IEEE Committee: Women in Engineering

1. IEEE Committee:Women in Engineering Allan Johnston NPSS Liaison July 30, 2011

2. WEIC Committee Structure WIE Committee 11 voting members Quorum: 6 Liaisons from: IEEE USA,EXCOM, Publication Services, Standards, and Awards 10 Regional Coordinators Society Liaisons There are also more than 160 Affinity Groups, located around the world Communication is through monthly telecons, E-mail, and the annual in-person meeting

3. Society Liaisons • The number of liaisons has increased during the past year • Approximately 10 participate in the monthly telecons • Eleven attended the in-person meeting in May • Seven societies held WIE functions in 2009. similar to our model • Limited interaction by liaisons during telecons Twenty-six of the 39 societies appointed liaisons for 2011

4. WIE Face-to-Face Meetings (annually in April) • 2009 (Orlando) • Meeting was planned well in advance • I attended the meeting; moderate travel cost • 2010 (Boston) • Late planning: few hotels were available • Hotel rate was $342 per night (not including tax, etc.) • I did not attend because of the cost • 2011 (Phoenix, May 20-22) • Planned well in advance • Low travel cost • Eleven of the 26 liaisons attended

5. Current Issues • The IEEE Board of Directors conducted a review of the WIE in 2010 • Currently reports to the IEEE Board (standing committee) • Operationally functions within Educational Activities • The IEEE Governance Committee was asked to analyze the WIE and advise on appropriate • The WIE committee approved a white paper requesting that they formally report to the Member and Geographic Activities Board • Will continue to elect leadership within the WIE • The WIE Chair will have a voting position on the M&GA Board • Budget will continue to be supplied through the Educational Activities board

6. WISE Meeting (Inaugural Conference) • The 2011 IEEE International Conference on Women In Science and Engineering (WISE) was held from 23 to 25 March at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre in Western Australia. 2009 (Orlando) • Chaired by Irena Atov, 2010 WIE President • 12 keynote speakers • Conference proceedings will be published by the IEEE • Two other WIE members attended (funded by their Universities)

7. WIE Funding from Societies • In-kind Funding of Travel for Liaisons • In-kind Funding of WIE Events at Conferences • Support from IEEE Societies • Four other societies provided funds for conference functions • Antenna and Propagation ($5k) • Electron Devices (up to $10k) • Medicine and Biology ($3.5k) • Power and Energy (unspecified) • Support by societies is a useful metric for the Board of Directors review

8. WIE Function History and Plans within the NPSS ICOPS 2011 Up to $2500 per function

9. Potential Ways to Support the WIE from the NPS • Promote WIE membership at conferences • We have several prominent conferences that provide access to working professionals • Continue to hold WIE receptions (or other functions) • Identify individuals for promotion to Senior and Fellow grades • Conference chairs could identify potential candidates from registration information • AdCom and Conference Committees could recommend candidates • Identify prominent women in NPS as potential speakers for WIE functions

10. Summary • WIE functions have taken place at several NPSS conferences • A poster is available for NPSS conferences describing the WIE • Evening receptions appear to be effective formats • I can work with various conferences to help in planning and getting information available on the WIE • These activities fill an important gap between the WIE Committee, which is largely focused on student activities, and working professionals • Please advise me of conference functions so that I can include them in my report to the WIE