It seems that everyone born with a computer in his or her crib (“digital natives” or DNs) differs from those of us who were not (“digital immigrants” or DIs). Their brains develop in a different way. The way they learn is different. The jury is still out as to whether this is good or bad.

You might think Generation Y (GenY) professionals would be the least equipped to weather a recession, let alone be the solution to a company’s survival during a recession. But are you underestimating their potential?

Knowledge has been described as the only source of sustainable competitive advantage in an information economy. Since knowledge is the primary product of knowledge workers, it is also the primary source of their employability.

The nation’s tough economic times have left countless people unemployed and looking for work. For many , rejoining the work force may seem like one of the most difficult transitions in life. However, if you are re-entering the job market, by preparing appropriately and attacking the search smartly, it doesn't have to be as intimidating as you might think.

IEEE-USA's latest e-book is the first in a series of four written to provide the basics for gaining an understanding of what innovation involves, what it takes to be an innovator, and what it takes to develop a culture where innovation can thrive.

Never before has IEEE held a conference with a singular focus on green technology, sustainability, and/or renewable energy. While many IEEE conferences have included sections on sustainability, the IEEE Green Technology Conference is special in that it fills a need within IEEE for sustainability-oriented conferences and study.

When more than 10,000 students gathered in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome in April to compete in a robotics championship, the stands were filled with cheering teachers, parents, coaches and mentors — many of whom are IEEE members.

A new National Research Council report says the United States should establish clear national policy on resorting to cyberattack, while at the same time continuing to develop cyberwarfare capabilities in this sensitive area.

With challenges posed by today's travel demands, it is more important than ever to be prepared and to be physically fit prior to and maintain your exercise regime while traveling. With effective planning and some creativity, exercise can easily be incorporated into your travel routine.

Every year in the United States, vehicle accidents result in more than 42,000 fatalities. This statistic has remained about constant over the past decade, even though the vehicle miles traveled has grown by 21 percent, to more than three trillion in 2006. Advances in intelligent transportation systems have the potential to ease congestion and improve safety on the nation's highways.

It is widely accepted that a highly trained work force, capital investment and technology innovation are important inputs to international economic growth. However, what is not well understood is the most effective role for federal, state and local governments to fill in promoting each of these inputs to the global economic system.

With an economy in crisis and a work force at risk, educating the nation's future engineers and scientists and advancing technological literacy are more important than ever. The Boston Museum of Science hopes to introduce engineering and technology to schools and at least one science center or informal education organization in every state by 2015.

Computer engineering seniors aren't deterred from taking the FE examination because of a fear of failure, but rather because they do not see the benefits of becoming a registered EIT.

A recap of new and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during May 2009.

Creative inspiration comes in many forms. For Don Christiansen, ideas often spring forth from his "parts box" of clippings, articles and partially written columns. Do you have a parts box? And what do you keep in it?

IEEE-USA’s efforts to advocate greater use of modern IT in America’s health care system are in substantial alignment with initiatives being mapped out by the Obama Administration, which is aiming to computerize the country’s health records within five years.

At most institutions the number of faculty members who hold a P.E. license is relatively small. Should faculty serve as examples for students who will be working in an engineering field in the future and may need licensure?

America’s economy is in crisis. But the financial crisis might prove to be an opportunity for America — if we respond by taking steps to once again lead the world by creating new, innovative industries, businesses and products. To do that, we must put science, engineering and innovation back in their rightful place in our economy.

Plans for upgrading the electric grid and adding renewable energy resources got a boost with the stimulus package, which includes $4.5 billion for low voltage smart grid pilot projects and $6.5 billion for existing wiring repair and maintenance — a total of $11 billion.

On 27 April, President Obama delivered a major address on science, innovation and education at the National Academy. In his remarks, the president offered no new Kennedy-esque Moon challenge, but he did signal a strong commitment to S&T funding and STEM education in forthcoming budgets, as well as to renewable energy technology.

A recap of new and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during April 2009.

After the economic freefall of 2008, when the Standard & Poor’s 500 index fund plummeted 39.8 percent, and American family wealth fell by 18 percent, many professionals are looking to rebuild their 401(k) plans and IRAs, perhaps also altering their retirement plans.

President Barack Obama’s appointees to key science and technology positions, along with his issuance of an official memorandum directing that the integrity of federal S&T activities be carefully safeguarded, have been drawing strong praise from the policy community, including IEEE-USA leaders.

Excerpts from a compelling commentary from Warren Buffett's letter to shareholders in the 2008 Berkshire Hathaway annual report. Buffett's letter not only describes the performance of Berkshire Hathaway affiliated companies, but includes the author's commentary on what went wrong and why in U.S. and global financial markets between 1998 and 2008.

Job hunting has become a contact sport. Be prepared for some rough and tumble times. This job market is all about relationships. Your network, and not just what you know, is the key to finding a new opportunity — the more people who know what you know, the faster the path to a new job.

