional Library. For additional information, contact IEEE Creative Services at creativeservices@ieee.org. Auburn University Joins IEEE Continuing Education Partners Program 26 September – Auburn University, which, among its other undergraduate and graduate courses provides continuing education courses for professional engineers, recently introduced two new educational tracks. The two tracks, Electric Power System Protection and General Lighting Design, are offered through the IEEE Continuing Education Partners program. IEEE members can take these distance learning courses, produced on DVD-R or by special order standard VHS format, at a 10 percent discount. The Electric Power System Protection courses are designed for engineering personnel concerned with protection issues related to the design, planning, or operation of electrical power systems. The six-course track includes fundamentals, system modeling, fault calculations, hardware, component protection, and line protection. The General Lighting Design course track is offered in two parts and addresses issues essential to the design of artificial illumination systems. Part One, “Fundamentals of Indoor Calculations,” covers the fundamentals of light and human vision, lighting calculations by the point source, and lumen methods. Part Two, “Design, Fixtures, and Flood Lighting,” covers lighting design philosophy, light sources and fixtures, outdoor design, and special applications. Auburn University has been offering engineering courses since 1872. The distance-learning program is designed for engineers with licenses in states that require continuing education units to meet license renewal requirements. To access the full list of courses offered by Auburn University, or to review other partners, visit the Education Partners Program Web page. 25 September – To aid IEEE and ABET in their accreditation roles, the IEEE Educational Activities Board is seeking engineering professionals from industry, government and academe to serve as program evaluators. IEEE, the largest member of ABET, Inc. (formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), is responsible for the peer-review evaluation of more than 700 university programs in the IEEE fields of interest. IEEE's involvement in the peer-review evaluation is vital to ensuring the continuing quality of coursework in preparation for engineering and engineering technology professions. Applications for the 2007 - 2008 academic year will be accepted through 15 November 2006. Selected applicants will attend a training seminar on the IEEE/ABET accreditation process. After training, program evaluators are dispatched in teams to visit engineering and engineering technology departments at universities across the country on behalf of the IEEE and ABET. Evaluation sessions are held during the fall and usually run two to three days.
Information packages, including the application and
nomination forms for engineering
programs and engineering
technology programs are available
online. For more information, contact eab-accred@ieee.org. IEEE Communications Magazine Adds Design and Implementation Series 25 September – The current issue of IEEE Communications Magazine, featuring the debut of a new “Design and Implementation” series is now available on IEEE Xplore. The new section was created to address how emerging technologies are being implemented in the marketplace. Members of the IEEE Communications Society may read the contents of this issue. IEEE-SA Adopts Plan to Move 802.20 Broadband Wireless Standard Forward 19 September – The IEEE Standards Association Standards Board (SASB) today announced its plan to enable the IEEE 802.20 Working Group to move forward with its work to develop a mobile broadband wireless access standar dand provide the best opportunity for its completion and approval. The plan calls for the working group’s reorganization including the appointment of new officers as well as new balloting and balloting resolution committees. It also clarifies and tightens requirements for disclosure of affiliations. The decision is the outcome of an investigation by the SASB into appeals and other concerns that had led to the temporary suspension of the working group’s activities. Click here to read the full press release. IEEE Featured in UN Conference on Forging Partnerships for Human Security 14 September – The IEEE was one of five organizations represented in a workshop entitled “Nurturing Science/Technology/Engineering/Math Skills in Young Females in Developing and Developed Countries” as part of the 59th Annual Department of Public Information (DPI)/Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Conference on “Unfinished Business: Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development.” The workshop was sponsored by the International Public Relations Association during the conference last week at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. Clementina Saduwa, IEEE Women in Engineering Coordinator for Africa, Europe and Middle East from Lagos, Africa, joined representatives from the Society of Women Engineers, the Girl Scouts of the USA, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts as a presenter .in the STEM workshop. The program explored how to forge relationships and partnerships to create sustainable projects led by youth; highlighted successful science and technology programs in both developing and developed countries; and demonstrated how technology can increase networks among youth. NGO representatives from 90 countries attended the overall event. Signature Computing Conference Celebrates 30th Year 14 September – The IEEE International Computer Software and Applications Conference (COMPSAC) will celebrate its 30th year from 17 to 21 September in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The conference, which first took place in Chicago, in 1977, has grown to be a major forum for all people within the industry for developments and trends. This year’s event will feature an exhibit by the Congress on Software Technology and Engineering Practice (CoSTEP) that will discuss industry leaders, key publishers, researchers and practitioners in software technologies and computing. For more information, visit the COMPSAC Web site. IEEE 2005 Annual Report Now Available 12 September – “Enabling Innovation: Improving Our World” is the theme of the 2005 IEEE Annual Report. It is being mailed in early September to corporate, education and government leaders around the world, and to IEEE volunteers and staff. The entire report can be viewed online. 6 September – Forms and instructions for preparing nominations for IEEE Fellow grade membership are now available on the IEEE Fellows Web page. Nominations may be prepared electronically or in hard copy form and must be submitted by 1 March 2007. The grade of Fellow recognizes unusual distinction in the profession and is conferred upon a person with an extraordinary record of accomplishments in any of the IEEE fields of interest. These accomplishments shall have contributed importantly to the advancement or application of engineering, science and technology, bringing the realization of significant value to society. To recognize the entire spectrum of engineering activity, candidates are classified as Application Engineer/Practitioner, Research Engineer/Scientist, Technical Leader, or Educator, and judged accordingly. At the time the nomination is submitted, the candidate must be a senior member who has completed five years of service in any grade of IEEE membership excluding affiliate membership. The nominee’s dues must be current. Anyone may submit a nomination. However, all nominations must be supported by at least five, but no more than eight, references from active IEEE Fellow grade members familiar with the candidate’s work. If the candidate is from Region 9, the IEEE Fellow Committee will accept references from senior members. IEEE Creative Services Receives Gold Ink Award 6 September – IEEE Creative Services of the IEEE Sales & Marketing department has received a Pewter Award in the 2006 Annual Gold Ink Awards. The annual competition honors the year's best printed materials, specifically recognizing quality of printing, technical difficulty and overall visual effectiveness. The IEEE winning entry was a direct-mail package used to promote a customer event held in Silicon Valley earlier this year. The materials were printed by Haig Graphics. To see the award-winning entry, click here. More than 1,500 companies in North America entered this year's competition. The winners will receive recognition in the special Gold Ink Issue of Print Media magazine in October 2006. This is the third time that IEEE has been recognized by the Gold Ink Awards. For more information, contact creativeservices@ieee.org or visit the Creative Services Web page. IEEE Press Call for Editorial Board Nominations 6 September – IEEE Press is seeking nominations for qualified candidates who are willing to serve, if elected, on the IEEE Press Editorial Board. Members of the IEEE Press Editorial Board serve three-year terms. The board meets at least once a year, and meets frequently in teleconference. The primary duty of board members is to provide technical and scientific expertise in the development of world-class, worthy technical books. Board members are asked to work on a continuing basis with the editor-in-chief and IEEE Press staff to recruit authors, review their proposals and assist in identifying technical reviewers of proposals and complete book manuscripts. Currently, IEEE Press operates under a strategic plan that calls for expansion of its publishing program while emphasizing acquisition of technical books. IEEE Press publishes in the full range of IEEE technical fields of interest, and currently has series that concentrate in communications, electromagnetics, biomedical engineering, power engineering, microwave technology, microelectronics and computational intelligence. Interested nominators should submit a biography of no more than two pages that demonstrates the candidate’s interest and technical experience. Self-nomination for the board positions is permitted. The current IEEE Press Editorial Board will select candidates to recommend to the Nominations and Appointments Committee of the IEEE Publication Products and Services