A Tribute to the Oldest EMC Symposium
in Europe…
“The world is round and the place which may seem like
the end may also be the beginning” (Ivy Baker Priest)
On June 11 through 13, 2008, the EMC community celebrated the
19th and final “International Wroclaw Symposium and Exhibition
on Electromagnetic Compatibility,” which has also been proudly
technically co-sponsored by the EMC Society of the IEEE for many
years.
When, 36 years ago, a few enthusiasts from the Wroclaw University
of Technology and the National Institute of Telecommunications
(Wroclaw Branch) came up with the idea of the EMC Symposium, they
did not have a slightest notion if it would work. It was the era
of the cold war and the so-called “iron curtain” divided
the world into two deeply different parts. At that time, in the
divided Europe, there was no common event organized on a regular
basis.
Nevertheless, the idea did catch on and every two years Wroclaw
has been gathering a number of participants, quickly becoming
a natural bridge between the two “different worlds.”
Starting in 1972, the Wroclaw Symposium became the oldest regular
EMC event in Europe.
EMC is a field of activity of many facets and through years the
Wroclaw Symposium has always brought together experts in various
subfields with a strong conviction that bright new ideas often
sparkle on the borders, believing that discussions and interaction
between scientists and engineers of various narrower specialties
would be fruitful.
In 2006, after the 18th edition of the Wroclaw EMC and 34 years
of continuing success, the organizers of the Wroclaw Symposium
decided to re-examine the mission of the symposium in uniting
Europe and not polarizing the world any further. After consultation
with prominent representatives of the EMC community, the organizers
finally concluded that the International Wroclaw Symposium and
Exhibition on EMC has fulfilled its mission, and the 19th edition
of it will be the last in its hitherto existing form.
But the curtain is not being lowered for the last time on the
Wroclaw Symposium. In two years time, in 2010, the Symposium will
celebrate its 20th edition in a quite new environment. The Wroclaw
Symposium, the oldest EMC Symposium in Europe and EMC Europe,
the youngest EMC Symposium in Europe, will join hands and hold
the 2010 Symposium jointly in Wroclaw, only to start a new tradition:
A joint pan-European Symposium bridging Eastern and Western Europe,
alternating between East and West and forming the largest EMC
conference in the European Community.
At this time of change, let us pay tribute to those whose involvement
and contribution made the success of the Wroclaw Symposium possible.
Special recognition should be given to the late Professor Wilhelm
Rotkiewicz, who established the basis allowing for organizing
these symposia, the late Professor Jan Holownia, Chairman of the
first symposia, and the late Professor Frans Louis Stumpers, a
long term (1976-1996) Chairman of the Program Committee.
Their efforts were then continued by Professor Ryszard Struzak,
Chairman of the Symposium (1980-1984) and Chairman of the Program
Committee (1998-2002), Professor Daniel J. Bem, a long term Chairman
of the Symposium (1986-2002), and Wladyslaw Moron, a very long
term Organizing Chairman (1976-2000).
[Extracted from the opening remarks by Professor Tadeusz W. Wieckowski,
Symposium Chairman.]
From EMC 2008, in Detroit, Michigan to EMC 2009 in Austin,
Texas
“The end of a thing, is never the end, something is always
being born like a year of a baby” (Lucille Clifton, “December”
Everett Anderson’s Year)
By the time you read these lines, our most recent IEEE International
Symposium on EMC in Detroit, MI, will be but a fine memory, blended
with new professional and social experiences, friendships renewed
and new friendships made. This will have been a great opportunity
to network, to learn from our peers and to simply have a great
time. Many thanks are due to Kimball Williams and his dedicated
team for putting this Symposium together. Having done that myself,
I know how much effort and enthusiasm must be put into such an
event.
But as every end is only a chance for new beginnings, the end
of the 2008 Symposium marks the birth of the 2009 Symposium in
Austin. In the 2008 Symposium proceedings, you have probably noticed
the Call for Papers of the 2009 Symposium, and we are certain
that your response will be no less than that of previous years.
Would you believe how fast the next 12 months will pass? Let us
make our plans now to meet again in Austin in August 2009. I know
I will be there.