IEEE’s volunteer leaders depend on e-mail communications to carry out their work. Unfortunately, this powerful tool in today’s high-tech society is a two-edged sword. This article provides practical tips on using e-mail to eliminate or mitigate many of the problems that high-volume e-mail users endure.

It seems like that question is answered by the patent statute, which since 1793 has indicated that “statutory subject matter” — what can be patented — is “any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.” But when it comes to new technology patents, things aren't always so simple.

Today, energy is enjoying a renaissance of sorts. The issue dominates political, economic and social debate—garnering the kind of attention not seen since the energy crises of the 1970s. The economic emergence of China, Brazil, Russia and other large players in world markets have pushed energy prices to unprecedented levels, having widespread impact on global economies, and forcing governments to take action.

Anthropologist Brian Fagan’s treatise on climate change looks at the rise and fall of great civilizations during the Medieval Warming Period (800 – 1300 AD) in The Great Warming. And environmentalist Bjorn Lomborg's takes issue with carbon emission alarmists in Cool It.

Engineering program accreditation in the United States is conducted by ABET with the help of volunteers from its member societies — including IEEE. Currently, IEEE is responsible for evaluating more programs than any other ABET member society. Program evaluators from industry and government are needed.

A recap of new and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during March 2009.

For easy access, IEEE-USA has now made available select published government reports to IEEE members through the IEEE-USA E-Book Catalog. Members can currently download six government documents for free.

Today’s Engineer recently sat down for a Q&A with IEEE member and IEEE-USA Licensure & Registration Committee member David Whitman, Ph.D, P.E., who was recently elected to be next year’s president of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) – the organization that develops, scores and administers the U.S. engineering licensure examinations.

Are engineers really less interested in supporting their local communities than scientists? The last Harris interactive poll on the public’s perception of engineers and scientists says “yes.” But is it true? Today's Engineer suspects that the public is suffering from yet another misconception of engineers.

Engineering graduates — and those already in the workforce — face uncertain times in today’s chilling economic climate.

As anxiety and uneasiness continue into the second quarter of 2009, companies are looking for ways to trim spending and improve their bottom line. Even though technology often encompasses a small percentage of a company’s cost expenditures, executives inevitably turn their attention to technology budgets. But cutting back on technology may not be the answer to today's economic woes.

The symbolism of engineering has evolved as engineering design has gotten more complex and abstract.

With the growing understanding of the benefits of wellness, lengthening life span, and the increasing cost of health care, the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle is transforming the lives of many citizens.

The talent pool of STEM workers across the United States is insufficient to properly support the American economy through the next decade, according to a new book, Winning the Global Talent Showdown: How Businesses and Communities Can Partner to Rebuild the Jobs Pipeline.

Expert witnesses, including two IEEE members, testified before the House Science and Technology Committee to voice support for draft legislation to assist federal efforts aimed at scoping out and devising strategies for dealing with serious challenges posed by e-waste.

There are at least 70 million Millennials in the United States, and they constitute 21 percent of our work force — 32 million workers. How should management approach working with today's young engineers?

In November 2008, hundreds of engineers, economists, public policy experts, and citizens gathered in Atlanta for the IEEE Energy2030 Conference on Global Sustainable Energy Infrastructure.

The growth of high-density commercial wireless systems has increased harmful interference to 700-800 MHz public safety communication systems (such as police, fire and emergency rescue). To cope with this, the FCC in July 2004 adopted a comprehensive plan to reconfigure the band, using digital television (DTV) to increase both capacity and quality.

John Meredith’s e-Book, the fourth in the GOLD Series, entitled Launching Your Career: Lifelong Learning — Your Key to An Enjoyable and Rewarding Career, is a guide for engineering students who are preparing to start their career, as well as engineers who are in the early phases of their careers.

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during February 2009.

In today’s challenging economic environment, job eliminations and hiring freezes are commonplace. Human resource decisions are made that are beyond our control. However, you can control your preparations for an economic downturn — and your response, should you experience a layoff.

Sarah Rovito, our new Student's Voice editor, recalls how a WISE internship two summers ago helped lead to her current work, and how it whetted her appetite for using her engineering expertise to influence public policy decisions.

Each year, an average of 1.5 million young adults will leave the relative comfort of college and enter the uncertainty of a new job. If you are one of these recent graduates, these tips can help ease your transition.

Considering the devastating impact the current economy is having on U.S. workers, the current economic climate could certainly be considered the worst of times, or it could be viewed more optimistically as the best of times, if you are able to take advantage of some of the once-in-a-lifetime “bargains” that are likely available in the stock market.

Can the fruits of engineers’ labors be considered art? What of those of electrical engineers in particular?

Does blogging on your own time put you in any risk from your day job? Can it damage your career, or could it help? And if you decide to blog, what steps should you take to protect yourself?

Succession management has been bandied about as a topic of interest in companies and technology departments for years. Recently, succession management has enjoyed increased interest, as the need for skilled talent becomes more critical.

