Vol 16 No 1 April 2013

www.ieeer8.org Published quarterly and distributed to more than 70,000 IEEE members across Region 8

Golden Jubilee Issue 50 years of Region 8 in IEEE Jubilee Issue Message from the IEEE President

AT the core of IEEE membership it by 20 or 30 members, and provide ences, involving 73 Sections/Sub- is technical knowledge (especially the main way that Society members sections (including some entities high technology) and interest that feel that they belong to their parent outside of Region 8) and over 300 drives the organisation forward. body. In contrast, the major IEEE Chapters. In addition, over 2,200 This has been especially true in Society Conferences typically at- non-IEEE entities participated by Region 8, which has a very large tract over a thousand participants. either financially or technically membership and a high level of In recent years, Region 8 has suc- sponsoring/co-sponsoring an event. active involvement in the 38 IEEE ceeded in bringing many of these These statistics give an appreciation Peter Staecker Technical Societies. major conferences to Western Eu- of the scale of penetration of IEEE IEEE President The IEEE publications are rope and other parts of the Region. in Region 8. In the past few years respected for their quality and in- In addition, the IEEE Distinguished web-based delivery methods have tegrity around the world, and are Lecturer Program has enabled become more popular. The webinar, the journals of choice for authors world experts to visit Region 8 Sec- for example, is ideal for reaching seeking to publish their work to tions to give prestigious talks. members based in thinly populated the largest possible readership. The scale of technical activity in areas, and also has the advantage Technical authors from the coun- the Region has grown steadily, and of being downloadable for future tries of Region 8 have been leading continues to grow. Since 1986, for viewing. contributors to IEEE journals, and example, Region 8 has hosted over The Distinguished Lecturer also serve on the committees and 4,000 technical meetings in 72 indi- Program has allowed world-class editorial boards that are essential vidual countries. The most popular experts from any of the ten IEEE to the success of the publications. venues have been in Italy, France, Regions to travel to Sections to Global History The technical achievements and dis- Germany and the United Kingdom, give talks and to interact with local Network tinctions of Region 8 members can but virtually all countries in the Re- members. This program enhances WHY not contribute a short be gauged from the list of awards gion. The most active IEEE Society the reputation of IEEE as the account of your own personal shown at the end of this document. sponsors have been the Computer world’s foremost technical society, experiences in electronics, There are over 400 Society Society (819 meetings), the Electron because it gives members, espe- computing, etc.? Any Chapters in Region 8, which, in Devices Society (455) and the Com- cially students, an opportunity to member can do this by going total, hold several thousand techni- munications Society (436). hear some of the leading technical to the IEEE History website at cal meetings each year. These are The Region has been involved speakers that they otherwise would www.ieeeghn.org mostly small scale events, attended directly in sponsoring 180 confer- never meet. Welcome from the Region 8 Director: let’s celebrate our volunteers IT is a true honour for me – the been digging heavily into the postal mail and for a direct com- 26th IEEE Region 8 Director – to history of our Region, collecting munication with others one had write a few words in this Special and reading such documents as to visit them in person. In spite of Issue of IEEE Region 8 News on Region 8 Committee meeting all these difficulties, a number of the occasion of the Region’s 50th minutes; IEEE Region 8 News is- enthusiastic volunteers managed anniversary and the 100th IEEE sues; Region 8 Student Activities to create our Region, slowly in the Region 8 Committee meeting. Committee reports; IEEE Secretary beginning – as can be expected – Our Region was founded on reports; relevant parts of the min- but resulting in a firm basis which Martin Bastiaans IEEE Region 8 Director 24 April 1962 as Region 9 of the utes of the meetings of the IEEE others could build on. IRE (Institute of Radio Engineers, Executive Committee, the IEEE These early volunteers did one of the two organisations that Regional Activities Board and the not know about term limits: they merged into IEEE on 1 January IEEE Member and Geographic Ac- often stayed in the same job for 1963) and its inaugural meeting tivities Board; and excerpts from many years, after which they might took place on 6 June 1962 in Ge- several IEEE databases. I was struck do the same in a different job. Al- neva. Without changing its bound- by two aspects to which I want to though this may sometimes lead aries, IRE Region 9 was renamed draw your attention. to unwanted situations, I never got IEEE Region 8 on 8 January 1963; Fifty years ago, communica- the impression that this has been and it was on 22 April 1963 that tion and travelling were quite dif- the case. On the contrary: these the first IEEE Region 8 Committee ferent from what we are used to volunteers treated IEEE and their meeting took place, again in Ge- now: no email, no internet with task as their own child, pampered neva. For these reasons, the entire its websites and social media, un- it and helped it grow, resulting in period April 2012 – April 2013 was reliable telephone and telex con- the strong Region that we have used to celebrate the Region’s 50th nections, slow travelling by train, now. It is to these enthusiastic anniversary. expensive airline tickets, and so on. volunteers that we owe a great For the past two years, I have All correspondence was done by respect.

2 IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 Jubilee Issue Congratulations on our achievements DURING the last 33 years I had the members by reducing the fees for these However, I never encountered any politi- privilege to serve as a volunteer in IEEE so-called Low Income Countries. Further- cal conflicts between IEEE volunteers in Region 8 which celebrates its 50th anni- more, when the number of members in our Region. versary. This gave me the opportunity to these countries was not sufficiently high For me, IEEE Region 8 is one of the observe and to participate in the wonder- for establishing a Section, a new type of most interesting Regions in IEEE because ful achievements of the Region with re- entity, the Section in Development, was of its diversity of languages, cultures and spect to its organisation, its membership created. The members of these Sections religions. This makes it most stimulating development, its professional standards, were permitted to participate in the to be a member of this Region and to and last but not least, all within its com- Regional activities. Later, many of these serve it as a volunteer. plex political environment. countries became member states of the I am very glad that this Special Issue I have followed the many ups and European Union. Today all 27 EU mem- of the IEEE Region 8 News tries to give Kurt R Richter also a few downs from all levels: from the ber states are represented by 23 sections some insight into the 50-year history of IEEE Region 8 Jubilee Book Section, the Region and the Board level on the IEEE Region 8 Committee, which IEEE Region 8. I take this opportunity to coordinator as well. Many political changes happened is over 30% of all Sections in the Region. thank all authors, the chief editor Charles which often had an impact on IEEE in The 9/11 catastrophe in the US in W Turner and the editors Roland Saam general, and in particular the develop- 2001 was a significant setback for the and Zhijia Huang, for their efforts to get ments within the Region. I can also men- Region, and in the years following many this Special Issue published and for the tion the end of the Cold War at the end of student members were lost, including a contributions to this issue. the 1980s which was followed by a large very active Student Branch in Iran. Finally, I congratulate IEEE Region 8 increase in IEEE activities in the former From these examples it can be seen on its 50th anniversary wishing a prosper- Eastern Block Countries. Measures had to that, unfortunately, politics can influence ous and successful future serving the IEEE be taken to help engineers become IEEE the development of a Region very much. members in this large geographic area. How the organisation has changed: Region 8’s past directors recall their years in the post

Kurt Richter Rolf Remshardt ed IEEE’s international/transnational character, (1991-92) (1999-2000) and its lack of centralised control. This gave free- Austria Section Germany Section dom and also opportunities to the volunteers One of the many highlights When I first started as Region in geographical and technical activities. Their during my directorship was the 8 Treasurer the annual budget support for students and early-career members revival of AFRICON in 1992. was about $25,000 and con- was another good feature of IEEE. For political reasons, the conference could not sisted of a few handwritten pages. But by the be held in the host Section, South Africa, and time I became Director the budget had grown Baldomir Zajc took place in Swaziland. It was opened by King to about three quarters of a million dollars. It (2005-06) Mswati III, whom I had the pleasure to entertain has continued to increase since then as the Re- Slovenia Section and to invite to lunch. gion expanded. Manual bookkeeping methods Law and regulations are differ- were replaced by computer-based budget and ent in each country: only local Charles Turner financial control programs. people can accommodate to (1993-94) them. In each of 60 Sections there is a different UK & RI Section Levent Onural style of life and practice. In the Region Com- When I became director, I dis- (2001-02) mittee we are each learning from one another covered that Region 8 was not Turkey Section and growing together. Many new Sections are well understood at IEEE HQ in I remember the lively, friendly getting experience from older experienced Piscataway. IEEE staff and the volunteers from and productive collaboration Sections. the USA needed to know more about the grow- within the Region 8 Commit- ing aspirations and objectives of our members. tee. One of the difficult issues we had to deal Jean-Gabriel Rémy IEEE activity in Eastern Europe and Russia was with was IEEE operations in the embargoed (2007-08) a priority, and Region 8 agreed to provide as- countries, such as Iran. The transnational nature France Section sistance to members to improve the quality of of IEEE, and its complexity, conflicted with the My priority was to develop their membership experience. actions and regulations of some governments, IEEE in the areas of Region 8 but the IEEE Board used its contacts to resolve where it was almost or com- Peer Martin Larsen most of the problems. It is very pleasing to see pletely absent. Some success was achieved with (1995-96) young IEEE volunteers from my days move up the creation of new Sections and conference Denmark Section to become influential senior officers. activity. I strongly believe that the rapid growth With a very few exceptions, of IEEE in Africa will eventually lead to a change the members in the Region 8 Tony Davies in the balance between Europe and the rest Sections speak their own lan- (2003-04) of Region 8. I was very pleased to help in the guage at their local meetings, so I believed that UK & RI Section creation of the Clementina Saduwa Award to it was very important for the Section Chairs to Being an active IEEE volunteer stimulate more activity by women members meet twice per year, to share experiences and has been a rewarding part of of IEEE in Region 8. exchange ideas. my life. I particularly appreciat-

IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 3 Jubilee Issue The Origins of IEEE Region 8

THE evolution of IEEE Region 8 A further complicating factor sided, but after 1970 the countries can be traced back to a series of in 1962 was the imminent merger of Southern and Central Europe meetings and negotiations, held between the American Institute of joined, as their membership grew just over 50 years ago, involving Electrical Engineers (AIEE) and IRE. to reach the threshold level for leaders from the technical com- Eventually, the Board of Directors Section formation. The far-sighted munity in Belgium and the Neth- of IRE received a petition from the policies on Section development erlands who were members of the Benelux Section in March 1962, that stimulated rapid increases in Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) which led to the creation of an IRE membership were laid down in the Charles Turner based in New York. Bruce Barrow, Region 9 on 24 April 1962, with its period 1985-95, at a time when Editor, IEEE Region 8 Jubilee Book an American member of IRE work- territory based on the European dramatic political changes in East- ing in Europe, was instrumental in Broadcasting Area defined in the ern and Central Europe provided diverse group of cultures, tradi- driving forward a new initiative, and Radio Regulations of the Interna- unusually good opportunities for tions, and political systems, distrib- the idea of an official IRE presence tional Telecommunication Union. recruiting new members. uted across more than 60 coun- in Europe was conceived at the end The European Broadcasting Area The record of achievement evi- tries and a host of languages. IEEE’s of 1959 in the Benelux Section. At includes – in addition to Western dent in the current size and status policy of conducting its affairs in that time there were about 2100 Europe – the Western part of the of Region 8 has been built over the English was readily accepted from members of IRE (the forerunner USSR, areas in the Middle East and past 50 years through the efforts the beginning. There is also a wide of IEEE) in Europe and the Mid- the territories bordering on the of thousands of IEEE members variety of educational and qualify- dle East. Many of these members Mediterranean, thus containing willing to serve as volunteers and ing systems for professional engi- had some previous connection the six IRE Sections: Benelux, Egypt, officers at Region, Section, Chapter neers across the Region, but this with North America, through their France, Geneva, Israel and Italy. It and Student Branch levels. In par- has not impeded the recruitment workplace or university, and some was immediately after the merger ticular, those elected to the offices of members in any way. had joined IRE whilst working over on 1 January 1963 that the IEEE of Regional Director or Treasurer Before the arrival of the in- there. In general, though, the pri- Board of Directors, on 8 January are faced with the burden of a very ternet, communication between mary allegiance of professional 1963, gave their approval for the time-consuming meeting schedule members, and also contact with engineers in European countries formation of IEEE Region 8, being and frequent travel to the USA. IEEE headquarters in Piscataway, had always been to their long-es- identical to the former IRE Region 9. Region 8 today is somewhat New Jersey, was difficult and ex- tablished National Society, which in This approval reflected the dominated by academic members, pensive. The adoption of email as many cases performed a qualify- strong international or transna- whereas in the USA, Regions 1-6 the preferred medium for sending ing, licensing or registration role. tional vision within IRE that has have a majority of members from messages and documents has One of the major problems fac- been embraced enthusiastically industry. Typically, members in Re- reduced the administrative load ing the proposed entry into Europe by IEEE since its formation. gion 8 belong to at least one of the for volunteers and has enabled was the perceived threat to the es- The first official IEEE (at the 38 IEEE Technical Societies. In the ordinary members to deal more tablished order of increased com- time of their formation, IRE) Sec- early years the elected Regional Di- conveniently with the staff in Pis- petition for members. An essential tions were formed in Israel, Egypt, rector came from one of the found- cataway. Similarly, the widespread task of the negotiating team was to Benelux, Italy, Geneva (as a proxy ing Sections, but more recently that acceptance of credit cards has reassure the National Societies in for Switzerland), France and – after has changed. Another significant overcome the problem of curren- Europe that there would be no seri- the formation of IRE Region 9 – the difference is that the number of cy conversion, to make it easier for ous threat to their long-term status. United Kingdom and Eire (later student members has grown rap- members to pay their dues, and for To this end a committee from IRE the Republic of Ireland). Shortly idly. All of the leading universities IEEE to transfer funds to Sections. visited various European countries after the merger, Norway and the with electrical engineering and The net result of these two key in 1961 to find out if the local elec- Federal Republic of Germany Sec- computer science programs have changes has been to allow more trical engineering societies would tions were added. The precise geo- active Student Branches. ambitious projects and initiatives welcome the formation of a new graphical extent of Region 8 was All of the activities organised proposed within the Region to IRE Region. On IRE’s side there was not finally defined until 1981 when by Region 8 for its members are become feasible. not unanimous agreement about the whole of Africa was included. financed by its governing body – Today, relations with the Na- the proposal to establish a new In 1970, Greenland and the entire the Region 8 Committee – which tional Societies in the countries of Region outside of North America, USSR were already declared to be meets twice per year. The funds Region 8 have remained cordial, because of some scepticism about within its boundaries. that it controls are derived mainly and a great deal of co-operation whether the US model of a volun- For the first decade of its ex- from the annual dues (subscrip- occurs in respect of technical teer-driven society would translate istence, Region 8 was anchored tions) paid by the members, to conferences, meetings, and other readily to countries more comfort- mostly in Western Europe, where which are added grants for special events. This state of affairs has able with staff-driven organisations. the bulk of the membership re- projects and the profits from con- been helped by the fact that most ferences and other events. IEEE members are also members IEEE Region 8’s past directors Region 8 comprises a uniquely of their National Society.

1962-1964 1965-1966 1967-1968 1969-1970 1971-1972 Herre Rinia Jean D Lebel Robert C G Roger P Paul G A Benelux France Williams Wellinger Jespers Section Section UK&RI Switzerland Benelux Section Section Section

4 IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 Jubilee Issue Geographical development: how IEEE spread rapidly across Region 8

IN the years after 1970, an increasing num- ties. For a Section to be viable, experience qualify for official Section status. The three ber of engineers working in the countries showed that it needed to have exceeded geographical areas targeted were Africa, of Southern and Eastern Europe joined this threshold comfortably, and also to the Middle East, and the former Soviet IEEE without the benefit of the support of have a group of active volunteers willing Block countries. a local Section or Chapter and were classi- to take on the administrative tasks running The history of the development of IEEE fied as Section 99 members by IEEE. the new Section, such as electing a Chair, activities in these quite different parts of Gradually, as the membership grew, it Secretary and Treasurer, annual report- the Region demonstrates how the profes- became possible, under IEEE Bylaws, for a ing and so on. The Region 8 Membership sional engineering community overcame new Section to be formed when the num- Development team devised a strategy for political and economic barriers to interna- ber of members exceeded 100. However, expanding the base of the Region through tional co-operation and took advantage of this process was not without its difficul- a set of measures to help local groups the new opportunities. Eastern Europe

THERE was a very large increase in Chapters, Sections and active IEEE volunteer members, including stu- dents, in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe between 1990 and 2005. Long before the fall of the Berlin Wall, there were a few IEEE members in the so-called Iron- Curtain countries. Typically these were senior people in government research institutes, and there was only limited IEEE activity. The political climate was harsh with severe travel restrictions im- posed, but when the Poland Sec- tion was formed in 1972 the Sec- tion Chair was permitted to attend Region 8 Committee meetings. The Yugoslav Section was formed in 1971 and became moderately active in holding con- ferences and in providing IEEE volunteers. Membership dues in April 1989. This reflected the lib- Section, as a non-voting member tinuing basis to selected libraries could not be transferred to USA, eralisation under way in Hungary, of the Region 8 Committee. in the Sections in Development. but an arrangement was made to which led to a greater exchange of A number of other steps were Technical books were also donated keep the funds in Yugoslavia using technical professionals and ideas. taken to stimulate IEEE activities by IEEE members in the USA and a blocked-currency account; this A number of Eastern and Cen- in these Sections. First, visits by the UK. In addition, Region 8 paid money was then used for IEEE tral European states did not have the Regional Director and other for the IEEE ‘All Society Magazines’ activities within the country, or sufficient members to qualify for officers were organised, to inform package to be sent to selected through IEEE, to pay for Yugoslav the status of a formal IEEE Section. the local leadership about IEEE Student Branches. Each of these members to travel to conferences To ease the path towards Section and Region 8. Secondly, a com- measures helped to increase the abroad. formation R C (Bob) Winton de- prehensive program of aid was awareness of IEEE and to grow the The Hungary Section was vised the concept of ‘Sections in begun, including a start-up grant level of technical activity. formed in 1987, and the R8 Com- Development’. This initiative ac- of $1,500. Complete sets of IEEE The main driver of the expan- mittee held a meeting in Budapest corded the provisional status of Journals were donated on a con- sion of technical activity was the

1973-1974 1975-1976 1977-1978 1979-1980 1981-1982 C Reginald F Louis H M E Folke Dick C J Walter E Russell Stumpers Bolinder Poortvliet Proebster UK&RI Section Benelux Sweden Benelux Germany Section Section Section Section

IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 5 Jubilee Issue formation of Society Chapters. Lithuania and Belgrade, Serbia The Lithuanian Section was finally Several IEEE Societies, notably in 2006; Sofia, Bulgaria and Bu- established in 2005, based mainly The Middle East the Electron Devices Society, be- charest, Romania in 2007; Riga, in Vilnius, followed by the Estonia came active in organising techni- Latvia in 2010; and Talinn, Estonia Section formation in 2006, and the BY 1970 there were already three cal events and meetings, and in 2012. Latvia Section in 2012. Sections in the Middle East: Israel, subsidising the payment of dues Russia presented a special Following the Balkan Wars, the Egypt and Iran. The Section Devel- to promote Chapter formation challenge for Region 8 – a huge existing Yugoslav Section was split opment Team, chaired by Jaafar in these countries. The Region 8 country with extensive scientific into three, with the formation of Ibrahim, was established by Direc- Committee followed this up by and engineering activity at a high the Slovenia and Croatia Sections tor Rolf Remshardt in 2000. Its main financing Chapter Chair meetings level and where one might expect in 1992. The residue was initially mission was to promote IEEE activi- in a coordinated approach to em- to see IEEE activities expand rap- called the Yugoslavia Section, but ties in countries without Sections, brace all Society Chapters in the idly. However, after the IEEE Rus- in 2005 it was renamed the Serbia to provide support for the so-called Region. The generous subsidy sia Section was formed in 1990, and Montenegro Section. In 1997 Section 99 members. program and the Chapter Chair membership growth was very a Macedonia Section was formed, In 2000 there were nearly 5,000 meetings were a great success slow because the annual dues and in 2005 the Bosnia and Herze- of these members. Representatives and a big catalyst in enhancing were unaffordable. Many Chapters govina Section was formed. from these countries were invited the development of IEEE activity were formed, most with the aid of Region 8 adopted a policy of to attend the Region 8 Committee and encouragement of R8 Chapter financial support from IEEE Socie- organising visits to every newly meetings and to take part in induc- and Section formation. ties. It was clear that the needs of formed Section to demonstrate tion workshops for training in IEEE Currency problems and a gen- the membership spread across a its commitment and to give moral operations. Potential Section Chairs eral lack of funds presented great vast geographical area could not support to the local officers and were given training in how to run a difficulties for researchers wishing volunteers. Meetings of small sub- to attend conferences abroad. In committees were arranged in plac- 1993 the Voluntary Contribution Education es where a meeting of the whole Fund (VCF) was created by the VISIT the IEEE TryEngineering. Region 8 Committee would have Region 8 Committee. Under this org website to find out more been impracticable for reasons of scheme members in Region 8 about IEEE’s involvement in travel cost or visa problems for make donations each year to help education, including help some Section Chairs. In this way young members, including stu- for high school teachers a vibrant network of volunteers dents, to present papers at IEEE with classroom projects was established to promote the conferences. IEEE volunteers in and lesson plans, and infrastructure to serve the mem- Region 8 had the advantage of a providing useful information bership. good appreciation of the problems about university programs The long and successful tradi- faced by members in Eastern Eu- for students interested in tion in Region 8 of strongly sup- rope. They also enjoyed friendly engineering. porting Student Activities was relations with fellow scientists and maintained in the newly emerging engineers, which enabled the rapid be met by a single Chapter. After Sections. Student Branches were development of new Sections, a while, moves to provide some formed at the leading technical Chapters and Student Branches. independence for activities organ- universities and some notable A Region 8 Committee meet- ised in St Petersburg and Siberia activities included the Technical ing was held in Warsaw in Spring produced an agreement to form English program initiated in St 1991 during what were still dif- three Russia Sections, one to be Petersburg, and 24-hour extreme ficult economic times for Poland. called ‘North West’ and one ‘Sibe- programming contests, initially in EGYPT (1955) and South Africa (1977) However, growth in membership ria’, while the original Russia Sec- Budapest. were the first African Sections to be cre- numbers was (and still is) slow. The tion retained responsibility for all The successful expansion of ated, but the very small numbers of IEEE economic changes meant that IEEE other parts of the country. IEEE R8 activities beyond the Iron members across Africa made it difficult to membership was unaffordable for When the three Baltic Repub- Curtain took place in a very difficult form additional viable Sections. Nigeria many professional engineers and lics (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia) political climate. It has brought per- (1978) and Kenya (1982) both started Sec- academics. gained their independence from sonal contacts, new opportunities tions but quickly found that these could In support of the newly formed Russia, the Region 8 Committee and an awareness in that area of not be sustained at a satisfactory level. It Sections, the R8 Committee held management at first planned, what may be called the ‘IEEE way was not until the new Millennium that the many of its meetings in the Central unsuccessfully, to form a single of doing things’. Each of these growth in membership could justify the and Eastern European areas. One ‘Baltic’ IEEE Section because the countries retained well-established creation of more Sections. was in Prague, Czech Republic in number of members was quite and prestigious National Technical The problems of the vast geographical 1994 then in Berlin, Germany in small. An early step was the for- Societies. IEEE has learned through extent of Africa, coupled with generally 1999 in what had been East Berlin mation of a Chapter in Estonia, the experience of Region 8 that it poor communications and infrastructure (part of the former GDR). Follow- which was affiliated with Finland is possible to work together to en- were finally overcome when internet ing this came Budapest, Hungary since there was no Estonia Sec- sure that a harmonious relation- services and mobile telephony became in 2002; Zagreb, Croatia in 2003; tion. Eventually, the three Baltic ship can be built on the mutual widely available. This remarkable story Kraków, Poland in 2004; Vilnius, countries had their own Sections. interest in advancing technology. is told here.

1983-1984 1985-1986 1987-1988 1989-1990 1991-1992 Karsten E Basil W Hugo Sven Olaf Kurt R Richter Drangeid Osborne Ruechardt Öhrvik Austria Switzerland UK&RI Germany Sweden Section Section Section Section Section

6 IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 Jubilee Issue

Section and how to organise elec- volunteers to serve as officers, poor tions. The following countries took access to the internet, and language part in these meetings: Bahrain, barriers. It also became clear that Belarus, Estonia, Iceland, Malta, for a viable Section to flourish, the Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, Lithuania, IEEE threshold of 100 higher grade Latvia, Tunisia, Serbia and Monte- members was not really sufficient negro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, for success to be assured. The Re- Iraq, Morocco and Jordan. Two gion 8 Committee decided to set Sections, Nigeria and Kenya, were up a grant of $1,500 for each new rejuvenated to restart activities for Section. their members. The formation of this new group This initiative proved to be of Sections extended the reach of highly successful. More than 20 new IEEE to vital parts of the Region, es- Sections and Sub-Sections were pecially in areas previously subject formed over the next decade. Each to conflict and degraded infrastruc- of the new Sections faced some dif- ture. It also enabled help to be direct- ficult problems, because of a lack of ed to students and young engineers funding, a shortage of experienced in their professional development.

HISTORICALLY, IEEE Region 8 consisted in: Lusaka, Zambia (2011); Nairobi, Kenya Africa of only one Section in Africa – the Egypt (2009); Windhoek, Namibia (2007); Gabo- Section. When IEEE regional geographical rone, Botswana (2004); George, South boundaries were redefined in 1981, the Africa (2002); Cape Town, South Africa South Africa Section and Nigeria Section (1999); Stellenbosch, South Africa (1996); were included as new entities of Region 8. An Mbabane, Swaziland (1992); Abidjan, Ivory East Africa Section was also formed in 1981 Coast (1987); and Nairobi, Kenya (1983). (its boundaries redefined to Kenya Section The conference and associated series of in August 1990). The inclusion of the new preparatory events have served as an av- Sections caused Region 8 to grow in Africa, enue for volunteer leadership development, and today the trend follows an exponential and contributed to membership growth and curve. Sections formed in the last decade in- OU formation. For instance, a Women in clude: Morocco, Ghana, Tunisia and Zambia. Engineering Affinity Group was formed Sub-Sections constituted: Botswana, Algeria, shortly after the hosting of IEEE AFRICON Tanzania, Sudan and Mauritius. 2007. Following the hosting of AFRICON IEEE membership data for African Sec- 2004, volunteers in Botswana started a tions reveals there were approximately 6,500 series of local International Association of members at the end of December 2012. It Science and Technology for Development is estimated that another 800 members are (IASTED) events, and with cooperation from located in areas of Africa where IEEE does IEEE Region 8, the Botswana sub-Section not have a formally defined Section. In Egypt was formed in 2009. Preparations towards and Nigeria, the ratio between student and AFRICON 2013 led to the formation of the higher grade members is approximately 1:1. Mauritius sub-Section. Countries with the Other countries with large number of IEEE largest number of technically sponsored members include: Uganda, Zimbabwe, Swa- conferences include Egypt and South Africa. ziland and Namibia. Higher grade retention In terms of L-31 reporting, some 300 rates vary between 50 and 90%. IEEE events are hosted annually. Approxi- With the addition of a number of new mately 100 events are non-technical or or- Sections, and together with heightened tech- ganisational, and the remaining events are nical activity in South Africa in 2009, some classified as professional and/or technical. 14 new technical and council chapters were Through the technical events, some 12,000 created. Some 55 technical organisational persons, including students and non-mem- units (OUs) are present on the continent. bers, are engaged annually. While a number of IEEE technically spon- IEEE formally partners with three na- sored conferences have been held in Africa, tional or sister societies: South African Insti- Region 8 has supported the IEEE AFRICON tute of Electrical Engineers, Arab Informa- since 1983. This conference has been held tion Union (through the Communications

1993-1994 1995-1996 1997-1998 1999-2000 2001-2002 Charles W Peer Martin Maurice Papo Rolf A Levent Onural Turner Larsen France Remshardt Turkey UK&RI Denmark Section Germany Section Section Section Section

IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 7 Jubilee Issue

Society) and Moroccan Associa- strengths as a professional associa- tion of Electrical, Electronics and tion (with the technical expertise Computer Engineers (through the of its global membership), paired Communications Society). with UNESCO’s overall objective to Major ongoing IEEE educa- mobilise science knowledge and tional activities include Engineer- policy for sustainable develop- ing Projects In Community Service, ment, contributes to the partner- Teacher In-Service Programme, ship’s effectiveness.” (UNESCO and Accreditation activities. In Press, February 2012). 2012, an IEEE-UNESCO Memoran- Beyond a number of regional, dum of Understanding (MoU) was technical and educational awards to signed with intention to implement individual members, a noteworthy projects to support the engineer- achievement in South Africa, was ing community in Africa. “The a IEEE Milestone: First Operational agreement, signed at UNESCO’s Use of Wireless Telegraphy, 1899- Headquarters, outlines initiatives 1902. The growth of technical, that support the common goal of educational and member activities mobilising engineering education in Africa is a positive trend for IEEE outreach for both students and Region 8, and aligns to the emerg- educators in Africa, a region both ing social and economic activities organisations regard as a priority. on the world’s second largest and The combination of IEEE’s core second most populous continent. Membership growth in Region 8: a 50-year success story

THROUGHOUT the history of 80,000 encouraged to develop their work-

Region 8 the membership has 70,000 place skills. Help and support are increased steadily from around provided for job-seekers through 60,000 2,000 in 1963 to over 70,000 today. the IEEE Job Site. Elevation to the At first, many new members were 50,000 status of IEEE Senior Member is a recruited because of the arrival of 40,000 measure of recognition of sustained

an IEEE presence in Europe. Later, as 30,000 job performance at a professional the developing economies in West- level, and can be helpful in secur- ern Europe were growing hungry 20,000 ing promotion or in applying for for technological ‘know-how’, IEEE 10,000 employment.

was seen to be a primary source 0 The geographical remoteness for information vital to the ‘new’ 1968 1978 1988 1998 2008 of Region 8 from the headquarters industries. The main reason, his- in Piscataway has made it essential Membership growth over 50 years [Aleksandar Szabo] torically, for members to join has for Sections and Chapters to create been strongly related to the high engineers, line managers, etc. It is volunteers is also aimed to improve an atmosphere in which members quality of IEEE technical journals important for IEEE membership to the service delivered to members, truly feel that they belong to a ‘lo- and conferences. be attractive to this broadly based using workshops and online ses- cal club’ that is serving their needs. It has been noted elsewhere constituency, and to take account sions. They are also responsible for There are many examples in the in this brochure that Region 8 is of the changing priorities and inter- ensuring that effective communi- Region of highly active volunteers extremely diverse, not least in ests of individuals as they progress cation with members includes an running successful meetings and the range and type of employ- in their careers. This is especially awareness of what IEEE offers its other events that not only attract ment across its 60-odd countries. true of the inter-disciplinary fields members. Member benefits for the new members but also help to re- The members working in higher related to medicine and biology. younger segment of the member- tain existing members. education, for example, might be Membership development has ship, which include professional These examples demonstrate employed in very high technology been a central focus for volunteer development, are provided. Mid- the importance to IEEE of its corps research-orientated universities, or activities in both the Region and career members are guided towards of dedicated volunteers that main- at the other extreme, teaching tech- in the Sections, not simply to grow the continuing education courses in tain the sense of continuity and nician engineers. Those in industry, the numbers but also to enhance management skills. The IEEE Center support essential for the long-term similarly, could be research workers, the quality of each member’s ex- of Leadership Excellence is an ex- success and viability of a profes- development engineers, product perience with IEEE. The training of ample of the way that members are sional society.

2003-2004 2005-2006 2007-2008 2009-2010 2011-2012 Anthony C Baldomir Jean-Gabriel Józef W Marko Davies Zajc Rémy Modelski Delimar UK&RI Slovenia France Poland Croatia Section Section Section Section Section

8 IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 Jubilee Issue A new approach to section development BY the 1990s the number of members liv- members ( including Student Members). Among the challenges that faced the ing in countries without Sections, the so- As a result of this initiative, new Sec- team were: called Section 99 members, had grown to tions were formed in 16 countries and • Insufficient higher grade members to the point where a new approach to increas- two Sections were brought back to active qualify for Section status. ing the number of Sections was required. status. A total of 1,300 members were for- • Inadequate Internet capabilities. The New Section Development (Sec- mally assigned to new Sections. The total • Language barriers where English was not tion 99) Team was established for the first number of Sections in Region 8 increased taught in schools. time in IEEE history in 2000 by Region 8 Di- from 40 in 2000 to 56 through the Sections • Lack of funding for North African stu- rector Rolf Remshardt. The Team consisted in Development project. The number of dents to participate in IEEE conferences of four volunteers: Jaafar Ibrahim (Chair) Sub-sections also increased. and meetings. from Saudi Arabia, Gerhard Hancke from The following countries were formulat- Promotional activities organised by South Africa, Ayhan Altintas from Turkey, ed: Bahrain, Iceland, Malta, Qatar, Oman, the New Section Development Team and Iiro Hartimo from Finland. Lebanon, Morocco, Jordan, Belarus, Esto- were: The main mission of the team was nia, Lithuania, Latvia, Tunisia, Serbia and • New Section Chairs training sessions to promote IEEE activities in Region 8 Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, held at Region 8 Committee Meetings. countries without Sections, to represent and Iraq. Two sections, Nigeria and Kenya, • Seed money of $1,500 made available to all Section 99 members at the Region 8 were rejuvinated. Other sections within help new Sections start activities. Committee Meetings, and to try to form Region 8 were formed later by the sub- • Assistance in providing induction into new Sections in their respective countries. committee of New Sections Development. IEEE procedures, such as election of of- In 2000, the IEEE membership database More than 1,300 members of Section 99 ficers, financial reporting and meeting showed that there were 4,651 Section 99 came to belong to formal sections. reporting. Promoting technical activities through meetings and conferences

AT the core of IEEE membership it is technical knowledge (especially high technology) and interest that drive the organisation forward. This has been especially true in Region 8, which has a very large membership and a high level of active involvement in the 38 IEEE Technical Societies. The IEEE publications are re- spected for their quality and in- tegrity around the world, and are the journals of choice for authors can be gauged from the list of in the Region has grown steadily, event. These statistics give an seeking to publish their work to the awards shown at the end of this and continues to grow. Since 1986, appreciation of the scale of pen- largest possible readership. Tech- document. for example, Region 8 has hosted etration of IEEE in Region 8. In the nical authors from the countries There are over 400 Society over 4,000 technical meetings in past few years, web-based delivery of Region 8 have been leading Chapters in Region 8, which, in to- 72 individual countries. The most methods have become more pop- contributors to IEEE journals, and tal, hold several thousand techni- popular venues have been in Italy, ular. The webinar, for example, is also serve on the committees and cal meetings each year. These are France, Germany and the United ideal for reaching members based editorial boards that are essential mostly small-scale events attended Kingdom, but virtually all countries in thinly populated areas, and also to the success of the publications. by 20 to 30 members and provide in the Region are represented. The has the advantage of being down- The technical achievements and the main way that Society members most active IEEE Society sponsors loadable for future viewing. distinctions of Region 8 members feel that they belong to their par- have been the Computer Society The Distinguished Lecturer ent body. In contrast, the major IEEE (819 meetings), the Electron De- Program has allowed world-class Society Conferences typically attract vices Society (455) and the Com- experts from any of the ten IEEE Meetings over 1,000 participants. In recent munications Society (436). Regions to travel to Sections to years, Region 8 has succeeded in The Region has been involved give talks and to interact with local EVERY year IEEE organises bringing many of these major con- directly in sponsoring 180 confer- members. This program enhanc- thousands of technical ferences to Western Europe and ences, involving 73 Sections/Sub- es the reputation of IEEE as the meetings in Region 8, all other parts of the Region. In ad- sections (including some entities world’s foremost technical society open to members and dition, the IEEE Distinguished Lec- outside of Region 8) and over 300 because it gives members, espe- non-members. Your local turer Program has enabled world Chapters. In addition, over 2,200 cially students, an opportunity to Section can provide details of experts to visit Region 8 Sections non-IEEE entities participated by hear some of the leading techni- upcoming events. It’s a great to give prestigious talks. either financially or technically cal speakers that they otherwise way to network! The scale of technical activity sponsoring/co-sponsoring an would never meet.

IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 9 Jubilee Issue Roll Of Honour IEEE Medal Winners From Region 8

