News

2023 MGA William W. Middleton Distinguished Service Award Recipient

On 17 June 2023, the IEEE Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) Board approved the recipient of the 2023 MGA William W. Middleton Distinguished Service Award:

Maike Luiken

Region 7 – London Section, Canada

"For exemplary leadership and commitment to MGA, IEEE members and the public, and for championing technological solutions to sustainable development and climate change challenges"

The purpose of the MGA William W. Middleton Distinguished Service Award is to honor an individual who, over a long and sustained period of leadership, contributed in an exemplary manner to Member and Geographic Activities (MGA), its activities and achievements, and the attainment of its strategic goals.

The award, presented every three years, is named for William W. Middleton, who for over 40 years was associated with and contributed to the growth and maturation of the Regional Activities Board (now MGA) through service on it and its various committees and task forces; he was chosen to be the first recipient.

Congratulations to 2023 MGA Outstanding Section Award Recipients

On 17 June 2023, the IEEE Member and Geographic Activities Board selected the following recipients of the 2023 MGA Outstanding Large, Medium and Small Section Awards, based on 2022 activities:

• 2023 MGA Outstanding Large Section Award recipient is the IEEE Italy Section from Region 8
• 2023 MGA Outstanding Medium Section Award recipient is the IEEE Tainan Section from Region 10
• 2023 MGA Outstanding Small Section Award recipient is the IEEE South Saskatchewan Section from Region 7

Congratulations to the IEEE Italy, Tainan, and South Saskatchewan Sections for being selected for these awards and "For successful efforts in fulfilling the educational and scientific goals of IEEE for the benefit of the public by maintaining, enhancing, and supporting the Student Branches, Technical Chapters, and Affinity Groups within their geographic boundaries."

The MGA Awards and Recognition Committee and the MGA Board congratulates all Sections who submitted nominations for these awards.

Thank you to all the nominators, Section Chairs, Region Awards Chairs, MGA Awards and Recognition Committee, and everyone who participated in the 2023 Outstanding Section Awards process.

IEEE Women In Engineering Leaders Forum

On behalf of the WIE Region 7 executive committee, we’d like to take this opportunity to invite you to the IEEE Women In Engineering Leaders Forum, in Ottawa!

The forum is scheduled to be held at the University of Ottawa, Canada, on August 11, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. We believe that your presence at the event would greatly contribute to its success and impact. The forum aims to facilitate networking, mentorship, and collaboration, with a specific focus on connecting women in STEM.

The IEEE WIE Forum is being launched for the first time as a significant addition to IEEE WIE Canada's portfolio of global initiatives, aimed at providing valuable opportunities for networking, mentorship, and collaboration. We have high hopes that this inaugural event will achieve remarkable success and have a profound impact on communities in Canada and across the globe!

The IEEE WIE Forum 2023 aims to connect professionals from industry and academia, emphasizing key competencies and opportunities for networking, mentorship, and inspiration, particularly for women in STEM. Distinguished role models and pioneers from both IEEE and non-IEEE backgrounds will gather to provide mentorship and expand professional networks for early-career professionals, IEEE members, and young professionals. The forum also offers non-IEEE members insights into IEEE membership benefits and serves as a platform for active professional women in engineering and science to connect and explore collaborations.

Our goal is to bring together bright minds like you to share their ideas and provide advice that is idea-focused to foster learning and inspiration. We believe that your invaluable years of experience with IEEE and your impressive support for women in STEM would greatly inspire and benefit the attendees of our forum. The forum spans two hours, followed by a pizza lunch and refreshments. The expected attendees will include students and mid-to senior-level professionals working in STEM fields (both women and men) from all over Canada.

We kindly request that you let us know at your earliest convenience if you would be interested in participating in our forum. Your voice and insights would be a valuable addition to the IEEE WIE Forum 2023, and we would be honored if you would accept this invitation. Should you have any questions about the forum, please, do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for considering our invitation, and we are looking forward to hearing from you soon.

The registration link of the event is: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/360322

Spring 2023 edition of the IEEE Canadian Review

The Spring 2023 edition of the IEEE Canadian Review is now available digitally at https://digital.kwglobal.com/publication/?i=792851. This edition features Peculiarities of Numbers, Federated Learning, Space Technology and IEEE Canada activities. Share your thoughts and contributions to icr@ieee.ca.

IEEE Sections Congress 2023 - August 11-13 2023, Shaw Centre, Ottawa, Canada

The triennial gathering of Section leadership bringing together hundreds of delegates from all ten Regions to network, learn and collectively shape the future of IEEE. As an IEEE volunteer and a vital member, come join the dynamic and engaging networking sessions that will allow for exchanging ideas and best practices. IEEE organizational units will offer exhibit booths that will provide information on IEEE resources and tools to strengthen and support vital units.