Why did the leaders of the IEEE Engineering Technology Student Chapter at Texas A&M University decide not to attend a host of classes one day last October? Did they suddenly become slackers? Not at all. They skipped classes to attend a 23 October symposium, “Engineering Career Skills for the Future: Energy in Transition.”

Launching Your Career: A Practitioners Guide to Leadership is the third e-Book in the IEEE-USA GOLD series. This leadership guide is a thought-provoking, inspiring self-reflection, and provides practical examples of how to move forward as a leader in the workplace, your volunteer organization, and even at home.

Margaux is a typical nine-year-old girl, and proud to be a Geek Girl. She shares her refreshing perspective as a youngster who loves, of all things, math and science.

A newly released National Academies report, prepared by a high-powered ad hoc study committee, contends that America’s Cold War-era systems of national security export controls and visa restrictions on foreign scientists and engineers are broken and need to be substantially revamped.

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during January 2009.

IEEE-USA's 2009 president discusses his path to becoming an engineer, his family, his hobbies, and what he's looking forward to accomplishing on behalf of the IEEE's U.S. members during his term.

n theory, globalization is supposed to equalize global wages and raise the global standard of living. Everyone is supposed to benefit. So, what's the problem?

Can the United States continue to lead the world in innovation, asks the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). NAE suggests the answer may depend on how well the public understands engineering.

IEEE-USA has released three new career-related e-books. Two of the books kick off the "Launching Your Career" GOLD e-book series, which is dedicated to helping graduating students, recent graduates and young engineers on important career topics. The third e-book provides an overview of the Management of Technology (MOT) discipline.

Market volatility is often referred to as a normal market occurrence. However, when it involves your money, it takes on a new perspective. There is no guaranteed solution to managing market volatility and the stock market, but the following tips can help.

The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam for electrical and computer engineers is assuming a new structure in the spring of 2009.

To be competitive, senior level executives returning to the job market have some unique challenges, not the least of which is the gap in their employment history.

The public is asking for the modern presidency to tap into the potential of all Americans by means of searchable online databases of government information, full-scale interactivity, and the distributed problem solving that comes with social networks, to become more accessible, more transparent, and more effective.

IEEE-USA editor for technology policy George McClure looks at the prospects for technology, energy, climate change, work force, employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure and the economy in the new year.

While Congress prepares a renewed focus on government programs to assist science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, several major American corporations are pumping sizeable amounts of money into schools around the country to provide further support for initiatives to strengthen STEM education.

Stocks, bonds, annuities, mutual funds, 401(k)s, pensions, CDs…they all make up a well-balanced and diversified portfolio to make sure your assets are protected from market risks. But what about your long-term health risks? Learn more about your long-term health risks, including five myths, and a solution to help protect your assets from them.

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during November 2008.

John G. Shulman, President and CEO of the negotiation consulting and training firm, Alignor, has written two informative e-books on Engineering the Art of Negotiation.

At Carnegie Mellon University, the new interdisciplinary Masters program in Engineering and Technology Innovation Management (E&TIM) is designed for engineers who are passionate about creating value from technological innovation.

Businesses stand to lose a great deal when they don’t practice succession management — like management continuity and their best engineering pros.

As oil nudged $140 per barrel, there was a ground swell of interest in more offshore drilling. But other options — including smart grid and nuclear power — warrant consideration when it comes to ensuring the nation's future energy supply and independence from foreign oil.

The November / December 2008 issue of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Magazine which will focus on protecting the health care & public health critical infrastructure.

Over the next few years, the United States will face tough questions regarding the future of telecommunications, including spectrum sharing, broadband Internet, delivering services to rural areas, and the impact of peer-to-peer networks. One man helping to answer these and other questions is an IEEE member: Prof. Jon M. Peha, the FCC's new chief technologist.

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during October 2008.

Sarah Rovito writes about the summer of 2007, which she spent in Washington, D.C., as one of three IEEE-sponsored WISE interns.

An academic expert on DARPA — the gang that brought us the Internet, the laser and the PC — says that while the agency continues to be a target of concern and criticism, it still may be premature to evaluate its overall performance since Dr. Tony Tether took charge in 2001.

In August, the IEEE Central Indiana Section hosted “Biofuels in Indiana: Technology, Public Policy and Future Direction,” a day-long conference which examined and assessed Indiana's biofuels progress, as well as the future of renewable energy sources.

Smart grid will bring tremendous energy, efficiency and environmental benefits … but consumers are not yet onboard.

Maddalena Jackson spent last summer as a science reporter for two reasons. The first was to test a hypothesis she had formulated about applying the engineering mentality to non-engineering problems. The second reason was because she found herself at a loss for words at cruising altitude somewhere over Texas on her way home from Los Angeles.

More than 300 IEEE delegates convened at the triennial Sections Congress in Quebec City to learn, and to arrive at their own recommendations to bring forward to the IEEE Board of Directors to guide future directions.

Stocks, bonds, annuities, mutual funds, 401(k)s, pensions, CDs…they all make up a well-balanced and diversified portfolio to make sure your assets are protected from market risks. But what about your long-term health risks? Learn more about your long-term health risks, including five myths, and a solution to help protect your assets from them.

Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama each have different views on the future of technology. Sometimes those views overlap, sometimes they don't. But each has a chance at influencing the careers of many IEEE members and others working in technology.

To the average citizen, bootlegging conjures up visions of Prohibition-era Chicago, hidden stills in the mountains of Tennessee, and fast boats delivering illicit spirits at dusk to numerous ports on the North Shore of Long Island. More recently, bootlegging refers to the practice of selling someone else’s intellectual property without permission or compensation.

An organization's ability to be competitive at what is does rests on acquiring the right talent, deploying it properly, and continually evolving to meet changing needs and situations. In today's rapidly changing world, how can you be part of the best team?

Over the past 15 years, inventors and manufacturers have become increasingly wary of a new type of patent owner: the patent troll. The road to riches for patent trolls may be getting a little bumpier, thanks to some recent court decisions and pending legislation.

Most everyone has been there at one time or another, working under a tyrant who somehow manages to survive in this world without people skills. If you haven’t had a boss like this, you should consider buying a lottery ticket — and soon. You are that lucky.

The history of initiatives to conserve energy use is as long as the history of energy use itself. Humans have always attempted to do more with less. But it was not until the energy crises of the 1970s that the desire to conserve became great enough to infiltrate federal-level policy. Where do we stand today, and what can we do in our own homes to help?

Smart grid initiatives are almost entirely industry-driven. People based in academia will be hard-pressed to find an institution from which they can learn all there is to learn about smart grid in one single helping.

Meet IEEE-USA's VP of Career and Member Services.

Back in 2005, at the end of her IEEE-USA Fellowship to the U.S. State Department, Emily Sopensky ended her final report with: For me, the Fellowship has been life-changing… I have met some exceedingly bright, energetic and fascinating people. I have learned a little of the mystery…

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during August and September 2008.

The engineer’s work environment is not what it used to be. Many who began their careers in the mid-20th century did not work from a cubicle and none had a computer workstation. If they had a desk, it was often shared. In the case of U.S. engineers, they had little or no contact with the vendors, customers or other engineers outside the United States.

When it comes to retirement, it’s not just what you have that matters, but how you re-invent yourself so that you retire with a sense of meaningfulness and significance. Continuous learning is one of three key ways to do that, according to the research findings tracking retiree and retirement trends since 1993.

In recent years, the engineering profession’s employment landscape has been dramatically reshaped as a result of growing job dissatisfaction, downsizing, outsourcing, layoffs, and early retirements, to name but a few of the contributing factors. Many engineers have moved from salaried positions to independent consulting practices.

Are you looking for a "green" job in an environmental field? How about a job where you put your skills to work doing some good for the world? Or maybe you're just looking for a job that will challenge you. In any of these cases, a career in oceanic engineering could offer exactly what you are looking for.

When a person loses a job, he or she experiences shock, anger, disappointment, fear and the feeling of loss. We eventually dust ourselves off and begin to rebuild by searching for another job. Through networking, submitting résumés, interviewing and selling ourselves to perspective employers, we eventually land a new job.

Intellectual property is rarely on the minds of today’s young engineers — but it should be. Some may be familiar with patents, which grant an exclusive monopoly to the patent holder for a period of 20 years, but fewer are familiar with copyrights.

In mid-August, IEEE-USA President Russell Lefevre joined with more 250 other national science and technology leaders who converged on the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn., to participate in the first National Science and Technology Summit.

What happens when you apply for IEEE-sponsored life, health, disability or accident insurance?

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during July and August 2008.

His name was Nipper. He was — and still is — known as the RCA dog. Not a talking dog nor a singing dog, his fame came from listening. Yes, he was a real dog!

While many intellectual property experts are receptive to the idea and purpose of copyright education, some of them fault the available initiatives for their style and content. How young is too young to understand the subtlety and nuance of copyrights?

From rechargeable batteries to window coatings to high-capacity electrical wires, nanotechnology is increasingly being employed to make a wide array of products more energy efficient.

A Perfect Storm described the confluence of three storm systems in the north Atlantic. In demographics and retirement security, we have another perfect storm, with the third element being greater longevity in retirement.

Electrical engineers, computer scientists and other technology professionals need years of education to qualify for jobs in their fields. And yet, even with all of this training, many of these same people working in high-tech fields find themselves held back in the workplace because they lack business-critical interpersonal, writing and presentation skills.

Today’s Engineer sits down for a Q&A with Richard Schwarz, P.E., chair of IEEE-USA's Licensure & Registration Committee, to talk about recent changes to the requirements for becoming a licensed engineer.

We don’t all retire the same. We each have our own interests, needs and aspirations. Some of us make an easy transition to retirement, while others find retirement unaffordable, unexciting, unfulfilling, and maybe even lonely. By planning early in and continuously throughout your life and career, you may be able to enjoy a comfortable and fulfilling retirement.

Smart grid initiatives are almost entirely industry-driven. People based in academia will be hard-pressed to find an institution from which they can learn all there is to learn about smart grid in one single helping.