IEEE Major Medals Medal of Honor Alexander Graham Bell Medal for exceptional THE IEEE Medal of Honor is the highest IEEE award. The Medal was established in 1917 and is contributions to the advancement of communications awarded for an exceptional contribution or an extraordinary career in the IEEE fields of interest. sciences and engineering. 1970 Dennis Gabor 1979 A Christian Jacobaeus, Sweden Section UK & Rep of Ireland Section For pioneering work in the theory of switching For his ingenious and exciting systems and technical leadership in the discovery and verification of development of telecommunication systems. the principles of holography. 1992 James L Massey, Switzerland Section For contributions to the theory and practical implementation of forward-error-correcting codes, multi-user communications, and cryptographic 1993 Karl Johan Åström systems; and for excellence in engineering Sweden Section education. For fundamental contributions 2000 Vladimir A Kotelnikov, Russia Section to theory and applications of For fundamental contributions to signal theory. adaptive control technology. 2003 Joachim Hagenauer, Germany Section For contributions to soft decoding and its application to iterative decoding algorithm. James H Mulligan, Jr Education Medal for a career Richard W Hamming Medal for exceptional of outstanding contributions to education in the fields contributions to information sciences, systems of interest of IEEE. and/or technology. Edison Medal for a career of meritorious 1971 Franz Ollendorff, Israel Section 1994 Gottfried Ungerboeck, Switzerland Section achievement in electrical science, electrical For contributions to the teaching of electrical For the development and application of trellis engineering or the electrical arts. engineering, especially the preparation of classic modulation to digital communications. 1973 B D H Tellegen, Benelux Section texts on electromagnetic fields, and for leadership in 1995 Jacob Ziv, Israel Section For a creative career of significant achievement in building a distinguished program in a new institute. For contributions to information theory, and the electrical circuit theory, including the gyrator. 2007 Andrew S Tanenbaum, Benelux Section theory and practice of data compression. 1999 A Kees Schouhamer Immink, For contributions to education in computing, 1996 Mark S Pinsker, Russia Section Germany Section especially computer organisation, networking and For outstanding contributions to information theory, For a career of creative contributions to the operating systems. statistical estimation and coding theory. technologies of digital video, audio, and data recording. 2003 Claude Berrou and Alain Glavieux, Medal for Engineering Excellence for exceptional France Section 2005 Peter Lawrenson, achievement in applications engineering For the invention of turbo codes, which have UK & Rep of Ireland Section revolutionised digital communications. For outstanding contributions to the field of 1994 Heiner Sussner, France Section electrical machines, most notably the development For engineering leadership in the demonstration 2006 Vladimir I Levenshtein, Russia Section and commercialisation of switched reluctance of one gigabit per square inch storage density on a For contributions to the theory of error-correcting drives. digital magnetic rigid disk. codes and information theory, including the Levenshtein distance. 2008 Dov Frohman-Bentchkowsky, Israel Section For pioneering the development of the MOS Founders Medal for outstanding contributions 2007 Abraham Lempel, Israel Section Erasable, Programmable Read Only Memory in the leadership, planning, and administration of For pioneering work in data compression especially (EPROM), a key enabler of the information age affairs of great value to the electrical and electronics the Lempel-Ziv algorithm. revolution. engineering profession. 2012 Amin Shokrollahi, Switzerland Section and 1998 Alan W Rudge, UK & Rep of Ireland Section Michael G Luby For the conception, development, and analysis of Jack S Kilby Signal Processing Medal for For distinguished leadership in the field of practical rateless codes. outstanding achievements in signal processing. telecommunications and for advancement of the electrical and electronic engineering profession. 2003 Hans W Schuessler, Germany Section For his role in the early development of the field Heinrich Hertz Medal for outstanding achievements of Digital Signal Processing, especially the theory, in electromagnetic waves. design, and implementation of analog and digital 1995 Jean Van Bladel, Benelux Section filters. 2001 Adrianus T De Hoop, Benelux Section

10 IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 Jubilee Issue IEEE Recognitions Honorary Membership IEEE Honorary Members are elected by the IEEE Board of Directors from among those who have rendered meritorious service to mankind in IEEE’s designated fields of interest and who are not members of the IEEE. 1982 Brian D Josephson, Lamme Medal for meritorious achievement in Robert N Noyce Medal for exceptional UK & Rep of Ireland Section the development of electrical or electronic power contributions to the microelectronics industry. For his prediction (discovery) of pair tunnelling between superconductors which constitutes the basis apparatus or systems. 2011 Pasquale Pistorio, Switzerland Section of a Josephson junction technology for high speed and 1992 Dietrich R Lambrecht, Germany Section For contributions to, and leadership in, the low power computing elements and memories. For outstanding contributions to the technology, business and environmental advancement of turbine-generator engineering development of the global semiconductor and 1992 Mark Krivocheev, Russia Section and technology, particularly superconducting electronics industry. For technical contributions to television and leadership rotor winding. in developing international standardisation. 1994 Michel A G Carpentier, Benelux Section 1994 Michel E Pouloujadoff, France Section Simon Ramo Medal for exceptional achievement For leadership in pioneering the R&D and policy For advancements in the theory and application in systems engineering and systems science. of high-power electromagnetic apparatus, initiatives at the European Community level in the areas 1986 Arnaldo Maria Angelini Enel, including transformers and electronically of environment and information and communication Italy (Central & South) Section controlled machine drives. technologies. For technical and managerial leadership in the 1995 Lars H Ramqvist, Sweden Section 1997 André J Calvaer, Benelux Section integration of the Italian electric power system For distinguished and far-sighted leadership of the For outstanding contributions to the analysis and for contributions to education in Systems Ericsson Group in a period of rapid technology change of the dynamic performance of electric power Science and Engineering. systems, including the vital role of reactive and market development. 2004 Boris E Chertok and Nikolai N power. 1997 Pekka J Tarjanne, Switzerland Section Sheremetevsky, Russia Section For outstanding leadership and contributions to 2000 Joachim Holtz, Germany Section For significant contributions to systems the implementation of new working methods and For pioneering inventions related to engineering and technical leadership of control structures for the International Telecommunications magnetically levitated high-speed trains, systems design for the orbiting space station Union. AC drive systems for railway traction and Mir (Peace). modulation theory of power converters. 2003 Jorma Ollila, Finland Section

For contributions to launching mobile communications, John von Neumann Medal for outstanding a major global industry that has fundamentally changed Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal for outstanding achievements in computer-related science and the way people communicate. contributions to material and device science technology. technology, including practical application. 2007 Ian C McRae, South Africa Section 1997 Maurice V Wilkes, For contributions to electrification and development of 2007 Nicolaas Frans De Rooij, UK & Rep of Ireland Section the electrical grid in Southern Africa. Switzerland Section For a lifelong career of seminal contributions For pioneering contributions to microsystem to computing, including the first full-scale technology and effective transfer into industrial operational stored program computer and to IEEE Service Awards products and applications. the foundations of programming. Haraden Pratt Award 2008 Wolfgang Helfrich, Germany Section, 2002 Ole-Johan Dahl and Kristen Nygaard, The IEEE Haraden Pratt Award was established in 1971 and Martin Schadt, Switzerland Section and Norway Section is presented to recognise individuals who have rendered James Fergason For the introduction of the concepts underlying outstanding service to the IEEE. For pioneering development of twisted-nematic object-oriented programming through the 1986 Robert C Winton, UK & Rep of Ireland Section liquid crystal technology. design and implementation of SIMULA 67. For outstanding service to the IEEE in furthering its transnational activities in Region 8. 2011 C A R (Tony) Hoare, Dennis J Picard Medal for Radar UK & Rep of Ireland Section 1996 Walter E Proebster, Germany Section Technologies and Applications for outstanding For seminal contributions to the scientific For outstanding leadership and service to the Institute, accomplishments in advancing the fields of radar foundation of software design. especially for fostering a variety of activities and technologies and their applications. membership growth in Region 8. 2003 Charles W Turner, UK & Rep of Ireland Section 2009 Philip M Woodward, IEEE/RSE Wolfson James Clerk Maxwell For his outstanding leadership in extending the UK & Rep of Ireland Section Medal for groundbreaking contributions transnational activities of the IEEE into Eastern & Central For pioneering work of fundamental importance that have had an exceptional impact on the Europe. in radar waveform design, including the development of electronics and electrical Woodward Ambiguity Function, the standard engineering or related fields. 2008 Maurice Papo, France Section tool for waveform and matched filter analysis. For furthering IEEE transnational activities and for 2012 Gerhard M Sessler, Germany Section conceiving and implementing major operational 2010 Alfonso Farina, Italy Section For pioneering contributions to electroacoustic improvements leading to more effective and efficient For continuous, innovative, theoretical and transducers, the development of silicon IEEE volunteer activities. practical contributions to radar systems and microphone technology, and seminal work on adaptive signal processing techniques. electroactive materials. 2011 Levent Onural, Turkey Section For leadership in the worldwide promotion of the values embraced by IEEE.

IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 11 Jubilee Issue

The First Submarine Transatlantic Telephone Cable System (TAT-1), 1956 Code-breaking at Bletchley Park Oban, Scotland during World War II, 1939-1945 Milton Keynes, England

Maxwell’s Equations, 1860-1871 Benjamin Franklin’s work in London, 1757-1775 Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, England London, England

Fleming Valve, 1904 London, England

Callan’s Pioneering Contributions to Electrical Science and Technology, 1836 Maynooth, Ireland

Shannon Scheme for the Electrification of the Irish Free State, 1929 Ardnacrusha, County Limerick, Ireland

County Kerry Transatlantic Cable Stations, 1866 Waterville, County Kerry, Ireland

Transmission of Transatlantic Radio Signals, 1901 Poldhu, England

First Transatlantic Television Signal via Satellite, 1962 Discovery of Radioconduction Doonhilly Downs, Cornwall, England by Edouard Branly, 1890 Paris, France

Invention of Public Key Cryptography, 1969–1975 Cheltenham, England CERN Experimental Instrumentation, 1968 Early Developments in Remote-Control, 1901 Geneva, Switzerland Madrid, Spain First Transatlantic Reception of a Television Signal via Satellite, 1962 Pleumeur-Bodou, France

First Operational Use Of Wireless Telegraphy, 1899-1902 Cape Town, South Africa

12 IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 Jubilee Issue

Poulsen-Arc Radio Transmitter, 1902 Northern Copenhagen, Denmark

Shilling’s Pioneering Contribution to Practical Telegraphy, 1828-1837 St Petersburg, Russia Popov’s Contribution to the Development of Wireless Communication, 1895 St Petersburg, Russia

Compact Disc Audio Player, 1979 Eindhoven, Netherlands

Discovery of Superconductivity, 1911 Leiden, Netherlands Star of Laufenburg Interconnection, 1958 Laufenburg, Switzerland

Pioneering Work on the Quartz Electronic Wristwatch, 1962-1967 Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Marconi’s Early Wireless Experiments, 1895 Salvan, Wallis, Switzerland

Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), Electrical Pioneer Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Vucje Hydroelectric Plant, 1903 Leskovac, Yugoslavia