Drop by the IEEE Canada booth to greet the diverse team of dedicated volunteers. This booth will highlight the uniqueness of IEEE Canada and the invaluable contributions of Region 7 volunteers to the IEEE.

For more information visit: https://sections-congress.ieee.org

IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Challenge - Focus on Canada

Calling all innovators to enter the 2023 IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Challenge!

Help IEEE contribute to worldwide digital inclusion by submitting a novel, early-stage project or concept that offers unique ways to increase Internet access and usage for the 2.9 billion unconnected people around the world. The global 2023 IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Challenge is now open for submissions of unique solutions to bridge the digital divide. Deadline is July 3.

Internet access is critical to education, industry, and healthy living. Unconnected populations lack access to buy and sell goods and services online. Unconnected students lack access to the flourishing remote education market. During the pandemic, working or studying from home was impossible for unconnected populations. The IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Challenge seeks to further connectivity by calling for early-stage projects and concepts that pursue unique ways to increase broadband access and usage for unconnected or under-connected populations/geographies.

Start-ups, grassroots organizations, universities, and others working toward digital inclusion in original ways are encouraged to participate. This year’s challenge is our largest ever, with a total prize pool of USD $109,000 across multiple categories.

Read the competition rules and learn about how to enter your novel projects here: https://ctu.ieee.org/

New in 2023: Focus on Canada

In partnership with VMware and Mitacs, the 2023 CTU Challenge will add a new prize for Best Overall from Canada. In 2021, VMware, Mitacs and IEEE Future Networks partnered on Digital Equity Grid Innovation initiative in Montreal, also known as TETRA, which aims to advance applied research on sustainable grids, clean tech, and digital equity. This new prize seeks to entice innovators across Canada to bring their innovative projects and ideas to the forefront. Proof of Concept and Concept Only applicants from Canada are eligible.

IEEE Connecting the Unconnected is a project of the IEEE Future Networks Technical Community, a technical community within the Future Directions unit of IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. IEEE Future Networks also produces major conferences and workshops, an annual technical roadmap (INGR) on future network evolution, monthly webinars, educational products, competitions, publications, standards and more.

For a global view of IEEE Future Networks, visit https://futurenetworks.ieee.org/

IEEE Member Benefit for June 2023

IEEE Risk Management eLearning Tutorial available in IEEE Learning Network

The IEEE Risk Management tutorial defines the fundamental concepts of risk and risk management. One will also learn how to use controls to mitigate the severity of losses if they do occur. IEEE Risk Management is suitable for students and engineering professionals in all disciplines.

Members get a discount on this course.

Upon successful completion of the IEEE Risk Management tutorial, one may earn 0.3 CEU/ 3 PDH and qualify for a discount on specific IEEE professional liability insurance plans.

For more information, please visit this link.

Educational Resources

• STEM Outreach Participation at STAO 2023 Conference

  The IEEE Canada STEM Outreach committee has had a 10+ year association with the Science Teachers of Ontario (STAO/APSO) Conference. STAO is an independent, non-profit organization of Ontario grades K-12 teachers helping teachers. Founded in 1890, STAO/APSO has a long history of promoting excellence in science education. Their mission is encouraging excellence in science education through leadership and service.

  After a three year halt during the pandemic, their annual conference is once is again in-person at Humber College on August 15-17 (https://stao.ca/conference-2023/). One of the themes of the conference is the Engineering Design Process. Since "Engineering" is now part of the Ontario curriculum, teachers are always looking for a way to introduce sound engineering concepts like the Engineering Design Process (EDP) to students. IEEE’s STEM Education initiative, TryEngineering is promoting the EDP: https://tryengineering.org/events/engineering-design-process/.

  This year, we will continue our involvement with STAO, in order that the teachers who attend can be introduced to these practical materials - lesson plans etc., but also so they can better understand what IEEE is as an organization. We will have two workshops:

  • Session W097, August 17, 2023 with Patrick Finnigan (patrick_finnigan@ieee.org): IEEE STEM Outreach Resources Available to You and Using The Engineering Design Process to Build a NASA Rocket
  • Session W059, August 16, 2023 with Dennis Cecic, P. Eng. (d.cecic@ieee.org): Model it! Prevent Coding Disasters with State Charts

  If you are a teacher, particularly in the Toronto area, please consider participating. If you have friends in the teaching profession, please pass on this information.

