Announcements

• Happy New Year 2025

  Wishing all IEEE Canada members a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year 2025! May this festive time bring you inspiration for innovative ideas and success in all your technical pursuits. Thank you for your continued dedication to advancing technology for humanity. We look forward to an exciting year ahead!

• Call for Nominations: Canadian Award for Telecommunications Research (CATR)

  The Canadian Society of Information Theory (http://infotheory.ca) invites nominations to the Canadian Award for Telecommunications Research (CATR), 2025. The CATR honors exceptional contributions to the field of telecommunications. We invite nominations for outstanding individuals who have made significant advancements in this area, demonstrating innovative work, excellence, and leadership. Nominees should have an outstanding record of contribution to research on the theory and/or application of telecommunications research, in academia or industry.

  The award highlights researchers who are shaping the future of telecommunications in Canada, and hence candidates must have made most of their research contributions while working in Canada.

  Please submit your nomination by Jan 31, 2025 to Anas Chaaban (anas.chaaban@ubc.ca), Secretary, CATR award committee. Nominations should include a detailed CV, letters from at least three referees (preferably arms-length), a statement summarizing the candidate’s accomplishments, putting them in the wider context of contemporary research, and a citation of no more than 25 words. For further details and submission guidelines, visit http://infotheory.ca/index.php/catr-call-for-nominations/.

  Inquiries about the award should be addressed to Yongyi Mao (ymao@uottawa.ca), Chair, CATR award committee. This year’s awards committee consists of:

  • Professors En-Hui Yang (University of Waterloo)
  • Sorina Dumitrescu (McMaster University)
  • Masoud Ardakani (University of Alberta)
  • Anas Chaaban (University of British Columbia, Secretary of CSIT)
  • Yongyi Mao (University of Ottawa, President of CSIT)

  For complete award procedures and names of past winners, please see: http://infotheory.ca/index.php/canadian-award-for-telecommunications-research-catr/.

• IEEE Life Members Evolution Conference 2025

  Work on the Evolution Conference 2025 powered by IEEE Life Members continues. Keynote speakers and session speakers are being lined up.

  Evolution Conference 2025 also includes a Technical Program. Technical papers are now being accepted. Go to https://lifemembersconference.ieee.org/authors/ for more information and to submit a paper. The original deadline has been extended to December 31, 2024!

  Part of the Technical Program are Paper Reviewers. For more information about Paper Reviewers and to sign up as a Reviewer visit: https://life.ieee.org/open-call-for-reviewers-2025-ieee-life-members-evolution-conference/.

  For questions about the Technical Program, contact Jerry Hudgins at jhudgins2@unl.edu

  Conference Registration is now open with Early Bird rates!! Register now at: https://lifemembersconference.ieee.org/registration/.

  Visit the IEEE Life Members Evolution Conference 2025 website at lifemembersconference.ieee.org.

Success Stories of Sections, Groups, and IEEE Volunteers

IEEE Life Fellow is Declared as GRAND SAGE 2024

The Grand Sages awards were established by the Quebec Science Council (FRQ) to offer students scholarships named in honor of pioneers in their field of research. When Ashok received the letter informing him that he had been named a Grand Sage (great sage in English) for his exceptional contribution to knowledge, his reaction was that he still feels like a graduate student – not a “great wise man”. Ashok was interviewed in French by Remi Quirion, Quebec’s Chief Scientist (a few pictures of me there also):

Watch a video of the interview with Remi Quirion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gee_-R95lnY

IEEE Member Benefit for December 2024

IEEE Risk Management eLearning Course:

This is an IEEE eLearning tutorial developed by Frank Giannattasio and IEEE's Office of Risk & Insurance Management Services.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to manage risks in various engineering fields to protect your business from potential losses. This covers understanding professional liabilities, identifying and assessing risks, adopting loss prevention strategies, adapting to business changes, handling contracts, and maintaining proper documentation. By the end, you will be skilled in pinpointing risks and implementing effective strategies to mitigate them.

For more information, please visit this link.

Meet IEEE Volunteers

Featured Volunteer of this Month: Ajay Lotan Thakur

Expert in telecom with more than 20 years of experience, Ajay has carved out a special place for himself in open-source, telecom, and cloud-native technologies, especially in the Aether (Private 5G) community of the Open Network Foundation. Ajay considers himself fortunate to have joined the Open Networking Foundation, as it was there that he was first introduced to the research communi ty, which significantly changed the course of his career and strengthened his bond with collaborative innovation. He recommends professionals to explore open-source and contribute back to the community. Ajay believes that open source promotes high-caliber research findings and gives everyone equal opportunities.