The 2008 IEEE-USA Annual Meeting served as proof of engineers’ commitment to the environment. Held in April, the meeting included sustainability-focused presentations on green businesses, green engineering, green IEEE Sections, as well as numerous presentations on innovation, grassroots and activities designed to promote action at the ground-level.

Traveling overseas for work or on a family vacation can be the opportunity of a lifetime, but there can also be health and safety risks. Knowing how to stay healthy and safe, including getting the proper vaccinations and taking precautions, could make the difference between a good trip and a miserable one.

Backscatter author Donald Christiansen has compiled some of his earliest, thought- provoking columns in a new IEEE-USA e-book, , The Best of Backscatter from Today’s Engineer – Volume1. Here's a brief review.

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during Jun and July 2008.

Because it is so important to continuing business success, and because opportunities for innovation are everywhere, innovation can be a vital ingredient for career success for every engineer.

Experiences from the IEEE Central Indiana Section, and lessons for greening your Section from IEEE members working at the heart of the issue.

Are there the makings of a "perfect storm" scenario for meeting future workforce needs in the electric power and energy industries? Many people, both casual observers and passionate participants alike, have strongly answered “yes” to this question. Why?

There are many reasons for attending industry-related meetings and joining organizations, like the IEEE, or community groups.

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) has introduced legislation in Congress that will dramatically change America’s skill-based immigration system. Her bills will make it significantly easier for non-Americans with advanced education and skilled to become citizens.

IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) is at the forefront of diversity issues. Although the primary goal of WIE is to build a community of women and men supporting the advancement of women at all stages of their careers, WIE has become the diversity arm of IEEE.

Many are rising in their versatile specialty, others have moved into related technical fields. At last count, women made up only 8 percent of the EE work force. Women of color account for just a fraction of those, but it’s a vibrant fraction.

Students, warm up your video cameras! It's almost time to enter IEEE-USA's second annual "How Engineers Make a World of Difference" online video competition for the chance to win thousands of dollars in college scholarships.

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during May and June 2008.

The Banneker Institute serves as a catalyst in the pursuit of increased African-American participation in STEM careers. In 2007, it declared “The Decade of Blacks in Science,” a national effort to promote STEM outreach activities at the local level.

During this time of “No Child Left Behind” and meeting educational standards, students have little time for hands-on projects. For Ronald Rodgers, an elementary school teacher in Indiana, receiving an IEEE-USA Precollege Education Committee (PEC) Teacher Reward/Grant last school year had impacts beyond his expectations.

Don Christiansen wonders about young engineers' knowledge of the history of our own profession. Consider the once ubiquitous vacuum tube. How many under-40 engineers are aware of the origins of the thermionic vacuum tube or of its importance during its halcyon years?

How do you get green consumers — and later, the majority — to embrace green technologies? By following a familiar theory regarding the diffusion of innovations.

People tend to get very complacent once they land a new job. After months (sometimes years) of searching, many people think their work is over once they step through their new employer's door. Unfortunately, sitting back at this juncture might lead to outcomes that are far less favorable than a person hoped for in a new employment situation.

In a slowing economy, where are the opportunities? The Semiconductor Industry Association’s (SIA) survey of its member companies looks at degrees, technical skills and positions the companies are having difficulty filling.

The only specific right the U.S. Constitution grants to citizens is ownership of their intellectual property (Article I, Section 8, Clause 8). But employees now working for technical companies, academic institutions and government likely signed a contract that pre-assigned their intellectual property to their employers.

The PE examination consists of 80 independent multiple choice questions and each has to be written by a registered professional engineer. If you are a registered professional engineer, you can write a question for future exams. Find out how.

Before you have retired, you should be able to answer without hesitation: “What do you do?” You might say, “I do a lot of things,” and then (assuming your questioner is interested in more than what you can do to help him or her), launch into your laundry list of new activities in retirement.

IEEE members are at the vortex of America’s global economic status in the 21st century. In order to help American business remain competitive, it is vital that IEEE members understand sustainable business operations.

As the 21st century gets underway, the U.S. engineering profession finds itself facing major challenges, including the impact globalization and offshoring of U.S. engineering jobs are having on the engineering workforce and profession.

With all the concerns of rising gas prices, home foreclosures, rising health care costs, and bills, bills, bills, it is ironic that many people have not given thought to the financial security of their loved one or themselves when either one dies.

A roundup of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during May 2008.

Are you protecting your intellectual capital? A primer on the most common types of intellectual property: trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets, copyrights and patents.

For more than a century, science-fiction authors have played a major role in helping to shape technology innovations. What can we learn from writers of science fiction that will allow us to be more innovative in the real world?

Attitudes and values differ around the globe, and an unintentional mistake can not only reflect badly on you, but could also submarine your business deals abroad. Terry Malkinson reviews Terry Morrison and Wayne Conway's cultural guide to Latin America.