Board. Appointments are expected to be made at the November PSPB meeting. Please send nominations (with bios attached) to Lani Angso, Book & Information Services, at l.angso@ieee.org. The deadline is midnight, 19 September. For additional information, please contact Ken Moore, IEEE Book & Information Services, at k.moore@ieee.org.2006 IEEE Annual Election Period Opens 29 August – Eligible voting IEEE members will soon be receiving their 2006 IEEE Annual Election ballot packages in the mail. Ballot materials can also be accessed electronically at https://www.directvote.net/ieee/. The opportunity to vote in the IEEE Annual Election is a privilege of membership. This year, for the first time, the privilege is being extended to eligible graduate student members. Also, this year for the first time, voters can view video footage of the candidates through the IEEE Annual Election Web site. All ballots must be received by the election vendor by 1 November 2006 at 12 noon, Central Time USA (18:00 Greenwich Mean Time) to be counted. For additional information about the IEEE Annual Election, please contact corp-election@ieee.org. IEEE to Dedicate Milestones in Canada, Ireland, Scotland and the U.S. 29 August – The IEEE will dedicate four IEEE Milestones in Electrical Engineering and Computing in September honoring significant achievements in the engineering field around the world. The first Milestone dedication is on 6 September at the University of Ireland in Maynooth. It commemorates the work of Reverend Nicholas Callan who made important contributions to the understanding of electrical induction and the development of the induction coil. This will be followed by a dedication program on 9 September at the Thomas Alva Edison Historic site in Menlo Park, New Jersey, USA. The site is where Edison developed the world’s first industrial research and development laboratory devoted to developing new technology. Edison and his staff created the first system of incandescent electric lighting and electric power generation, and invented recorded sound and a commercially successful telephone transmitter at this location. The other September IEEE Milestones in Electrical Engineering and Computing include the “The First Submarine Transatlantic Telephone Cable System (TAT-1) – which recognizes the different system sites – Oban, Scotland, Clarenville, Newfoundland and Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia; and the creation of Liquid Crystal Display technology at the RCA David Sarnoff Research Center in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. Training in IEEE Wireless Standards and Certification in WiMAX Available to IEEE Members 29 August – IEEE and DoceoTech, a private provider of instructor-led courses, have established a partnership that will provide IEEE members with a 10 percent discount on standards-related courses. Through DoceoTech, members can earn WiMAX Professional Certification by specializing in one of three tracks: WiMAX Network Designer, WiMAX Network Installer or WiMAX Network Operator. DoceoTech also offers courses on cellular and satellite communications, Voice over IP, and Radio Frequency Identification. DoceoTech's faculty own 55 patents, and are principal creators and authors of technologies, standards, and reference books in their fields of concentration. For more information, to access courses by DoceoTech or to view course offerings from other IEEE education partners, visit The IEEE Education Partners Web page. IEEE Launches Internet Television 15 August – IEEE has announced the Beta release of IEEE.tv – an internet-based broadcasting network that will produce and deliver prerecorded, special-interest programming for engineers and technologists. A collaborative effort of IEEE volunteers, members and staff across the organization, the new service will initially be available only to members only through the myIEEE web portal, (www.ieee.org/myieee). In September, general interest programming including those promoting careers in engineering and demonstrating new technology in everyday applications will be available to anyone who visits www.ieee.org/ieeetv. New programs will be added monthly. President-Elect Leah Jamieson Named Dean of Purdue University College of Engineering 2 August – IEEE President-Elect Leah Jamieson was named dean of The Purdue University College of Engineering following a national search. The appointment, effective 15 August, is subject to approval by Purdue's board of trustees. Jamieson has served as interim dean of the College since December 2005. To read the full news release, visit the Purdue Web site. Latest Version Of The National Electrical Safety Code® Available Through IEEE 1 August – The National Electrical Safety Code®, NESC®, has been updated and the latest version, the 2007 National Electrical Safety Code, is now available through the IEEE, the primary resource for NESC information. The Code, which is used throughout the U.S. and in over 100 countries, offers practical guidance on safeguarding employees and the public when electrical supply and communication lines are designed, installed, operated and maintained. It is updated every