And
while mentioning Austin, it is just appropriate to remember our
friend and colleague John Osburn, a Fellow of the IEEE and Chairman
of the 1997 IEEE International Symposium on EMC. John passed away
on 29 March 2008. No doubt that John will be dearly missed by
us all in Austin in 2009. Please see the Spring 2008 Issue of
the Newsletter (No. 217) where members of the EMC Society pay
their tribute to John.
We are in Wikipedia!
When you “Google” for “Electromagnetic Compatibility
Society,” the fourth “hit” you will get is a
Wikipedia page entitled “IEEE Electromagnetic Compatibility
Society.” This is just a small yet powerful manner for the
EMC Society to become more visible as a professional Society.
In fact, if you “Goggle” the term “Electromagnetic
Compatibility,” the first term you will reach is the Wikipedia
page for that item, and the first link you will find there is
the link to the IEEE EMC Society page in Wikipedia mentioned above.
Global Outreach Continues
Uploading the Wikipedia page emerged from discussions held in
the Board of Directors (BoD) meetings regarding global outreach
and visibility within the professional community. But, this is
only one small way. The EMC Society is increasing its global outreach,
and delegates from the EMC-S BoD are regularly visiting Chapters
and attending conferences, reaching out to our members and professional
communities wherever they are across the globe. I truly believe
that the President and officers of the BoD should be accessible
and should outreach directly to our members – you all! We
should be able to answer your questions, hear your suggestions
and, yes, also give some explanations, if necessary. There is
no better way to communicate than at face-to-face “get-togethers.”
In the very near future, in 2008 alone, delegates will be attending
several Chapter meetings in South America (Region 9), attending
conferences in Switzerland (EuroEM), Germany (EMC Europe), and
Croatia (SoftCOM) in Europe (Region 8), as well as INCEMIC’2008
(India), CAC’2008 (China), and APMC’2008 (Hong Kong)
in the Asia Pacific Region (Region 10). In addition, a delegation
of the EMC Society will attend, for the first time, I believe,
the 2008 IEEE Sections Congress, trying to reach out to Sections
where we do not have Chapters yet. More such visitations are scheduled
for 2009, with visits already planned to Korea, Russia, Switzerland,
China, and many other countries. Hopefully, we will be able to
also outreach to Africa, where currently no official EMC activity
exists.
To our North American Members in Regions 1 through 7: You are
not being “left out.” The BoD schedules its meetings
while considering opportunities for outreach to our Chapters in
the US as well. For example, the May BoD meeting was held in Salt
Lake City, UT, in cooperation with the Utah Section. That was
a great and well-organized event and we hope that eventually it
will lead to the development of an EMC Chapter in Salt Lake City.
Meetings in November 2008 and meetings in 2009 are also scheduled
with the intentions of meeting Chapter members around North America.
I would also like to emphasize that outreach to Chapters does
not necessarily have to be in conjunction with and at the same
location as BoD meetings. Unfortunately, we have only four such
meetings a year.
I invite the Chapter chairs to inform me of any special event
you may be holding this year and next, particularly colloquia
and workshops (please try to give me much advance notice as possible),
and (no promises made, but with good intentions…) I will
try to be present in support of the event, hopefully with more
BoD members whenever possible, and will surely be glad to make
presentations at the event. If such meetings are coordinated within
days from the EMC-S BoD or IEEE Technical Activities Board (TAB)
meeting series, I would personally be glad to accept your invitation
whenever possible, and visit your Chapter.
Board Meetings
When the BoD visits your region, I would like to reiterate that
all meetings of the EMC Society Board of Directors are open and
you are most welcome to attend. As mentioned above, we try to
schedule these meetings so as to outreach to you, and we hope
that you reach out to us and honor us by attending. You are not
expected to be a “silent observer” in the meetings.
Indeed, you may talk and express your opinions, make suggestions
and take part in our activities. The schedule of BoD meetings
is posted on the Society web site (www.emcs.org)
and in the Calendar section of this Newsletter.
I’ll close by posing a question to you: Is the EMC Society
meeting your expectations? I invite your feedback on this matter.
Please write to me with any suggestion, comment, or just a “howdy”
message. Please contact me at eb.joffe@ieee.org.
I look forward to your inputs. EMC