RFID has been a rapidly-adopted technology, largely on the basis of its potential for saving costs and improving productivity in distribution and consumer transactions. The market is estimated at $5 billion now, growing to over $25 billion by 2017.

Plug-in-Hybrids: Accelerating Progress Symposium — Part 1 is now available as IEEE-USA’s latest e-book. Bill Williams, a senior IEEE-USA legislative representative on the IEEE-USA Government Relations staff, compiled “Part I: Electrification, Fuel Economy and the Environment” from an exciting IEEE-USA co-sponsored symposium held in the Fall of 2007.

With a global push to find viable alternatives to coveted — and finite — fossil fuel reserves, renewable and sustainable resources, such as solar energy, are enjoying a resurgence of interest from the engineering and political communities.

The nation's elderly are wealthier, healthier and more numerous than ever before. However, the positive population and financial trends among the elderly population are contrasted by negative trends in the their transportation options.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the Broadcast Flag regulation — beyond the MPAA’s influence, the disregard for fair use, and muzzled innovations — was the way the FCC overreached its authority. Despite its repeal, the regulation has had long-lasting consequences.

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government during April-May 2008.

Early adopters are valuable to those who introduce innovative high-tech products. These early customers may be either individuals or corporations. It is estimated that perhaps 10 to15 percent of the individual purchasers of a product fall into the early-adopter category.

Osceola McCarty, a washer woman from Mississippi, donated $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi in 1995 for student scholarships. Her secret? Hard work, diligent saving, frugality and living within her means. If Ms. McCarty can accumulate this amount of money, surely an engineering graduate should be able to do at least as well.

Intellectual property is usually a company’s most valuable asset. While trademarks and copyrights are generally understood, patents are generally misunderstood, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars to companies every year. Learn how to avoid the 10 most common mistakes made regarding patents.

Because recruiting is expensive and time-consuming, and the pool of available talent is shrinking instead of growing, employee retention is fast becoming the most cost-effective strategy for keeping up with business needs. Experts suggest that you can buy employee loyalty with salary, bonuses, perks, patting them on the back and even letting them bring their pets to work. Yet employees still leave. What is an employer to do?

Some members of Gen Y are wondering why they don’t seem to fit in with their colleagues, and yet they remain hopeful they will find the right job and situation that will take full advantage of their talents and aspirations.

A fulfilling technical career path generally requires some form of growth to be rewarding. In addition, if you’re expecting to prepare for increased responsibilities, you’ll be looking to increase engineering, professional and business skills.

On 17 January, IEEE-USA, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Westinghouse Electric Company jointly participated in a Congressional Research and Development Caucus briefing on emerging nuclear technology. IEEE-USA coordinated the briefing to assist House members with a shared interest in promoting technical innovation in the United States.

If you’re diagnosed with cancer, will your health insurance cover ALL the costs of your treatment? Find out what your health insurance plan covers and what it doesn’t. Plus, learn about an affordable “back up” that could help you if you’re among the one in three Americans diagnosed with cancer during your lifetime.

A recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government in the first quarter of 2008.

IEEE-USA E-Books are alive, well — and growing! Whether you are searching for information on consulting, innovation, salary surveys, or personal and professional development, you will find it in the pages of IEEE-USA e-books.

Less than thirty years ago, Richard Stallman founded the free software movement, dedicated to the principle that the free sharing of knowledge embodied in executable software is an ethical imperative. Stallman's vision, though derided as impracticable and inconsistent with economic reality, has transformed the global software industry, and is at the very heart of the most important developments in human society since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

Engineers have been known to grouse that while pop stars and sports figures get lots of attention, engineers labor in the shadows, and, like Rodney Dangerfield, “don’t get no respect.”

In the short term, forecasting is hard to do, matching a development with a timeline. That said, IEEE-USA's government relations editor George McClure provides an overview of changes and trends in eight categories that are likely to affect all of us, in one way or another, in 2008: technology, energy, climate change, workforce, employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure and the economy.

In study after study, more and more engineers over age forty are reporting age bias in their job search, and engineers are increasingly wondering what they have to do to get a job in the second half of their careers.

The dearth of women in IT and programming, and declining numbers of women enrolling in undergraduate computer science majors in the United States has many causal factors, and has been studied extensively since the 1980s. Yet the underlying causes are so intertwined that it is difficult to separate them. Some sociologists suggest that many of these causes may reflect the pervasive effect of the gender system. Confounding the issue are technological and cultural changes.

Post-secondary education is expensive and choosing your educational provider is a decision requiring careful thought. A decade ago, the decision was much easier. Today, the choice of an educational provider is complex; a wrong decision has huge financial and time implications.

The topic may seem dull, but technology export controls are vital to U.S. security and competitiveness. Technology that could help other nations compete with the United States if released — or that could be useful to terrorists — is subject to export controls. The rub comes in weighing the needs of U.S. innovators for greater sales versus the harm to the national interest if the technology is divulged.

According to some, engineering is the most essential profession in the world. Engineers mold the very foundations of almost every device, mechanism, system and substance on which the world's population relies. So, if the United States is suffering from an "engineering gap," where will the nation's future engineers come from?

