TECHNICAL PAPERS SOUGHT FOR IEEE WIRELESS HIVE NETWORK CONFERENCE
WASHINGTON (23 April 2008) — Organizers of the IEEE Wireless Hive Network Conference (IEEE WHNC 2008) are seeking technical papers from authors presenting the latest research, innovations and implementations related to the theory and practice of wireless sensor network systems, printed electronic device technologies, cognitive radio and related information system support.

IEEE WHNC 2008 (http://www.ieee-whnc.org/index.html) will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott in Austin, Texas, on 7-8 August. It will feature keynote addresses and panel discussions by leading experts, as well as innovative technology presentations.

Dr. Deborah Estrin, a UCLA professor of computer science with a joint appointment in electrical engineering, will deliver the 7 August keynote. She is founding director of the National Science Foundation-funded Center for Embedded Networked Sensing at UCLA. Jon Adams, director of Radio Technology and Strategy for Freescale Semiconductor, is the 8 August keynote speaker. Adams is an expert in wireless systems and communications, focusing on ZigBee, Wi-Fi, WiMAX and cellular 3G technologies. He is on the IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization board of directors.

Wireless hive networks (WHN) are local communities of wireless devices associated with such items as warehouse shelves, biomedical sensing and border motion detectors. IEEE WHNC 2008 will draw researchers, engineers and other practitioners to address WHN protocols, power generation, semiconductor processes and other WHN production and efficiency issues.

Authors are invited to submit three- to six-page papers in IEEE conference format. All submissions must describe original work not previously published or currently under review for publication in another conference or journal. Topic areas include, but are not limited to: device technology; system architecture and implementation; applications; security; legislative environment and regulatory policy; and cognitive radio.

The submission deadline is 15 May 2008. See http://www.ieee-whnc.org/whnc2008cfp.pdf for more information.

TEXAS ENGINEER RECEIVES IEEE-USA’S HIGHEST HONOR, ONE OF 24 IEEE-USA AWARD RECIPIENTS
WASHINGTON (30 April 2008) — Jean M. Eason of Fort Worth, Texas, received IEEE-USA’s highest honor during the IEEE-USA Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis on Saturday 26 April.

Eason was presented the Robert S. Walleigh Distinguished Contributions to Engineering Professionalism Award “for long-term leadership and accomplishments in IEEE-USA professional activities.” She is the first woman so honored.

Eason was one of 24 award recipients recognized for their professionalism and technical achievements, as well as literary contributions to public awareness and understanding of the engineering profession in the United States. John Meredith, IEEE-USA’s 2007 president, made the presentations.

Eason is a senior member of the IEEE who has held numerous leadership positions within IEEE-USA, including vice president, professional activities in 2005-06. She spent 15 years working in avionics systems design and now works as a consultant on specialized applications for small businesses, and in technical communications and documentation.

Robert S. Walleigh, an IEEE member electrical engineer, worked for the National Bureau of Standards — now the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – for more than 35 years. He retired as a senior adviser for international affairs in 1979. He worked the next 18 years as an IEEE-USA senior specialist.

The award was first presented in 1978 and renamed the “Robert S. Walleigh Distinguished Contributions to Engineering Professionalism Award” in 2000.

IEEE-USA’s distinguished awards are administered under its Awards and Recognition Committee and approved by the IEEE-USA Board of Directors. The nomination deadline for 2008 awards is 31 July 2008. For additional information, go to http://www.ieeeusa.org/volunteers/committees/awards/

BOSTON-AREA HOMELAND SECURITY CONFERENCE BUSINESS PANEL TO FEATURE LOCAL AND NATIONAL EXPERTS ON TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION
WASHINGTON (7 May 2008) — Dr. Thomas Cellucci, chief commercialization officer for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate; and Peter Ciganer, executive vice president, In-Q-Tel, will be featured “Business Panel” speakers at the 2008 IEEE International Conference on Technologies for Homeland Security.

The eighth-annual conference is scheduled for 12-13 May at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, Mass. For more information and to register, go to http://www.ieeehomelandsecurityconference.org/ .

The “Business Panel,” set for Tuesday, 13 May from 8 to 9:30 a.m., will feature organizations contributing to the commercialization of homeland security technologies.

Cellucci and Ciganer will be joined by Ralph E. Taylor-Smith, general partner, Battelle Ventures; Arthur Robert, industry director, Defense & Renewable Energy Technologies, Massachusetts Office of Business Development; Dennis Treece, director of corporate security, Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) and director, Massport Transportation Security Center of Excellence; and Robert Seelandt, partner manager, MetaCarta, Inc.

Gregory Bialecki, undersecretary, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will deliver the keynote address and welcome the panel.

Cellucci is responsible for identifying, evaluating and commercializing technology that rapidly develops and deploys products and services that meet the specific operational requirements of DHS and its end users.
Cellucci, who holds a Ph.D. in physical chemistry, came to DHS after founding a management consulting company that raises capital and provides strategic business services for global high-tech firms.,

Ciganer, who oversees In-Q-Tel’s government customer relations and communications, is responsible for helping identify and prioritize In-Q-Tel customers’ critical technology needs.

In-Q-Tel identifies and partners with companies that deliver cutting-edge technologies to the CIA and the broader U.S. intelligence community. It was founded by the CIA in 1999 as an independent, non-profit organization to bridge the gap between the intelligence community’s technology needs and new advances in commercial technology.

Taylor-Smith will discuss Battelle Ventures’ investment interests in security technologies. Robert will speak about business opportunities in the Commonwealth for Defense and Homeland Security businesses.

Treece will discuss the Massport Transportation Security Center of Excellence and how Massport engages the innovation community to pilot technologies at its airport, seaport and surface transportation facilities.

Seelandt will discuss Metacarta’s technology commercialization success with federal and state governments, as well as the private sector. The company was started with seed funding from In-Q-Tel.

The 2008 IEEE Homeland Security Conference is organized by the IEEE Boston Section and IEEE-USA. Industry sponsors include Massport, SAIC and Raytheon.