Stories in this Edition:

  • Small Business Innovation Research, Technology Infrastructure Can Help Create Jobs
  • Advice for Current & Potential Consultants Featured in Latest IEEE-USA E-book
  • IEEE/IEEE-USA Seek Nominations for 2012 New Faces of Engineering Recognition; College Edition Program Started
  • Paid Summer 2012 Internship At Mass Media News Outlet Available to U.S. IEEE Student Members
  • Median Income of Electrotechnology, IT Professionals Rises to $118,000; Communications Technology Workers Report Highest Income, IEEE-USA Salary Survey Reveals
  • ‘IEEE-USA in ACTION’ App Available in iTunes Store
  • IEEE-USA E-Book on Résumés First to be Offered Free as Special Benefit to IEEE Members

All Stories are available at the IEEE National section of our site:  https://ieeecincinnati.org/category/ieee-national/

Small Business Innovation Research, Technology Infrastructure Can Help Create Jobs

WASHINGTON (9 September 2011) — To help encourage job growth, Congress should reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and invest in America’s technology infrastructure.

During his speech to Congress last night, President Barack Obama specifically cited small businesses as a key to job creation. “Everyone here knows that small businesses are where most new jobs begin,” Obama said. “And you know that while corporate profits have come roaring back, smaller companies haven’t.”  

One simple way that Congress can immediately help small technology companies is by passing a long-term SBIR reauthorization.

SBIR is a competitive, federally funded program that helps small companies conduct research into new technology. But because Congress has failed to pass a long-term SBIR reauthorization, companies cannot be sure of the program’s reliability.

“High-tech entrepreneurs are job creators, and our country should do everything we can to support them,” IEEE-USA President Ron Jensen said. “Congress’ failure to reauthorize the program for more than a year at a time has created uncertainty among small technology companies, and uncertainty breeds hesitation, which breeds stagnation. Congress could end this uncertainty by passing a long-term reauthorization of the program.”

Obama also highlighted the important role that infrastructure investments play in the economic health of our country. But Congress should recognize that infrastructure in the 21st century must include a robust and intelligent electrical grid. The recent blackout in parts of Southern California, Arizona and Mexico demonstrates that our grid needs to be strengthened. Emerging technologies offer innovative ways to increase the reliability and efficiency of the system.  

“A reliable, efficient and affordable electric grid and IT infrastructure can power job growth across our country,” Jensen said. “Investing in our nation’s electrical infrastructure not only creates jobs today but also lays the foundation for a strong economy tomorrow.”

Small Business Innovation Research, Technology Infrastructure Can Help Create Jobs

WASHINGTON (9 September 2011) — To help encourage job growth, Congress should reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and invest in America’s technology infrastructure.

During his speech to Congress last night, President Barack Obama specifically cited small businesses as a key to job creation. “Everyone here knows that small businesses are where most new jobs begin,” Obama said. “And you know that while corporate profits have come roaring back, smaller companies haven’t.”  

One simple way that Congress can immediately help small technology companies is by passing a long-term SBIR reauthorization.

SBIR is a competitive, federally funded program that helps small companies conduct research into new technology. But because Congress has failed to pass a long-term SBIR reauthorization, companies cannot be sure of the program’s reliability.

“High-tech entrepreneurs are job creators, and our country should do everything we can to support them,” IEEE-USA President Ron Jensen said. “Congress’ failure to reauthorize the program for more than a year at a time has created uncertainty among small technology companies, and uncertainty breeds hesitation, which breeds stagnation. Congress could end this uncertainty by passing a long-term reauthorization of the program.”

Obama also highlighted the important role that infrastructure investments play in the economic health of our country. But Congress should recognize that infrastructure in the 21st century must include a robust and intelligent electrical grid. The recent blackout in parts of Southern California, Arizona and Mexico demonstrates that our grid needs to be strengthened. Emerging technologies offer innovative ways to increase the reliability and efficiency of the system.  

“A reliable, efficient and affordable electric grid and IT infrastructure can power job growth across our country,” Jensen said. “Investing in our nation’s electrical infrastructure not only creates jobs today but also lays the foundation for a strong economy tomorrow.”

Advice for Current & Potential Consultants Featured in Latest IEEE-USA E-book

WASHINGTON (13 September 2011) — Many engineers, for various reasons, are thinking about becoming independent consultants. But the skills required to go out on your own are not taught in engineering schools, writes William Kassebaum, P.E., in the introduction to “The Best of IEEE-USA Today’s Engineer: On Consulting — Volume 2.”

“Many engineers are apprehensive about making the transition from a salaried position with predictable weekly or monthly earnings, to a situation where the perception is that income would be uncertain and irregular,” said Kassebaum, chair of the IEEE Alliance of Consultants Networks Coordinating Committee. “Almost all experienced consultants were once company employees. They made the change, and most of them will say it was the wisest career and business decision they ever made.”

