President’s Message

Made in Japan (“Deep Purple”,
released in December 1972)
Konnichiwa (Hello),

This message is written in one of Japan’s most beautiful and historical cities – the ancient capital Kyoto, site of the 2009 International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, EMC’09 Kyoto, technically co-sponsored by the EMC Society of the IEEE. For this week, Kyoto is also the EMC capital of the world.
In this symposium, chaired by Professor Ryuji Koga, some 213 papers were presented in a full four-day symposium program. More than 400 attendees participated in this symposium.
Congratulations to Professor Koga and his team for a wonderful, high quality event. I am sure that much more will be reported on this symposium in the following Newsletter edition.

“Learn the Past, Watch the Present, and Create the Future”
Quoted from the recently approved mission statement of the EMC Society: “To foster the development and facilitate the exchange of scientific and technological knowledge in the discipline of electromagnetic environmental effects and electromagnetic compatibility… that benefit members, the profession and humanity.”
     The year 2009 marks the 125th anniversary of the IEEE. This has been discussed in previous columns and more to come on this later. But let me dwell on another aspect of this anniversary at this point.
     On 13 May 2009, IEEE reached the culmination of 125 years of ingenuity and innovation in engineering and technology. The motto of this anniversary is “Celebrating 125 years of engineering the future”.
     Buddha was quoted to say, “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
     In 1945, Japan experienced the world’s greatest technologically-inflicted tragedy, directly resulting from the aplication of technology. Few know that Kyoto, the city I am now in, was an alternate target to Hiroshima, the first city in the world to experience the A-Bomb on August 6, 1945.
     Just days before the Kyoto Symposium, I had the opportunity to make a personal visit to the Peace Memorial Museum and Park in Hiroshima, and learn of the devastating effect technology can have on mankind.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

But from here, in Kyoto, Japan, the future of electromagnetic compatibility and electromagnetic ecology emerge this week, dedicated solely for the benefit of humanity.

Technology, and EM technology, is no different. We should be forever mindful of the fact that it could be a “double-edged sword”. The same technology that produced the A-bomb and the nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP), is also applied today for humatiarian purposes.
It is up to us, in this and other symposia, to keep this danger in mind and ensure that our technology is indeed applied for the benefit of mankind so that the Peace Flame, burning continuously since it was lit in 1964 and remains lit until all nuclear bombs on the planet are destroyed and the planet is free from the threat of nuclear annihilation, may be put out forever.

The EMC Society Celebrates the IEEE’s
125th Anniversary in Philadelphia
In 2007, the EMC Society celebrated its 50th anniversary, and in May 2009, we also celebrated and commemorated the 125th anniversary of the IEEE. A special festive Philadelphia chapter meeting, sponsored by the Board of Directors, took place at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Immediate IEEE Past President, Dr. Lew Terman and our Division IV Director, Roger Sudbury, were the guests of honor with about 100 attendees and guests.
This issue of the Newsletter is predominantly dedicated to that special event. We look forward to the next 125 years of engineering the future.

Global Outreach Activities Continue
“It’s an extraordinary commentary on what the Internet can do, ... opening the crossroads around the world for communication between all people.” (David Hayden)

Chris Zombolas, our host in Melbourne,
“EMC Technology”, with his “CISPR” car.

As I have said previously, the World Wide Web (internet) technology cannot replace face-to-face meeting and interaction. In my humble opinion, personal ties are made through handshakes, and face to face discussions. Society level ties are no different. To increase its effectiveness, its visibility, and its relevance, the EMC Society continued in recent months its global outreach efforts.
Indeed, during a very busy and enjoyable visit hosted by the IEEE EMC Society Victorian Chapter and the EMC Society of Australia from June 2 to 6, I had the privilege of holding an outreach visit with Professor Takeo Yoshino, Member of the Board and the Region 10 Membership and Chapter Coordinator, in Australia. In these very busy days, visits took place and presentations were given in Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide.

In spite of the very early mornings, necessary in order to “hop” from one city (and state) to another, we had the opportunity to meet professionals from academia and industry, and present talks in meetings attended by 20 to 70 members and guests. We discussed issues mutually of interest to the Australian EMC Society and the IEEE EMC Society.
A few more outreach visits are scheduled for 2009 all around the globe. Those will be reported in the next issues of the Newsletter.

A group photo was taken in Melbourne following the Chapter meeting. Pictured from left are Mark Mifsud (Victoria IEEE EMC Chapter), Dr. Horace King (IEEE Victoria Section Chair), Elya Joffe, Takeo Yoshino, and Chris Zombolas (Victoria IEEE EMC Chapter).