Volta’s Electrical Battery Invention, 1799 Como, Italy

Marconi First Wireless Experiments, 1895 Bologna, Italy IEEE Milestones

Lempel-Ziv Data Compression in Region 8 Algorithm, 1977 Haifa, Israel THE IEEE Milestones in Electrical Engineering and Computing program honours significant technical achievements in all areas associated with IEEE. Milestones recognise the technological WEIZAC Computer, 1955 innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity found in Rehovot, Israel unique products, services, seminal papers and patents. Milestones can be proposed by any IEEE member, and are sponsored by an IEEE Organisational Unit (OU) such as an IEEE Section, Society, Chapter or Student Branch. The program is administered by the IEEE History Committee through the IEEE History Center. IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 13 Jubilee Issue

Participants at Region 8’s Student Branch Congress 2012 in Madrid, Spain Student activities in Region 8 The growth of student membership has continued to be one of the success stories in the development of the Region. The students are a rich volunteer resource for the future and provide a strong IEEE presence in higher education. How they got started

DURING the IEEE Region 8 Com- Cariolaro); the E.T.S.I.T. Madrid, to participate in the Contest at the Committee in its present form was mittee‘s Fifth Meeting, held in Ge- 1964 (Prof Millan); and the Univer- Institute level and to attend the established during the 44th Region neva, Switzerland, on April 26, 1965, sity of Louvain, 1965 (Prof Jespers). IEEE Convention. Student Branch 8 Committee meeting in Herzlia, Director Mr J Lebel expressed his The first Region 8 Student Activi- representatives were also invited Israel, on 24–25 March 1985. The concern about subscription rates for ties Committee was chaired by Prof to a meeting during the Convention. first committee comprised Dick C students, the interests of graduate Paul G A Jespers and consisted of In 1984, the IEEE centennial J Poortvliet, Chair; André Vander students, and how to encourage the Chair, the Counsellors of all Stu- year, each Region selected a Cen- Vorst, Past Chair; and the afore- student membership without com- dent Branches, and several mem- tennial Student to be invited to the mentioned Region 8 Centennial petition with the national societies. bers of the Region 8 Committee. centennial celebrations in Boston. Students. Since then, the Region 8 Four Student Branches existed The period 1965–1970 was The Region 8 Centennial Student Student Activities Committee has al- at that time: the University of Roma, characterised by rather large ex- was Philippe Siraut from Louvain- ways included at least one student. established in 1961 with Prof Bar- change programs between Head- la-Neuve. His alternate was Lex van The first officially appointed Region zilai as Counselo; the University of quarters and Region 8: the winners Gijsel from Eindhoven. 8 Student Representative was Mikko Padova, established in 1963 (Prof of the Region 8 Contest were invited A Region 8 Student Activities Katajamäki in 1988. Topics and themes

The main topics in Student Activities keep recur- • IEEE R8SAC keeps connections to EESTEC, Region 8 student activities: ring as themes: BEST, EUREL and several other student bodies what drives students? • Student Paper Contest. across its Regional boundaries. The SAC goals have always included but were • Student Meetings on international basis. • Cooperation with career platforms has been not limited to • Retention problems after graduation. established, granting special benefits for IEEE • Professional advancement of students. • Student member dues and payments. applicants. • Excelling in leadership skills. These topics from the early days of R8SAC are • Student Branches routinely organise interna- • Exchange between peers, Branches, Sections. still valid today: tional trips. • Bring more fun to IEEE. • Several Memoranda of Understanding have • In 2009, the Twin Branch Program gave a la- • Growing the leaders of the future. been signed between national and European bel to inter-branch cooperation and increased student bodies and IEEE to exchange knowl- the links between Region 8 branches. edge and competencies.

14 IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 Jubilee Issue

Top: SBC 2010 in Leuven, Belgium Left: SBC 2008 in London, United Kingdom Above: SBC 2006 in Paris, France

Evolution of Student Branches Student representatives on Region 8 Committee THE number of Student Branches official Region 8 Student Meeting Region 8 SAC Chair seems to be From 1984 onwards the following students in Region 8 evolved from the first in Istanbul, Turkey. Prior to 1998, a base for several IEEE leadership were appointed as Representatives to the Branch in 1961 at University of Transnational Student Meetings careers. Out of the 14 SAC Chair- Region 8 Committee. Roma to 31 in 1972, 41 in 1982, were organised where representa- persons between 1966 and 2012, 1985 Philippe Siraut / Lex van Gijsel 70 in 1992, and exploded to 177 in tives of Region 8 Student Branches seven took office as Region 8 Di- (Centennial) 2002. In the 50th anniversary year, met. Besides leadership and train- rectors. This reflects the important at the end of 2012, there were 415 ing workshops, IEEE sessions and status that Student Activities enjoys 1986 Lex van Gijsel / Klaus Diepold registered Branches. Connecting, interaction, the core of the SBC is a in Region 8. 1988-90 Mikko Katajamäki activating and supporting these multicultural evening, where each The student membership is 1991-92 Gözde Bozdaği Akar branches has been the main task participant shares their customs, now over 20,000 and continues to 1993-94 Roman Mittendorfer of all Student Activities Commit- foods and traditions. grow year by year, which is a credit tees from the early days. The Region 8 Committee ap- to the great work of generations of 1995-96 Andrej Zemva Region 8 was the first Region proved in 1982 a system of grants student volunteers. 1997-98 Jens Klimaschewski/Hannemann to have a web page, even before to help Student Branches organise A number of special awards at 1999-00 Jorge-Luis Sánchez-Ponz IEEE had one. It was set up in 1995 trips abroad and encourage inter- both Region and global IEEE level 2001-02 Giorgia German and was hosted at Bilkent Univer- branch and international contacts. are available annually for Student 2003-04 Basak Yüksel sity, Ankara, Turkey, the site of the In 2005, a noteworthy initia- members, Student Branch Coun- Region 8 SAC (Levent Onural). tive was born. Ricardo Varela and sellors and Student Branches. The 2005-06 Ricardo Varela Iglesias Email was used from 1993 on- Marko Delimar started the first role of Student Branch Counsellor 2007 Michael Gloegl wards to communicate with the IEEEXtreme. This 24-hour pro- has always been vital to the suc- 2008-09 Pablo Herrero branches. gramming challenge was moved cess of Student Branches. Region 8 2010 Amélie Anglade In 1998, the biennial series of to global IEEE a year later and has has been very fortunate that a suc- what is now known as IEEE Region doubling the number of partici- cession of highly dedicated teach- 2011-12 Jorge Soares 8 Student Branch and GOLD Con- pants every year since. ers have been willing to advise and 2013 Christian Schmid gress (SBC) started with the first Interestingly, the position of support their students. Region 8 Student Branch Student Paper Contest

(and GOLD) Congresses ON 7 September 1967, the first Re- student activity in Region 8. The gion 8 Student Paper Contest (SPC) 45th contest was held in 2012 during 1998 Istanbul, Turkey, 10–13 August 1998 was carried out in Lausanne. MELECON in Hammamet, Tunisia. 2000 Eindhoven, Netherlands, 14–19 May 2000 This inter-Branch competition The Dick Poortvliet Award (a 2002 Cairo, Egypt, 1–5 May 2002 for the best student papers re- plaque and a cash prize of $250, 2004 Passau, Germany, 4–7 September 2004 ceived five submissions, which were funded by the regional SAC, for the awarded prizes, and included in the Student Branch of the Student Pa- 2006 Paris, France, 30 August – 3 September 2006 international contest organised by per Contest winner) was established 2008 London, United Kingdom, 28–31 August 2008 the IEEE in New York. on 7 November 1996, to honour the 2010 Leuven, Belgium, 4–8 August 2010 Since it was first held, interest in 1995 Student Paper Contest Coordi- this contest has grown: the Student nator Dick C J Poortvliet, who died 2012 Madrid, Spain, 25–29 July 2012 Paper Contest is the oldest regional on 25 June 1995.

IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 15 Jubilee Issue IEEE Region 8 conferences EUROCON 2007