When the National Engineers Week Future City Competition hosted its 16th National Finals 18-20 Feb. in Washington, D.C., a record 37 regional championship-winning teams participated. They represented the cream of the crop among the more than 1,100 schools and 30,000 students who competed during the 2007-08 season.

In today’s world products, money, and people transcends borders. The career-savvy individual will take the time to become informed about other countries, their cultures and ways of doing business. Asia is the world’s largest continent, containing almost 60 percent of the world's population.

The following is a recap of news and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government in January-early February 2008.

Henry Ford and Rudolph Diesel’s initial efforts to fuel their fledgling automobiles involved ethanol and peanut oil, respectively. However, they soon discovered that refined petroleum was a far more efficient source for gasoline and diesel fuel. Are biofuels ready to make a comeback?

Remember the board game King Chip? Or the Macintosh XL (aka Lisa)? Or PC Jr.? Don Christiansen revisits some of the technologies and technology predictions of the mid-1980s to explore the veracity of the law of engineering obsolescence.

Some IEEE members believe that all we need to improve public appreciation of engineering is a prime-time TV series featuring engineers. That could very well be true, but quicker than you can calculate pi to 39 decimal places, mathematicians are already in prime time.

With all of the cellular phones, MP3/PMP devices, GPS units, set-top boxes, DVRs, automobile telematics systems and digital televisions out there, we are surrounded by embedded systems composed of custom hardware and software designs. But, is the United States losing its edge in producing engineers who can make these critical systems work?

Most people can relate to the anxiety associated with being asked to give a presentation to a group of colleagues. Susan de la Vergne offers a few suggestions for improving your technical presentation abilities and effectiveness.

Defined contribution plans provide greater portability of benefits than “traditional” defined benefit plans, but shift the responsibility of saving for retirement from employers to employees. Whether employees are saving enough to secure their retirements is question of some concern. Based on a November 2007 GAO report.

In late December 2007, President Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act (H.R.6). The bill requires auto manufacturers to improve fuel economy standards to 35 mpg by 2020, and boosts ethanol production five-fold by 2022. The legislation also includes a $95 million competitive grants program designed to spur electric vehicle technology development, as well as language calling on NIST to work with the IEEE and others to develop standards for emerging "Smart Grid" technologies. But does it do enough to achieve the nation's ambitious energy independence goals?

A recap of new and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government and its research partners at year end in 2007.

IEEE understands how stressful and expensive it is for parents today to plan and pay for their children’s college education. To help alleviate some of the strains associated with putting a child through college, the IEEE has partnered with College Parents of America, the only national membership association dedicated to advocating and to serving on behalf of current and future college parents.

OK, so engineers don’t glad-hand as many strangers as would a politician. And at technical meetings, we're likely to seek out colleagues in our own fields and neglect others. But does that make us nerds?

You know that your potential employers are going to Google you. Here's what you can do to present your online self in the best possible light.

One of the best ways to enhance your career and ensure your employability is by improving your writing skills.

Historically, American transportation systems have been plagued with problems of congestion, pollution and safety. Should transportation systems give people what they want or what they need?

After graduating from college, Eric’s first week on the job as an engineer was full of leadership and management challenges — but he didn’t realize it at the time. He was just getting the work done that he was told to do. Just ordinary work for an entry-level engineer...or so he thought.

A recap of new and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government and its research partners in late October and November.

TE recently caught up with William C. Miller, an internationally recognized expert on values-centered corporate innovation for more than 20 years.

How can you — the potential academic author — help to ensure your book's success? It pays to think about the marketing before you even write your first word…

Good engineering managers are well paid because they have a very difficult job that not many people with engineering backgrounds want — and even fewer are highly qualified for the role. Here are five simple ways for executives to help their engineering managers succeed.

A long, dismal history of election fraud, in both rural areas and big cities, tells of the election process' legacy of susceptibility to corrupt elements. So, will e-voting make things better — or worse?

A recap of new and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government in October and November.

IEEE-USA President John Meredith and the Semiconductor Industry of America (SIA) President George Scalise sent a joint letter to Congress on 11 October outlining a common position on skill-based immigration reform.

It takes many dedicated people, both professional staff and volunteers, to carry out the important work of the IEEE. Needless to say, the IEEE needs a steady supply of volunteers.

Do engineers consider ethics in engineering practice unworthy of discussion? Superfluous? A waste of time? Boring? Don Christiansen isn't sure…

For some, the statement “Thank goodness it’s Friday” leads quickly to anxiety over having to return to work on Monday. With some simple strategies, you can enjoy an attitude reversal that may even have you saying, “Thank goodness it’s Monday.”

As a student, your primary focus should be on your school work, but neglecting money management can have dire consequences. If nothing else, having unmanageable debt at the outset is a bad way to start a career.

Patrick Meyer reviews 15 reliable resources for students studying energy policy or environmental policy…

A recap of new and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government in September and October.

