2 Reasons Why IMS2012 Will Be Unforgettable

By Paul Kruczkowski, Editor

For 55 years, the International Microwave Symposium (IMS) has been the premier annual event for the worldwide RF and microwave engineering community, a place where educational, networking, and business opportunities are always plentiful. Students, researchers, and industry professionals from around the globe prepare for months to make the most of these opportunities. My own preparations for IMS2012, my first as editor of RF Globalnet, included a lively discussion with Ke Wu, the event’s general chair. We talked about many different aspects of IMS2012, but two stood out as reasons this year’s show will be particularly memorable: a celebration of the 60th anniversary of MTT-S, and the fact that the event will take place in Montreal, Canada.

Celebrating The 60th Anniversary Of MTT-S
Wu indicated that in addition to the special anniversary logo that was created to commemorate the event, there also would be special events held throughout the four-day symposium to celebrate the 60th anniversary of MTT-S. It all starts at the opening ceremony, where a slideshow will take us on a journey back to the roots of our society and show us highlights of its illustrious history.

Another notable element of the anniversary celebration is three special sessions presented by distinguished MTT-S members who are also accomplished leaders from academia and industry:

• The first session, Globalization of Engineering Education and Research (view the abstract in the PDF IMS2012 program book), explores the issue of global engineering education, which is of great concern to many in the field, including IEEE President-Elect Peter Staecker, who is one of the speakers.
• The second session, A Retrospective of Field Theory in Microwave Engineering (abstract) is a must-see for the fields and waves crowd, as it covers the history of field theory, how it has shaped modern communication system, and what role it will play in the future. The list of presenters includes Dr. James Rautio of Sonnet Software (creator of the MTT-S 60th anniversary logo and RF Globalnet guest columnist), several accomplished authors like David Pozar (author of Microwave Engineering), and Constantine Balanis (Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design), as well as Tapan Sakar and Magdalena Salazar Palma, to name a few.
• The final session, The Evolution of Some Key Active and Passive Components (abstract), is presented by a Who’s Who of MTT-S members, including session chair Larry Whickers, Richard Snyder, Karl Varian, and Nick Kolius.

A More “International” IMS
I also talked to Wu about the symposium being outside the United States for the first time since 1978, and only the second time in IMS history, and in particular why Montreal is such a good host city. He pointed to the strength of his planning committee — comprised of IEEE staff, members of academia, government lab researchers, and industry leaders and representative of the microwave industry in Montreal —and its wealth of industry knowledge as major reasons why IMS2012 will be a success.

Wu added that Montreal has the highest concentration of companies, over 50, that design and manufacture microwave products in Canada. In addition, the Canadian Space Agency is based in the Montreal area and drives much microwave research and development. Montreal also has four major universities, all of which have microwave engineering research and academic programs, and is home to the largest academic RF and microwave research institution in the country, Poly-Grames Research Center, which is led by Wu himself.

Wu also thinks that having the show in Montreal will impact attendance in a positive way. Montreal is easy to access from the United States, so IMS organizers expect many of the traditional exhibitors and attendees to return this year. In addition, Wu expects higher participation from international companies and attendees, due in part to Canadian visa requirements, which are more relaxed than those in the United States. This should provide attendees with networking and business opportunities that would not have been possible at U.S.-based symposia.

Finally, while Wu realizes that most IMS attendees will be focused primarily on the workshops, the student competition, and the networking and business opportunities, he urges everyone to experience the culture of Montreal, which provides a unique combination of North American and European lifestyles. For instance, you will have no difficulty finding a place for an important business dinner or social outing, since there are over 1,000 restaurants in the city, offering every type of cuisine imaginable. For those of you that have flexibility in your schedule, Wu points out that there are also social programs that provide additional opportunities to experience this truly international city.

Hopefully, many of you will be able to attend IMS2012 and I will have the opportunity to meet you as I travel throughout the Palais des Congrès de Montreal. But regardless of whether you are at the show or following it from your office, look for RF Globalnet’s daily coverage of the event to learn about the interesting products we see and the trends that are emerging in RF and microwave technology. Also, be sure to read next week’s article, where I will provide a preview of the technical program for IMS2012.