five years to reflect changes in the electrical and communications industries. To read the full press release, visit the IEEE Standards Association Web site. IEEE Mentoring Connection Offers New Benefit for Members Entering the Workforce 1 August – The IEEE Mentoring Connection is a new online service that matches IEEE members to facilitate a mentoring partnership. The program, designed as a way for members to share workplace experience and offer career guidance, serves as a career development tool for members who have recently entered the workforce and a way for more experienced members to give back to the community. The IEEE Mentoring Connection addresses several of the 10 Strategic Challenges adopted by the Board in June, including developing membership models that maximize membership opportunities and establishing the IEEE as a leading provider of continuing education and professional development. The program had its origins in research centered on identifying and meeting the needs of IEEE GOLD members, those who are less than 10 years beyond their first degree. It was established as a pilot in 2005. Accessed through the membership benefits section of the IEEE Web site, potential mentors and mentees are asked to provide information that becomes part of a database. Once registered, mentees may search the database and select a mentor based on technical or educational background, geographic location or other criteria. Also available to participants are online training materials, such as a mentoring resource guide. For more
information on the IEEE Mentoring Connection, visit
www.ieee.org/mentoring or
contact Cathy Downer, Regional Activities, at
c.downer@ieee.org
or +1 732 562 5506. Clean and Renewable Energy Education Programs from Willis College Discounted for IEEE Members 1 August – IEEE and Willis College, a 110-year-old Ottawa, Canada-based institution, have established a partnership that will provide IEEE members with a 10 percent discount on Clean and Renewable Energy Education programs. The programs are offered in several languages including English, Spanish, Chinese and French. Courses are available on campus or online through their eLearning Portal. Willis College offers certificates in Clean Energy (26 credits), Green Heat (14 credits), and Green Power (12 credits). The courses show participants how to use RETScreen software and uses a hands-on approach for each of the nine technologies covered (Passive Solar, Solar Air Heating, Solar Water Heating, Ground Source Heat Pumps, Solar Photovoltaics, Biomass, Wind Energy, Small Hydro, plus Co-generation). Two more technologies will be added in 2007 (energy efficiency in refrigeration and energy efficiency in heating). For more information or to access courses by Willis College, visit the Education Partners Program Web page. N.C. State Team Wins IEEE Computer Society International Design Competition 7 July – A North Carolina State University computer design team won the IEEE Computer Society International Design Competition with its project “SunRay,” which uses ray-tracing combined with a numerical model to calculate the amount of radiation that falls on a three-dimensional form, which more readily approximates that of the human body. The Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications team (China) took second place with its project “Coal Mining Enhancing System,” and “Synairgy,” the project of the Politehnica University of Bucharest team (Romania), placed third. The competition drew entries from 133 teams from 28 countries. Click here to read the full press release. Metcalfe’s Law is Wrong: Claim Authors of IEEE Spectrum Article 7 July – An article in IEEE Spectrum suggests Metcalfe’s Law, a theory of communications network growth first proposed by Robert M. Metcalfe in 1980, is incorrect. To read the full article, click here. IEEE Ranks High In Annual Journal Citation Reports 7 July
– IEEE was ranked highly in several
categories in the 2005 Journal Citations
Reports recently issued by Thomson. Among the
highlights, IEEE publishes: Microelectronics Pioneer James D. Meindl To Receive 2006 IEEE Medal Of Honor 20 June – James D. Meindl, Director and Pettit Chair Professor of the Joseph M. Pettit Microelectronic Research Center at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, has been named recipient of one of technology’s most prestigious accolades – the 2006 IEEE Medal of Honor. His pioneering contributions to microelectronics transformed medical research, improved portable military devices and resulted in the creation of a portable electronic reading aid for the blind. To read the full press release, click here. 20 June – The May 2006 issue of "Proceedings of the IEEE" was the first to feature an editorial and graphic redesign intended to give the journal a contemporary look that is not only more attractive, but easier for readers to navigate. To commemorate the relaunch, IEEE is giving away 1,000 copies of the June 2006 issue on Systems-on-Chip Design & Integration. The publication’s redesign includes a new logo and a greater amount of color on all pages, as well as an easier to browse table of contents and opening