ONE of the first goals of the IEEE Nairobi in 1983. It was hoped that Region 8 Committee was to organ- bringing IEEE technical activities ise technical conferences, similar to to Africa would help to arrest the those held in the US. This could be brain-drain that had led to many done, at first, only in cooperation engineers and technicians leaving with the European National Socie- the continent to work abroad. This ties. In 1970, 12 National Electrical would also provide a platform for Engineering Societies agreed to the presentation of papers by local participate in the Conferences, members. The AFRICON Confer- and in 1972 EUREL was founded ences were held at the following as a partner with IEEE Region 8. venues: Nairobi 1983, Abidjan The first joint activity of IEEE Re- 1987, Mbabane 1992, Stellenbosch gion 8 and the National Societies 1996, Cape Town 1999, George was to hold EUROCON 71, the first (South Africa) 2002, Gaborone European Conference on Electro- 2004, Windhoek 2007, Nairobi technology, at the Palais de Beau­ 2009, Livingstone 2011 and Flic lieu, Lausanne, Switzerland, on en Flac (Mauritius) 2013. 18–22 October 1971. The theme In Europe, a new wave of de- of the conference was the techno- mand for technological knowhow logical progress in electronics and arrived with the fall of the Berlin computer engineering being made Wall in November 1989 and the in Europe, and to provide a forum restoration of the former So- for the new generation of engi- viet Block countries. The second neers to present their work. The EUROCON series was redesigned topics presented at the EUROCON lowing venues: Lausanne 1971, to meet the new challenge, and it 1971 sessions included automatic Amsterdam 1974, Venice 1977, was agreed to revive the confer- timers, biomedical engineering, Stuttgart 1980, Copenhagen 1982, ences. The new series of EURO- telecommunications, electric Brighton 1984, Paris 1986 and CON conferences venues were: power distribution, electronic Stockholm 1988. Bratislava 2001, Ljubljana 2003, data processing, and integrated Primarily it was Central Europe Belgrade 2005, Warsaw 2007, St As the Region matured, the in- circuits. The major objectives set that had profited from the inter- Petersburg 2009, Lisbon 2011 and terest in the history of technology by the conference steering commit- action provided by these Confer- Zagreb 2013. grew, in parallel with the growth tee – as published in IEEE Spectrum ences, but a lack of demand for Although previous experience of Life Member Groups, and of October 1970 – were as follows: broadly-based conferences led with an attempt to run specialised HISTELCON Conferences were ‘EUROCON ’71 provided to falling attendances and so the conferences , such as COMPEURO, held in Paris 2008, Madrid 2010 specialist conferences in selected series was suspended in 1992. At was not successful, a new demand and Pavia 2012. areas, as well as general reviews the same time, a new geographi- for more specialised conferences Since 1981, Region 8 conferenc- and discussions on the state of the cal area began to develop tech- led Region 8 to organise SIBIRCON es have been organised by a Con- art and interactions of technolo- nologically: the Mediterranean (Novosibirsk 2008 and Irkusk List- ference Committee, chaired by the gies. The conference intends to Countries. In response, the Israel vyanka 2010) and ENERGYCON Conference Coordinator, an officer present an educational program Section initiated MELECON, the (Manama 2010 and Florence 2012). appointed by the Regional Direc- of in-depth treatment of advanced Mediterranean Electro-technology technologies.’ Conference. The first MELECON, EUROCON 1971 was followed held in Tel Aviv, in the presence Right: MELECON 2012 by EUROCON 1974 in Amsterdam, of the President of Israel and the Below: AFRICON 2009 and EUROCON 1977 in Venice, IEEE President, had over 1,200 where a special session was devoted attendees. The complete list of to ‘Communications in Developing venues comprises: Tel Aviv 1981, Countries’ which was considered to Athens 1983, Madrid 1985, Rome be an important item not only for 1987, Lisbon 1989, Ljubljana 1991, these countries but for the future Antalya 1994, Bari 1996, Tel Aviv of the whole world. The EUROCON 1998, Limassol 2000, Cairo 2002, Conferences actually fulfilled their Dubrovnik 2004, Malaga 2006, aim ‘To provide an environment Ajaccio 2008, Valetta 2010 and conducive to the informal interac- Yasmine Hammamet 2012. tion of engineers, scientists and As electro-technology began technical managers. They will be to develop in Africa it was decided able to make professional contacts to create a new series of confer- and follow them up by attending ences, known as AFRICON, to successive conventions.’ serve the emerging electrical The first series of EUROCON engineering community. The first Conferences were held at the fol- AFRICON Conference was held in

16 IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 Jubilee Issue Standards: the most visible role of IEEE

IEEE Standards are an important part of aim to demonstrate the importance of the broader IEEE activities, and provide the role of standards in product design, an essential area of contact between and to encourage engineering teachers IEEE and industry. In fact, the IEEE brand to incorporate standards into academic is probably best known by the general programs. The IEEE Standards Education public in most countries because of its website serves as a focal point for the de- leading part in developing key standards livery of information on education about for internet and other applications, such standards, and includes tutorials, case as the IEEE 802 series on wireless com- studies, and student application papers. munications. The IEEE-SA Speakers’ Bureau has In the past decade, the IEEE Stand- been a popular resource, assisting with ards Association (IEEE-SA) and Region providing expert speakers for technical 8 have ac- meetings. Region 8 members have made complished use of this, for example with Smart Grid- Standards significant in- focused events in Denmark in 2012. IEEE- YOU can inform yourself teraction and SA has also been a participant in several about the IEEE Standards in collaboration, Region 8 flagship conferences, including your own technical field by and have in- AFRICON, ENERGYCON and MELECON, visiting the IEEE Standards creased the and looks forward to continued partici- Association website. awareness pation in Region 8 conferences. of standards The continuing collaboration be- among members in Region 8. IEEE’s pro- tween IEEE-SA and Region 8, facilitated gram of Continuing Education includes by having the officer position of a Stand- tutorials on standards topics, and the ards Coordinator, has served as a model IEEE Standards Education Committee for other Regions to follow, and has promotes the image of standards in the succeeded in raising the profile of the technical community. These programs standards work in IEEE. tor. The details of the Conference by different Sections, the Region Technical Conferences are a In contrast, Region 8 confer- (venue, date, theme etc) are dis- 8 Committee has consistently major activity of IEEE worldwide ences were, from the beginning, cussed by the Conference Commit- provided financial support in the and in Region 8 especially. Expe- ‘horizontal’ conferences, cover- tee and brought for approval to the form of advance funding, with the rience has shown that this is the ing a wide range of subjects. IEEE Regional Committee. The Confer- expectation of modest surpluses. best way to convey technological Technical Society conferences ence Coordinator makes sure that The policy towards conferences knowhow, to promote personal are typically held at major met- the Conference is held according to has been underpinned by the contacts between members, and ropolitan venues, whereas the IEEE regulations, both organisation- belief that they provide a useful also to attract new members. IEEE Region 8 Conferences are ally and financially. Conferences are service and benefit for members, These conferences, organised by usually held in smaller countries, one of the main income sources of especially in the smaller Sections, the IEEE Technical Societies, are to provide a vehicle for exchange IEEE worldwide. In Region 8, where and therefore represented a good specific to one of several themes of technical information, especially consecutive conferences are held investment. in a narrow technical field. between young engineers. GOLD: Graduates of the Last Decade

GRADUATES emerging from uni- program delivered online. The GOLD bers can also call upon the IEEE Job Members: they are also used exten- versity engineering programs and activities in Region 8 are designed Search facility for assistance. sively in IEEE circles for informing starting their careers in industry as to provide this help by encouraging The GOLD Book is a good exam- members about events and spur- young professionals face a number every Section to organise GOLD ple of a project conceived within the of-the-moment activities. GOLD of important challenges. IEEE identi- events for their younger members. Region 8 GOLD Committee: it gives activities also include humanitar- fied this problem a decade ago and These activities, such as leadership an overview of what the Commit- ian projects and collaboration with established the GOLD (Graduates of skills, project management and ‘peo- tee has achieved and the lessons other IEEE entities, such as Student the Last Decade) community specifi- ple’ skills, also help to strengthen that have been learned from recent Branches and the Professional Ac- cally to support younger members the links between IEEE and industry experiences. The GOLD team is also tivities groups. at the beginning of their careers. by making available the abundant active in celebrating IEEE Day, en- The creation of the GOLD They can be helped by means resources that IEEE can offer, to couraging members throughout the groups in Region 8 has added value of training and mentoring, and by enhance the training given to their Region to participate in a worldwide to IEEE membership for the younger access to information on employ- employees. Young members move celebration of engineering. members by bringing together a ment issues using, for example, jobs fairly often: GOLD offers good Social networks have become community with common interests the monthly IEEE GOLD Webinars networking opportunities and mem- a way of life for GOLD and Student in engineering employment.

IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 17 Jubilee Issue Professional Activities workshop program

PROFESSIONAL Activities have been opportunities to benefit directly from The idea of a professional activities established in Region 8 for more than a IEEE membership, such as experience summit, to bring trainers to a single event decade. They comprise a set of comple- in the fields of Project Management and to enable interaction between trainers mentary non-technical skills that equip Leadership Skills. and participants, was supported from the engineers in a well-rounded manner The workshop environment provides beginning. Up to now two summits have for management and leadership roles. a very effective way to impart these skills. been held, the first In 2010 in Leuven, The general goal is to raise awareness of For almost a decade Region 8 Profes- Belgium as part of 2010 SBC, and the sec- life-long professional development and sional Activities workshops have been ond in 2012 in conjunction with 2012 SBC career vitality, especially among young- organised by the Region 8 Professional in Madrid. The feedback from students er engineers and students. Our aim in Activities Committee, in collaboration and GOLD members was very positive Region 8 is that regionally coordinated with local volunteers in Sections. These and the long term goal is to have Profes- Professional Activities should provide a workshops were initiated by Kurt Richter sional Activities Summits become major platform for interdisciplinary collabora- and Margaretha Eriksson in 2000. They Professional Activities events in Region 8. tion and networking. These activities tar- also began to train other volunteers who Within such events the Region 8 PA team get every member and at the same time conducted almost 100 workshops on a aims to introduce a ‘Thought Leadership’ they encourage collaboration between wide range of professional activity top- program. The idea is rather similar to the different technical societies. ics for over 2,000 members. Full-day well-known IEEE Distinguished Lecturer Each year, several events are organ- events have been organised by Sections Program organised by the IEEE Techni- ised and coordinated by the Region 8 all over Region 8 using these PA trainers cal Activities Board. In this case the Professional Activities Sub-Committee and speakers. Workshop topics range program would focus on Professional in Sections all over Region 8. These local from Leadership Skills and Project Man- Activities where trainers would provoke and regional events have great poten- agement to Emotional Intelligence and or encourage people to break out from tial for increasing Professional Activities Innovation Management, for example. the current boundaries in their thinking. awareness. For example, better relations New topics are being introduced on a Several pilot events have been already between Students / GOLD members continuing basis. conducted, with trainer Han van Loon and local industry, indirectly targeting In 2004 a ‘Train the Trainer’ Workshop leading this initiative. employment issues, are enabled by a was held in Zagreb, organised by the IEEE In this article we have emphasised better understanding of the current eco- Croatia Section. The participants from Cro- the importance of Professional Activi- Milestones nomic situation in a country. Members atia, Serbia, Turkey, Slovenia and UK and ties in Region 8 and how the program of IS there a memorable need to have the opportunity to learn later became Leadership and/or Manage- workshops under the leadership of Matej achievement in science and about and to practice Professional Ac- ment workshops trainers in Region 8. Later Zajc has been designed to serve our technology that IEEE should tivities in a practical way, in some kind Junior Trainers assisted during workshops members throughout their careers. As a recognise in your community of interactive experience. Students and in Turkey, the United Emirates and Bahrain final observation, Professional Activities by the award of a Milestone young professionals are especially keen for example. Recently, workshops were have a positive influence on recruitment plaque? on acquiring these skills. From our experi- conducted in Austria, Morocco, Spain, and retention in IEEE, and therefore is ence volunteering gives them numerous Nigeria, Jordan and Kuwait. consistent with the global vision of IEEE.