• IEEE eLearning 50% Discount Toolkit

  Are you looking to enhance your skills, advance your career, or explore new interests? Look no further! We're excited to announce an extra 50% off eLearning discount just for members like you. As a valued member, you now have access to this exclusive discount on our extensive catalog of online courses. With a variety of topics ranging from digital transformation and machine learning to 5G and blockchain technology, there is something for everyone. This is your chance to invest in yourself and take control of your learning journey. Sign in with your IEEE Account today to start exploring and take advantage of these incredible savings. Completion of courses award CEUs and PDHs. Don't miss out on this opportunity to unleash your full potential!

  View full list of courses included in this offer. Go to iln.ieee.org and sign in with your IEEE personal account (the same account you use to purchase/renew your IEEE membership).

• Volunteers Needed for Education Services Group of Committees

  All three committees in the Education Services Group need new engaged volunteers to help deliver on expectations.
  • Education Activities Committee is responsible to provide guidance and assistance to Region entities in organizing, pre-college education programs, continuing education, university resources and other EAC related activities, and publicizing educational opportunities and resources available from the Institute. As such Section Chairs, Education Activities Chairs, and other interested volunteers are encouraged to engage with the current EAC Chair, Asad Norouzi. For more details on this committee, see section 6.8.1 of the Ops Manual (link below).
  • STEM Outreach Committee is responsible to provide leadership to and coordination with pre-university/pre-institute/pre-college teachers and students, liaison with other technical and professional organizations within Canada about promoting engineering and science fields to high school, and elementary-school teachers and their students. As such Section Chairs, STEM Outreach Chairs, and other interested volunteers are encouraged to engage with the current STEM Chair, Elroy Switlishoff. The Committee maintains a STEM Outreach website with news and resources. For more details on this committee, see section 6.8.2 of the Ops Manual (link below)
  • Training Committee is responsible to develop and maintain the overarching training framework to support IEEE Canada. The Committee will deliver training solutions in the following areas: essential, orientation, leadership, role specific, governance, and professional development. As such Section Chairs and other interested volunteers are encouraged to engage with the current Training Coordinator, Rossitza Marinova. Past training session presentations and recordings are maintained in Collabratec. For more details on this committee, see section 6.8.3 of the Ops Manual (link below)
  • Further Details on Operations Manual
    For more details look at our governance documents at https://www.ieee.ca/en/administration/bylaws-and-ops-manual/, specifically Operations Manual as approved in November, 2021 and Addendum of April, 2022.
    

  Please consider engaging and contributing to these efforts to provide resources to IEEE Canada members.

• IEEE educational activities continue to offer online instruction and IEEE's pre-university educational resources may be of assistance to families of students whose classroom activities have been disrupted. Home-schooling parents and students can explore the IEEE TryEngineering database to learn about a wide variety of concepts.

• Understanding that technology and history are not mutually exclusive subjects, IEEE REACH provides history teachers and remote learners with free educational resources that situate science, technology, and engineering in their social and humanistic contexts.

Scholarships, Awards, and Prizes

All application and nomination forms are on the OpenWater platform, consolidated here: https://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/applications.php.

• IEEE Canadian Foundation Scholarships
  Scholarships with the value of $5,000 (universities) or $2,500 (colleges) each.
  
  • Eligibility: Any IEEE student members, registered in their penultimate year at a university or college with a McNaughton Resource Learning Centre, who have been active in the Centre for a minimum of one year.
  • Purpose: To encourage awareness of and participation in the educational programs supported by the IEEE.
  • Deadline: EXTENSION August 15, 2023
  • Link: https://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/mcn_sch.php
• IEEE Canadian Foundation Dr. Robert T.H. Alden Scholarship
  One Scholarship each year (shared if team), value $1,500.
  
  • Eligibility: This Scholarship is co-sponsored by the IEEE Toronto Section and is to be awarded to a suitable IEEE student member within the Toronto Section. All undergraduate (penultimate year or earlier) student members of the IEEE who are registered in an Engineering or Computer Science program at a Canadian University or College are eligible.
  • Purpose: To encourage communications skills, awarded annually for a student authoring a tutorial style article addressing innovative use of the internet, social media or other electronic media to foster interpersonal/group communication or collaboration The article must be suitable for publishing in an IEEE publication such as The IEEE Canadian Review, The Institute, Spectrum, IEEE Potentials, IEEE or Foundation social media or web site.
  • Deadline: EXTENSION August 15, 2023
  • Link: https://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/alden_scholarship.php
• IEEE Canadian Foundation Dr. Raymond D. Findlay Scholarship
  One scholarship each year, value $1,000.
  