Breaking News: Congratulations
to the Newly Formed
South African IEEE EMC Chapter
Congratulations to the newly formed IEEE EMC Chapter! The formation of the South African IEEE EMC Chapter is a breakthrough for the EMC Society as this is the first chapter in Africa. Personally, I find this very exciting, a closing of a circle, as I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.
We look forward to the formation of another chapter in Africa very soon (await the news…).

Hoping for an Improving Economy
This year was not easy, and that is an understatement. No doubt, times have been difficult for many engineers while many EMC Society members were affected by the recent recession, as well as the operations of the IEEE and the EMC Society itself. Similar situations are all around the global village.
No fear – our finances are sound and are very carefully monitored and handled, but certain programs had to be cut back, and, of course, the economy is expected to have taken its toll on the Austin Symposium as well.
However, the emerging summer seems to be holding the promise of a thaw in the recession. This will come as a great relief to many who have been waiting, while “raging economy oracles” tell us what we already know. But if we try to believe recent messages, this summer seems to also be bringing new opportunities in many areas where our members provide the technical insight needed to make a potentially good product idea into a successful one in the marketplace.

Looking Forward to Austin in August
By the time you read these lines, our international symposium in Austin, Texas, will be history. As usual, this symposium will have provided an opportunity for us all to meet old friends, and make new ones. The symposium will have also continued to provide us all with education, information exchange, networking and just plain social and entertainment opportunities.
Austin is also known as the “Live Music Capital of the World” and I am sure you will have all enjoyed the music played by many of the music-oriented attendees of the symposium. As I plan to play my Tenor Saxophone in the symposium, I hope I did not chase too many of you away from the Convention Center. Hopefully, the mixing of radio and audio frequencies will produce a spurious-free spectrum professional and social experience.

Looking Further Ahead to Fort Lauderdale, Florida (2010),
Long Beach, California (2011) and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2012)
“Time flies. It’s up to you to be the navigator.” (Robert Orben)
     Fort Lauderdale, FL in 2010, Long Beach, CA in 2011 and Pittsburgh, PA in 2012 – they all seem a long way down the road. But time flies! Before we know it, these future dates of the symposium will be upon us.
     In light of the current economic situation, that might not look realistic, but, as mentioned above, and with a little optimism, the cutbacks should not last too long.
     So – plan ahead! Submit your papers to Fort Lauderdale (the call for papers will have been published by the time you read this column). I hope to meet you all at each and every future symposium. After all, the symposium is essentially where we learn our trade.

Technically Co-Sponsored Symposia
The EMC Society traditionally technically co-sponsors several symposia globally. For instance, the EMC-S traditionally technically co-sponsored EMC Zurich, EMC Europe, and EMC Wroclaw (now to be merged with EMC Europe, as of 2010).
     In the future, however, things may need to be somewhat different. After several cases of hoaxed and computer-generated papers (occurring with OTHER IEEE Societies), the IEEE has changed its co-sponsorship policies and the process will be much more tightly scrutinized, effective immediately.
     Fortunately, the EMC Society is very mindful of itsco-sponsoring of symposia, and each application is evaluated both by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which, I know, upset many, due to the large, time consuming process, and by the Board of Directors itself. However, by IEEE rules, institute-level scrutiny will be applied as well.
     I bring this information to you, with the hope that you accept, with understanding, the increased complexity of the process and the longer durations mandated by the process, when you submit your applications for technical co-sponsorship.

Future Board of Director Meetings
As usual, I will conclude this (longer than usual message) with information on our upcoming Board meetings, just in case you have the time, inclination and opportunity to attend. Please remember that all meetings of the EMC Society Board of Directors are open. Any members who want to attend are most welcome. This would be your opportunity to take a look at the manner in which our Society is run, and even have a chance to express your own opinion on issues in debate. You may even find it interesting enough to make you want to run for the Board at its next election!
     The schedule of Board meetings is posted on the “Conferences” page of our web site www.emcs.org as well as in the Calendar section of this Newsletter. If you can’t attend a BoD meeting to tell us your thoughts in person, note that the contact information of all members of the Board and the major committee chairs is listed on the Society web page.
      Arigatou (thank you) and Sayonara (good bye) from me here in Kyoto.
     I, as your President, am at your service. Please do not hesitate to e-mail me at: eb.joffe@ieee.org.                                                  EMC