18 IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 Jubilee Issue IEEE Life Members in Region 8

REGION 8 IEEE membership in- past half-century ‘The Electronics Region 8 has Life Member Affin- Life membership provides an cludes about 1,500 Life Members: Age’, contributing to the dramatic ity Groups located in ten Sections, incentive for members to continue those older than 65 years whose rise in living standards and to the organising technical meetings, their interest in electro-technology sum of age and years of membership development of the devices and giving presentations in secondary after their retirement and to use equals or exceeds 100. Assuming 50 appliances that define modern life. schools and sponsoring Student their extensive experience and years of technological experience for Many have held senior positions Branches. One of the main activi- technical knowledge for the benefit each Life Member, this venerable in major high-technology compa- ties of Life Members in the Region is of others. group holds 75,000 man-years of nies, such as Siemens in Germany, to propose and to promote the IEEE Younger IEEE members are en- knowledge and experience! Philips in the Netherlands, Nokia Milestones program. They also as- couraged to continue their mem- Many of IEEE Region 8 Life in Finland and Elbit in Israel, or sist in initiating ‘Oral History’ inter- bership until reaching LM status, Members have been involved in were professors in major techni- views and in writing Topic Articles in order to get the benefits of Life the development of modern electro- cal universities. Others worked in and First-Hand Histories, all to be Membership and to contribute to technology and actively participated infrastructure organisations, or in preserved in the IEEE Global History the education and personal devel- in the advances that have made the government service. Network (ieeeghn.org). opment of the rising generation. Women in Engineering

REGION 8 has supported Women-in- socially relevant products and services, The twin goals of increasing the Engineering (WIE) activities for over together are opening up new opportuni- number of women engineers, and Women in a decade. The principal aim of WIE is ties for women engineers. Examples can raising awareness in schools of the full to help women engineers realise their be found especially in multi-disciplinary range of career opportunities, are the top Engineering full potential in their engineering ca- fields, such as the green energy sector, priorities for WIE. IEEE has recognised HAVE you thought about reer. There has been a long history of environmental engineering and medical that teachers and parents, too, need to contacting your local schools discrimination in employment that has applications. be better informed so that early choices to find out how girls are being only recently been addressed, but also Women have contributed signifi- made in secondary education keep alive taught maths and science of neglect on the part of employers of a cantly to the development of IEEE as an possibilities for technical careers. Re- in a way that keeps an potentially valuable segment of the work- organisation. In 2005 Region 8 created gion 8 aims to be in the vanguard of this engineering career open as a force. The changing nature of engineering the Clementina Saduwa Award, present- campaign by organising events where realistic possibility? employment, and the broadening scope ed annually to recognise outstanding the issues can be presented in front of of companies that increasingly invest in performance by a female IEEE member. educators, employers and government.

IEEE Region 8 News April 2013 19 Jubilee Issue

Vol 16 No 1 April 2013

Region 8 News is published quarterly by the Region 8 Committee of the IEEE, and distributed free with IEEE Spectrum to more than 73,000 IEEE members. Read past issues online at www.ieeer8.org –> R8News Newsletter. Opinions expressed in IEEE Region 8 News are the authors’ own and do not necessarily represent the policies of their employers or IEEE Board or Region 8 Committee.

News & articles Delivery problems [email protected] Please notify all problems regarding membership, publications delivery and change of address directly to IEEE member services. See website Student News email www.ieee.org and email [email protected]. [email protected] Extra copies IEEE Region 8 If you would like extra copies of Region 8 News for distribution at your Your editors: Zhijia Huang and Roland Saam website IEEE events, please email a request to the editor before the deadlines www.ieeer8.org below, specifying quantity and delivery address. Please type ‘R8 News Extra Copies’ in your email subject line. Editors Roland J Saam Submitting articles Jubilee is a good time to We welcome news, articles and letters from any member of the IEEE. [email protected] Please send these to the editor as plain text by email to [email protected], Zhijia Huang remembering to type ‘Region 8 News’ in your email subject line. If send- look ahead as well as back [email protected] ing photos or graphics, please make sure they are high-resolution files. Read our full guide to writing and submitting articles at www.ieeer8.org IT’S exciting to be part of the team website at www.ieeer8.org, where Editorial production –> R8News Newsletter –> Tips for contributors. to bring you the Jubilee Book issue you can read and download every Alistair Dabbs Deadlines for upcoming issues of IEEE Region 8 News. issue of IEEE Region 8 News. [email protected] June 2013 issue...... deadline: 1 April 2013 The idea for a special edition is This is also my opportunity to Printing & mailing September 2013 issue...... deadline: 1 July 2013 to mark the 50 years in operation tell you that Zhijia Huang has agreed Theresa Smith December 2013 issue...... deadline: 1 October 2013 our IEEE Region 8 began two years to be your editor-in-chief of IEEE Re- [email protected] March 2014 issue...... deadline: 1 January 2014 ago. The name Region 8 Jubilee gion 8 News. Zhijia has been work- Book was quickly decided. It would ing alongside me for several years REGION 8 OPERATING be a ‘keeper’ for members with and we form a good team. He has COMMITTEE OFFICERS cover and content distinguished many new ideas which he would like 2013 from the normal IEEE Region 8 to develop in terms of editorial cov- Operating Committee Past-Director V/C Member Activities News publications. erage, website delivery, smoother (OpCom) Marko Delimar (Croatia) Aleksandar Szabo (Croatia) Many ideas came up. How could reporting of activity news, produc- [email protected] [email protected] we celebrate technology developed tion workflow, and more. Director Secretary V/C Student Activities Martin Bastiaans (Benelux) Ali El-Mousa (Jordan) Pablo Herrero (Germany) within our boundaries? Which spe- It’s important that I now step [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] cialties to write about (since IEEE has aside and give my support to his Director-Elect Treasurer V/C Technical Activities more than 40 societies)? Theory? initiatives when I can. Costas Stasopoulos (Cyprus) Brian Harrington (UK&RI) Carl Debono (Malta) [email protected] Principles? Practices? Technology? I’ve been your editor since Feb- [email protected] [email protected] Very few have remained within our ruary 2002 when Region 8 Direc- Appointed Members Student Representative Industry Relations Chair geographic boundaries. tor Levent Onural asked me to do Christian Schmid (Austria) Andreas Neumeier (Germany) GOLD Program Chair [email protected] [email protected] Under the guidance of the Jubi- it. I would like to thank everyone Rafal Sliz (Finland) Chapter Coordination Chair Standards Coordinator (ad lee Book editor, Charles Turner, we who has helped make IEEE Region [email protected] Elya Joffe (Israel) interim) offer this result. These pages intro- 8 News the bestnewsletter in the Membership Development [email protected] David Law (UK&RI) Chair [email protected] duce you to some of the persons and IEEE. Being a volunteer in IEEE fills Conference Coordination Chair Antonio Luque Estepa (Spain) Jan Haase (Austria) Awards & Recognition activities over 50 years in Region 8. an important part of my life, and [email protected] [email protected] Charles Turner (UK&RI) We hope you will enjoy and keep this you readers have become my best Professional Activities Chair Educational Activities Chair [email protected] issue. Please refer to our ‘R8News friends. Keep your articles flowing in! Jan Verveckken (Benelux) Niovi Pavlidou (Greece) [email protected] [email protected] Newsletter’ page on the Region 8 Roland Saam Region 8 News Editor in Chief Roland Saam (UK&RI) Ad Hoc Members Jubilee Book Coordinator [email protected] Kurt Richter (Austria) Region 8 News Editor Electronic Communications [email protected] Acknowledgements Zhijia Huang (UK&RI) Coordinator Life Members Coordinator [email protected] George Michael (Cyprus) Jacob Baal-Schem (Israel) [email protected] WE gratefully acknowledge the contributions from Sections Congress Coordinator [email protected] (1) Voluntary Contribution Fund Women in Engineering many colleagues who made this Special Issue of IEEE Athanassios Skodras (Greece) Coordinator Coordinator Region 8 News possible, including: [email protected] Daniel Pasquet (France) Joyce Mwangama (South Africa) Sections Congress Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] Jaafar Al-Ibrahim, Jacob Baal-Schem, Duncan Baker, (2) History Activities Coordinator Martin Bastiaans, Tony Davies, Brian Harrington, Peter Saurabh Sinha (South Africa) Tony Davies (UK&RI) [email protected] [email protected] Hill, David Law, Eva Lang, Kurt Richter, Saurabh Sinha, Aleksandar Szabo, Baldomir Zajc and Matej Zajc. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 3 Park Avenue, 17th Floor Kurt Richter (Chair, Region 8 Jubilee Book Project) New York 10016, USA Charles Turner (Editor Jubilee Book) IEEE prohibits discrimination in its activities. Roland Saam (Editor Region 8 News) For more information, visit www.ieee.org/web/aboutus/ Zhijia Huang (Region 8 News) whatis/policies/p9-26.html

20 IEEE Region 8 News April 2013