  • Eligibility: The nominee must be an undergraduate IEEE Student Member in good standing, registered in their penultimate year of an accredited Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Engineering Science/Engineering Physics undergraduate program offered in a Canadian university, a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, enrolled as a full-time student.
  • Purpose: To encourage leadership, creativity and enthusiasm for the engineering profession.
  • Deadline: EXTENSION August 15, 2023
  • Link: https://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/findlay_scholarship.php
• IEEE Canadian Foundation Special Grants
  • Eligibility: An IEEE Student Branch, an IEEE Section, an IEEE Canada Committee, a non-IEEE entity such as a high school, or in rare cases an individual, all in Canada.
  • Purpose: To partially fund one-time new and innovative projects that advance IEEE's core purpose to foster technological innovation and excellence to benefit humanity.
  • Deadline: August 15, 2023 (also November 15, 2023)
  • Link: https://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/sp_grnts.php
• Two travel grants each year, each one not to exceed $1,200.
  • Eligibility: IEEE Student Members in good standing in a Canadian University or College (at a college, undergraduate or graduate level).
  • Purpose: To support IEEE student members to attend and present a paper at a Vehicular Technologies Conference or other IEEE Conference related to Vehicular Technologies.
  • Deadline: August 15, 2023 (also November 15, 2023)
  • Link: https://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/vt_award.php

IEEE Canadian Foundation

IEEE Canadian Foundation Women in Engineering Prize

Prize with the value of $1,000.

• Eligibility: All female IEEE Canada members who received their first professional degree within the last fifteen years and who are active in IEEE activities.
• Purpose: To recognize excellence in young women engineering professionals and to support the Women In Engineering program within IEEE in Canada.
• Deadline: EXTENSION August 15, 2023
• Link: https://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/clift_prize.php

Your Donor Advised Fund Can Support the IEEE Canadian Foundation

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a Canada Revenue Agency-approved granting structure that has become one of the most efficient ways for individuals, families, and corporations to manage their philanthropy. You may have or be considering a DAF to achieve long-term philanthropic and legacy goals. As a registered Canadian charity, the IEEE Canadian Foundation can receive directed gifts from your DAF. Please check with your DAF advisor or contact info.ieeecanadianfoundation@ieee.ca.

IEEE Canadian Foundation Welcomes Donations of Cryptocurrency

Some 8% of Canadians hold cryptocurrency [Ontario Securities Commission, September 2022]. Crypto philanthropy is an emerging way for crypto users to make philanthropic donations.

Cryptocurrency giving seems like a natural fit for our members who are innovators in areas such as blockchain, fintech and digital assets. We are partnered with Canada Helps to quickly, reliably and safely process donations of Bitcoin and Ethereum.

To donate cryptocurrency to the IEEE Canadian Foundation and find out more about this giving method: https://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/don_crypto.php

Workplace Giving Supports the IEEE Canadian Foundation

Your employer may facilitate workplace giving to socially beneficial causes including the IEEE Canadian Foundation. Matching of your gift may also be offered year round in support of corporate social responsibility or sometimes seasonally as a year end gesture of goodwill. Gifts may be processed though HR services such as Benevity or CAF America (yes, it also covers Canada). Details will be different at each employer so ask around – your gift to the IEEE Canadian Foundation may be magnified with your employer’s support.

Streamlined Donation via IEEE Dues Renewal Shopping Cart

Your gift supports Scholarships, McNaughton Learning Resource Centres and Grants to new and innovative projects in Canada. It is easy to donate to the IEEE Canadian Foundation at Dues Renewal (including Life Member confirmation). At the Payment page, look for "Donate to IEEE", then click "View Donation Options", look down the list for IEEE Canadian Foundation. Receipts for Canadian tax purposes are produced by the IEEE Canadian Foundation early in the new year. Thank you for your support!
Learn about the IEEE Canadian Foundation at https://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/

Dave Kemp Memorial Fund

The Dave Kemp Memorial Fund has been established in memory of Dave Kemp, serving Director of the IEEE Canadian Foundation, past IEEE Canada President/Region 7 Director and life-long volunteer and supporter of IEEE in Canada and internationally. This fund will support IEEE programs that match Dave's passions and interests, including Young Professional activities, volunteerism, engagement and student growth across Canada. Donations in honour of Dave may be made at https://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/davekempmemorial

Gift of Securities to the IEEE Canadian Foundation – Invest in Scholarships and Grants to Canadians

A gift of securities is a very cost-effective way of supporting the IEEE Canadian Foundation, immediately or though a gift bequest in your will.

With a donation of publicly traded securities you will receive a charitable gift tax receipt for the full market value of your gift. This avoids you incurring Canadian capital gains tax since the securities are transferred intact to the Foundation.

Gifts of securities must be arranged by electronic transfer between your investment broker and the Foundation broker.

As you consider a gift of securities, we can work with you and your advisors to receive your gift. Please request our GIFT of Publicly Traded Securities form, available upon request from the Treasurer (l.matteau@ieee.org).