Despite his demanding role at Intel, Ajay remains deeply involved in open-source initiatives, showcasing an inspiring balance between professional commitments and community-driven innovation. Ajay’s inspiring journey and his contributions to the open-source 5G domain have been featured in the IEEE Toronto Section newsletter [Click to read] and his in-depth article on the Impact of Open Source 5G [Click to read]. His narrative serves as a reminder that anyone can make a lasting impression if they are passionate and determined.

Scholarships, Awards, and Prizes

Scholarship, Grant and Prize Opportunities for IEEE Canada

All application and nomination forms are on the OpenWater platform. Questions may be directed to info.ieeecanadianfoundation@ieee.ca

• 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: March 15, 2025
  • Link: http://ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/mcn_sch.php

• IEEE Canada Power Quality Scholarship (Northern Canada & Southern Alberta Sections Only)

  One scholarship each year, value $1,500.
  • Eligibility: All IEEE student members in full time attendance at either the University of Alberta or the University of Calgary, who are in their penultimate year and whose program of study includes courses in electric power engineering.
  • Purpose: To recognize excellence in students who demonstrate an awareness of power quality issues and who indicate their intent to pursue a professional career in the Electric Power Industry.
  • Deadline: March 15, 2025
  • Link: http://ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/pq_award.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: March 15, 2025
  • Link: http://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: March 15, 2025
  • Link: http://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/findlay_scholarship.php

• Nick Cercone Graduate Scholarship in Computer Science

  This scholarship is sponsored by the Friends of Nick Cercone, one prize each every second year, value $6,000.
  • Eligibility: PhD students in computer science at a Canadian university.
  • Purpose: To recognize a computer science PhD student at a Canadian university.
  • Deadline: January 22, 2025 (inquire for further info).
  • Link: http://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/cercone_scholarship.php

• Gargantini-Strybosch Scholarship

  This scholarship is sponsored by the Gargantini Fund, one scholarship each year, value $5,000.
  • Eligibility: A student member of IEEE (or agree to apply for membership), enrolled full-time in his or her second undergraduate year, first generation in the family university student, completing a Canadian university program in a field of interest to IEEE.
  • Purpose: To recognize a student who shows brightness, integrity, engagement with community and enthusiasm for undergraduate study.
  • Deadline: March 15, 2025
  • Link: https://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/gs_scholarship.php

• NEW! John W. Bandler Graduate Scholarship in Engineering Design

  This scholarship is sponsored by the Bandler Fund, one scholarship each year, value $5,000.
  • Eligibility: PhD students or post-doc in microwave and millimeter-wave engineering, imaging, inverse-scattering; engineering design optimization; or space mapping at a Canadian university.
  • Purpose: To recognize a PhD student or post-doc at a Canadian university.
  • Deadline: March 15, 2025
  • Link: https://ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/bandler_scholarship.php

• IEEE Canada Women In Engineering Prize

  One prize each year, value $1,000.
  • Eligibility: All female IEEE Canada members who received their first professional degree within the last ten 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: March 15, 2025
  • Link: http://ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/clift_prize.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: March 15, 2025 (also August 15, 2025 and November 15, 2025)
  • Link: http://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/sp_grnts.php

• IEEE Canada Vehicular Technologies Travel Grants

  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: March 15, 2023 (also August 15, 2025 and November 15, 2025)
  • Link: http://www.ieeecanadianfoundation.org/EN/vt_award.php

Prizes, Grants, Scholarships newly awarded by the IEEE Canadian Foundation

These donor supported programs enhance education and the IEEE professional community – thank you for making these possible.

IEEE Canada McNaughton Learning Resource Centres (all upgrades)

• Algonquin College
• Carleton University
• McGill University
• University of Ottawa
• Concordia University

IEEE Canadian Foundation Special Grants

• University of Ottawa: Stratopore: Testing of Solid-State Nanopores to Advance Life Detection Technologies for Extraterrestrial Exploration
• Memorial University: Iceberg Autonomous Surface Vehicle, Engineering Design Team
• Memorial University: Expanding Access to STEM Education through Robotics Workshops for Youth in Newfoundland and Labrador

IEEE Canadian Foundation Scholarships

• Winny Kameni, Algonquin College (nominated by SBC Rim Cherif)
• Clara Bernier-Mongrain, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivière (nominated by SBC A. Chériti)
• Graham Zelinski, University of Saskatchewan (nominated by SBC B. Bersheid)

IEEE Canadian Foundation

• Giving at Dues Renewal

  Your gifts at IEEE dues renewal pass fully to the IEEE Canadian Foundation, in support of our programs in Canada, with Canadian charitable tax receipt to follow early in the new year. Every gift has impact. This year, the Foundation celebrates thirty years of charitable support to IEEE fields of interest in Canada. Thanks to all who make a difference.

  When renewing membership or confirming your Life Member status, look for the Payment/Donations tab, click view donation options, select IEEE Canadian Foundation.