Self-promotion doesn’t come easily to everyone. It may even seem incompatible with the straight-arrow engineering profession. But engineers — as professionals who change society for the better — are entitled to speak up about their entrepreneurship, their innovations, their awards and new contracts, the impact of engineering on our everyday lives, and so much more.

As we approach the end of 2006, we have a lot on our minds. There will be holidays, parties and family gatherings. Probably the last thing on your mind is financial planning. However, this is the time of year when financial planning should be done.

Many engineers align themselves with an employment agency so that they don’t have to go through the trouble of finding another contract. And more often than not, they do not have a positive, or professional experience with a headhunter. Often, they walk away confused, frustrated and jaded, wondering what on earth went wrong.

How do you motivate people who have little time and disposable income to become active in a professional society, like the IEEE? While contemplating ways to encourage his son to join and become active in a professional society, IEEE member Vern Johnson looked back on the experiences that led him to conclude that his IEEE membership has been a "marvelous investment."

A secure, affordable, sustainable energy supply, with limited environmental impact, is critical to ensuring enduring prosperity in the United States. The nation faces major challenges in meeting projected energy demand in an increasingly energy-hungry world and in developing the necessary next-generation workforce to support energy delivery.

As globalization advances, it has become commonplace (possibly even fashionable) to voice concern over the steady erosion of U.S. prominence in science and engineering. The concern is particularly centered in the physical, computer, and engineering sciences.

IEEE members take note: Your mega-organization recently increased its activities in radio frequency identification (RFID) with a multi-pronged approach. Reflecting the fragmented nature of the RFID technologies industry, as well as research and development, IEEE interest in RFID is found in pockets among technical societies, such as Communications, Computer and Microwave Theory & Techniques.

The National Council of Examiners in Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) recently approved an amendment to the NCEES Model Law that will require engineers with bachelor’s degrees to earn an additional 30 credits of acceptable undergraduate or graduate-level coursework from approved course providers before they can take the Principles and Practices of Engineering (PE) examination.

The IEEE is providing major funding for a new PBS engineering reality competition television program, "Design Squad," intended to introduce students, ages nine to twelve, to engaging, real-life applications of engineering concepts and to present engineering as a creative, productive career.