This second volume of articles, which originally ran in “IEEE-USA Today’s Engineer,” is an IEEE-USA e-book compilation of nine consulting-related stories. A sampling includes, “Consulting: The Dawn of a New Era;” “Moonlighting Engineers: The Consultant Stands Alone;” “Is It Your Time To Be An Entrepreneur;” and “Using Social Media to Attract New Business.”

The publication also features the “2010 Profile of IEEE Consultants,” which is based on the “2010 IEEE-USA Salary and Fringe Benefits Survey.” The profile provides information on things like average number of hours consultants worked per week (27.1) and median billing rate ($120).

You can purchase your copy of “The Best of IEEE-USA Today’s Engineer: On Consulting — Volume 2” at www.ieeeusa.org/communications/ebooks for the IEEE member price: $4.79. Nonmember price is $5.99.

IEEE members can purchase other IEEE-USA E-Books at deeply discounted member prices — and download some free e-books at www.ieeeusa.org/communications/ebooks.

IEEE/IEEE-USA Seek Nominations for 2012 New Faces of Engineering Recognition; College Edition Program Started

WASHINGTON (16 September 2011) — Nominations are now open for IEEE members under 30 to be recognized as the IEEE/IEEE-USA’s 2012 “New Face of Engineering.” In addition, a “College Edition” program for IEEE student members has started.

The Engineers Week (EWeek) “New Faces of Engineering” program recognizes engineers new to the profession with outstanding educational and career accomplishments. The program is open to IEEE members worldwide.

To be eligible for recognition, engineers must be 30 or younger as of 31 December 2011, and have a degree in engineering or computer engineering from a recognized U.S. college or equivalent international educational institution.

Judges will evaluate nominees based on their educational attainment, engineering achievements and participation and accomplishments in professional and technical society activities. Particular consideration is given to work (e.g. volunteering, publishing, conference presentations) in IEEE technical societies.
       
IEEE nominations should be directed to Sharon Richardson at s.richardson@ieee.org. Self-nominations are not permitted. The nomination form and more information are available at http://www.ieeeusa.org/communications/eweek/newfaces/default.asp.  

The nomination deadline is 21 October 2011.

The IEEE/IEEE-USA top choice will be featured during EWeek (19-25 February 2012) in a full-page ad in USA Today: http://www.eweek.org/Site/pdfs/USA_Today_Ad.pdf. Up to four others will be recognized on the EWeek Web site (www.eweek.org). Sampathkumar Veeraraghavan, IEEE’s 2011 New Face, was honored for his humanitarian work with women and children in India: http://www.ieeeusa.org/communications/releases/2011/030111.asp.

“College Edition” Program

The “New Faces of Engineering: College Edition” is for third-, fourth- and fifth-year IEEE student members enrolled in a bachelor of science engineering program at an ABET-accredited college or equivalent international institution, and have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0. The initiative is designed to recognize students whose academic success, contributions and experiences in engineering have them poised for future success.

The application is available on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CollegeEdition. Winners will be featured on the page, and their hometown and college newspapers will be notified. The nomination deadline is also 21 October 2011.

Sponsored by more than 100 engineering, science and education societies, as well as major corporations dedicated to increasing public awareness and appreciation of engineering, EWeek is celebrated annually by thousands of engineers, engineering students, teachers and leaders in government and business. IEEE served as lead society during EWeek 1993 and 2004, and will serve again in 2014.

Battelle and ASME are EWeek 2012 co-chairs.

 

Paid Summer 2012 Internship At Mass Media News Outlet Available to U.S. IEEE Student Members; Helping Journalists Communicate Authoritatively to the Public on Science, Engineering and Technology

WASHINGTON (24 September 2011) — A paid summer 2012 internship at a mass media news outlet is available to a U.S. IEEE student member who can help journalists in print or broadcast fields communicate authoritatively to the public about science, engineering and technology.  

IEEE-USA is seeking applications from U.S. IEEE undergraduate and graduate student members to work full-time June-August 2012 as a reporter, researcher or production assistant in a mass media organization — including radio and TV stations, newspapers and magazines — both print and electronic. Applications are due by 15 January 2012.

In addition to receiving a weekly stipend and travel expenses, IEEE-USA Engineering Mass Media Fellows gain valuable work experience and sharpen their communication skills as they report on today’s sci-tech news for the general public. IEEE-USA Engineering Mass Media Fellows have been assigned to such media outlets as The Los Angeles Times, the Voice of America, Scientific American and WNBC-TV.