layout for the feature articles. The publication also has increased its forum for editorial discussion and opinion with a new “point of view” monthly feature to facilitate public discussions on hot topics.The current issue takes an in-depth look at the subject of next-generation optical networks. The table of contents and abstracts for all papers can be found in the IEEE Xplore digital library, where subscribers may also read the full text of all articles. Visit: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/tocresult.jsp?isnumber=34274. Request a free copy of Proceedings of the IEEE. The first 1,000 respondents will receive the June 2006 issue in three to five weeks. IEEE-SA Standards Board Suspends IEEE 802.20 Working Group Activity 20 June – On 8 June 2006, the IEEE-SA Standards Board directed that all activities of the 802.20 Working Group be temporarily suspended. The suspension is effective immediately and will continue in effect until 1 October 2006. Click here to read the full statement. IEEE Intelligent Systems Examines the Future of Artificial Intelligence 7 June – The May/June issue of IEEE Intelligent Systems Magazine examines “The Future of Artificial Intelligence” as part of its observation of AI’s 50th anniversary. The special issue features the magazine’s first “10 to Watch” awardees, profiling top artificial intelligence researchers. The winners were selected by the publication’s advisory board from 50 nominations received from Asia, Euorpe and North America. For more information, or to read the full text of the “10 to Watch” and other select articles, visit the Computer Society website. 2006 IEEE President Scholarship Awarded for Cost-Effective Laser Scanning Device 1 June – Brandon Lee Reavis, a sophomore from Cody High School in Cody, WY was awarded the 2006 IEEE Presidents’ Scholarship at the annual Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held 7-13 May, 2006, in Indianapolis. His 3D silhouette laser scanner – which scans an object and transfers it onto a computer as a 3D image – cost only $400 to produce. It captured more details of an object’s contour than existing scanners on the market that often cost more than $100,000. The scholarship consists of US $10,000 payable over four years of undergraduate study, a framed certificate and complementary student membership to the IEEE. View more information on the IEEE Presidents' Scholarship. IEEE Security & Privacy Magazine and Cigital, Inc. Introduce Podcast Series on Security Issues 1 June – IEEE Security & Privacy magazine has teamed up with Cigital, Inc., a leading software quality management consulting firm, to host a series of podcasts featuring in-depth interviews with security gurus. The Silver Bullet Security Podcast with Gary McGraw, hosted by Cigital’s chief technology officer, is posted on the IEEE Computer Society website. McGraw is a renowned security expert, having authored a number of books in computer security. The initial podcast features a 20-minute conversation with Johns Hopkins University professor Avi Rubin, known for his work in electronic-voting security. The program is available free on the web at www.computer.org/security/podcasts/ or www.cigital.com/silverbullet. 1 June – IEEE members can take advantage of a 10 percent discount on data center design and management courses provided by Data Center University by American Power Conversion, a new partner in IEEE's continuing professional development program. Members can take courses that cover the fundamental issues of data center design, build, and management, as well as the latest high density applications that are creating challenging design issues for organizations. All courses are developed by actual data center executives with decades of combined experience running some of the world's most advanced data centers. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available upon successful completion of a course and by mid-2006, Data Center University will also offer certification paths. APC (American Power Conversion) is a leading provider of global, end-to-end solutions for real-time infrastructure. For more information on the program, to review other partners or to access courses by Data Center University, go to www.ieee.org/partners. IEEE Releases New Research Tool For Power and Energy Organizations 22 May – The IEEE has launched a new online research service developed to fill the needs of power utilities and other energy organizations. The IEEE Power & Energy Library provides targeted searching and browsing of power and energy-specific content from IEEE's wide collection of online technology publications. The collection contains more than 10,000 specific power generation articles, 36,000 power electronics articles, 4,600 in nuclear power and thousands more in related technologies. The service also enables broader access to the full collection of IEEE journal and conference proceeding articles – a total of more than one million documents. Subscribers pre-purchase a fixed amount of documents from one of four available access levels. After articles are downloaded, they are stored in an online 'file cabinet' that can be accessed and |