SemiTherm Conference ('99) Celebrated its 15th Anniversary
(written by Marcelle Ibrahim, Program Chair)
The SemiTherm Conference had celebrated its fifteenth anniversary this year, 7-12 March 1999, in San Diego, CA. The program committee and the executive committee, led by Prof. Mike Boyle, University of Maine, general chair, Marcelle Ibrahim, Raytheon Company, program chair and Dr. Bruce Guenin, Amkor, vice program chair, had worked very hard to make it a successful conference. A two-day course was given on 'Composite Materials for Electronic Packaging'. Dr. Carl Zweben who had an extensive experience on the subject gave the course. The main technical program, which was expanded from previous years, included twenty-seven of high caliber papers presented in a single session. The papers were superb in quality and in depth. The topics were diversified to cover most of thermal management aspects such as: modeling techniques and approaches, studies of air cooling schemes using CFD tools, materials and advanced packaging characterization, measurement methods and advances in compact modeling.
The vendors exhibit was the largest in the history of the conference; it was sold out. Over 45 vendors/exhibitors had participated. The vendors' workshops were informative and were well attended. Thanks to the C/S Communication and the University of Arizona in organizing and working out all the complicated logistics involved.
The evening tutorial was given by David Blackburn, of NIST, SRC, on "Semiconductor Devices and Circuits: Smaller, Faster, Denser and What It All Means", was very educational and interesting. The Significant Contributor Thermi Award was given to Dr. Richard C. Chu following his Presentation on "A Review of IBM Sponsored Research and Development Projects for Computer Cooling" in which he summarized his 40 years of experience with light personal touches. The two luncheon speakers were complimentary touches to the conference. Dr. John Peeples, Kryotech, spoke on "The Deskside Supercomputer, Where Thermal Design Is the Difference", which was an eye opener. Dr. Tom Collins, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, spoke on: "Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Past, Present and Future", followed by a special visit to Scripps Institute, during which the fifteenth anniversary celebration of the conference was held. Luxurious dinner was served in the midst of the main exhibit hall. Guided tours of the various exhibits were provided. This trip was the highlight of the conference.
Submitted by Tony Mak, TC-9