2011 IEEE-USA Engineering Mass Media Fellow Brandon Blakeley interned for 10 weeks this past summer at The Oregonian in Portland, Ore. His first story appeared on the front page of the newspaper’s Living Section and described how Twitter “has become a trove of human language and interactions unmatched in size, detail and availability.” Go to:

www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2011/06/tweet_talk_from_the_associatio.html

Blakeley considered his “best story” a look at “why spiders don’t get stuck to their webs,” which appeared on the front page of a Saturday Oregonian. See:

www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/07/inquiring_minds_want_to_know_w.html

Since 2000, 14 U.S. IEEE undergraduate and graduate students have served as IEEE-USA Engineering Mass Media Fellows. IEEE-USA is the only engineering organization in the Mass Media Fellows program administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The AAAS program, begun in 1974, has placed some 600 fellows who have filed hundreds of stories in print and electronic media. To download a AAAS application, go to:

www.aaas.org/programs/education/MassMedia/apply.shtml

For more information on IEEE-USA participation in the AAAS program, and to print out a flyer on the activity, see:

www.ieeeusa.org/communications/massmedia.asp

 

Median Income of Electrotechnology, IT Professionals Rises to $118,000; Communications Technology Workers Report Highest Income, IEEE-USA Salary Survey Reveals

WASHINGTON (26 September 2011) — Median 2010 income for electrotechnology and information technology professionals rose nearly four percent from the previous year, according to the latest IEEE-USA Salary & Fringe Benefit Survey.

Median incomes from primary sources — salary, commissions, bonuses and net self-employment income — for U.S. IEEE members working full-time in their primary area of technical competence (job specialty) moved from $113,500 in the 2009 tax year to $118,000 in 2010, a 3.96 percent increase.

Of the record 17,030 U.S. IEEE members who responded to the Internet-based survey, 12,877 were employed full-time in their job specialty. Those working in communications technology reported the highest median income ($135,000), while workers in circuits and devices were second ($125,252). Those in signals and applications and engineering and human environment tied for third ($125,000).

On the other end of the spectrum, energy and power engineering professionals reported a median of $107,000, followed by industrial applications ($109,350) and systems and control ($110,000).

The IEEE-USA Salary & Fringe Benefit Survey, 2011 Edition, is the 24th compensation survey the organization has conducted since 1972. It also includes income data based on things like age, ethnicity, gender, experience and years with current employer. The results are valuable to companies seeking to know what type of compensation package they should put together to attract and retain electrotechnology and IT professionals, and to employees looking to benchmark their salary and benefits.

The IEEE-USA Salary Service offers annual subscribers access to an online salary calculator and survey reports (2009-11) for accurately benchmarking technical professionals’ compensation individually or organization-wide. The service combines the power of online relational databases, sophisticated regression modeling and data extracted from the annual IEEE-USA Salary & Fringe Benefit Survey. For more information, see https://ieeeusa.gallup.com.

‘IEEE-USA in ACTION’ App Available in iTunes Store

WASHINGTON (28 September 2011) – An app for “IEEE-USA in ACTION,” IEEE-USA’s quarterly electronic publication, is now available for download from the iTunes store. The app is free and compatible with iPad, iPod touch and iPhone.

See http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ieee-usa-in-action/id461081367.

“IEEE-USA in ACTION” highlights IEEE-USA programs, products, services and activities. This interactive online magazine features stories for technology professionals, polls, photo slideshows, commenting and the ability to share articles through social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter. The full page of a story can also be viewed without having to scroll.

The app contains six past issues and the fall 2011 issue (http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieeeusa/ieeeusa_fall11/index.php?startid=2#/1). The latter features articles on, among other things, IEEE members’ attitudes toward workplaces and careers, an e-book series on “Leading and Managing,” diary of a congressional fellow, high-energy visits to Capitol Hill and IEEE-USA’s student video competition.

Once the app is downloaded, new issues of “IEEE-USA in ACTION” will automatically be added to your device four times a year.

IEEE-USA advances the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of 210,000 engineering, computing and technology professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE. http://www.ieeeusa.org

IEEE-USA E-Book on Résumés First to be Offered Free as Special Benefit to IEEE Members

WASHINGTON (29 September 2011) — As a special benefit of IEEE membership, IEEE-USA will be offering one free e-book each month to IEEE members.

The e-book offering for October is “Engineers’ Guide to Lifelong Employability: On Résumés.” This e-book provides everything you need to know about creating and using résumé and cover letters — traditional to digital — in a convenient, easy-to-read format. In it you’ll learn:

* The basics of résumé formats, content and delivery
* How to update your résumé
* How to avoid common résumé blunders

“Your résumé should describe your skills and accomplishments plainly enough so that employers can tell within about a minute whether you fit their immediate staffing needs or not,” former IEEE-USA Employment & Career Services Chair Jean Eason said.

From Oct. 1 through Oct. 31, “Engineers’ Guide to Lifelong Employability: On Résumés” can be downloaded at www.ieeeusa.org/communications/ebooks  for free to IEEE Members. The nonmember price is $5.99. Members can purchase other IEEE-USA E-Books at deeply discounted prices and download other free e-books.
 
In November the free publication will be book two in the “Engineers’ Guide to Lifelong Employability” series: “Transitioning from School to Work.” In December it will be book three, “What Are You Worth?”
 
To learn about the many benefits of IEEE membership, visit http://www.ieee.org/membership_services/membership/join/.