Perhaps not well known by many IEEE members, Golden was described as “a main architect of American science policy in the 20th Century” in his New York Times obituary, an acknowledgment of his influence in defining the federal government’s expanded role in science and technology after World War II.

On 19 September, experts from a vast array of industries and sectors converged to discuss one of the most promising technologies for the future of the American automobile industry: plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). The primary take-home message: PHEVs are coming.

Local TV news is the medium from which about 40 percent of the American public gets its news, and 44 percent of the U.S. public over 18 years of age chooses local TV news as its top source of science and technology information, according to NSF's 2006 Science and Engineering Indicators. IEEE-USA has joined a coalition of science and engineering societies to support better science on local TV news.

Get to know a little bit about one of IEEE-USA's key volunteers: Paul Kostek.

2005 AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellow Abby Vogel spent the summer of 2005 as a science reporter at the Richmond Times-Dispatch. She says the experience helped her to find her career, and she believes that IEEE membership means volunteering to help current and future engineers realize theirs.

A nuclear burst detonated in space over the United States would create a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) that could cause the functional collapse of the electrical power grid. As a result, major infrastructures such as communications, transportation, financial services, emergency services, energy distribution, food and water could also be disrupted or extremely impaired.

U.S. ports handle more than 2 billion tons of domestic and import/export cargo per year, $1.3 billion worth of goods move in and out of U.S. ports every day. Interference with their function would be disruptive to the U.S. economy. However, terrorist activity could destroy port facilities or use them as a channel to move materials into the United States for other destinations.

Globalization now has 3 billion eager participants in competition with the United States. Is our history unfolding like Queen Victoria’s era? Great Britain was on top of the world and no one thought that they would be replaced by another superpower. Is history repeating itself with U.S. dominance?

In an effort to drive critical thinking on the U.S. electric power grid and its well-publicized reliability issues, Luis Kun, Senior Research Professor of Homeland Security at National Defense University in Washington, D.C., and Professor Robert Mathews, Distinguished Senior Research Scholar in National Security Affairs and U.S. Industrial Preparedness at the University of Hawaii, are writing a series of white papers on problems caused by uninteroperability in the nation's critical infrastructures. First up: the electric power grid.

A glut of business methods patents is clogging the patent review system's arteries. Is the system broken or badly in need of an overhaul?

Ranked by The Princeton Review as one of the top internships in the country, the Washington Internships for Students of Engineering (WISE) gives IEEE student members a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A recap of new and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government in August and September.

The nature of work has changed considerably and change will continue. Even if you feel that you are in a secure career position today, there is no guarantee that you will be in the same secure position tomorrow.

Oh, for the good old days when your neighbor knew exactly what you did when you told him you were an electrical engineer! The mid-century EE was either a power engineer or a communications (electronics) engineer. No matter. You could be either, and your neighbor was confident you would fix his TV when it acted up.

In the Fall of 2006, the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering launched its Future Faculty Program (FFP). The FFP seeks to increase the number of Ph.D. graduates who obtain academic positions, and to improve the preparation of students for academic careers so that they can better succeed once they obtain such a position.

Think you don't have what it takes to come up with something new and innovative? Think again. Sometimes all it takes to come up with a new idea is putting yourself in the right frame of mind.

For managers, pulling performance from employees is a daily challenge. And to complicate this task, this is the first time in American history that managers have had to motivate a workforce comprised of three generations. In today's workplace, you might see 50-year-olds sitting next to (or even reporting to) 20-somethings. Managers are familiar with Baby Boomers and Generation X, and know how to get more out of them, but what about Generation Y?

It’s a jungle out there. How many times have you heard that? How many potential entrepreneurs has this statement run off? Having a mentor is like having a GPS and a protective force field in that jungle.

On 2 August, Congress passed landmark legislation designed to enhance U.S. competitiveness and innovation by increasing funding for basic research and improving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. President Bush signed the bill into law on 9 August.

Nearly 500,000 new small businesses are created every year; yet many fail because new business owners don’t have the information necessary to get a good start in their businesses. The IEEE’s interest in entrepreneurs is logical; afterall, the success of the U.S. economy is based on innovative technology.

A recent Mason-Dixon poll commissioned by the National Hurricane Survival Initiative (NHSI) reveals that a large number of coastal residents may not have the proper insurance coverage if their property is damaged by a hurricane.

Intellectual property — original creations whether in hardware design, software engineering, or art (literary works, musical compositions, trademarks, or performance art) — is a key to national competitiveness. However, respect for intellectual property rights, and their duration, varies around the world.

Items highlighting new and notable developments in electrical engineering and computer or information technology emerging from the federal government in recent months.

TE sat down with G. Kemble Bennett, Ph.D., P.E., vice chancellor of engineering for The Texas A&M University System and dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University, where he leads one of the largest and highest ranked engineering programs in the nation. Dr. Bennett shared with TE insights on the importance of entrepreneurship, and what Texas A&M is doing to make it part of its engineering curriculum.

In early June, the House Science and Technology Committee held a hearing to explore the roles that technology could play in reducing the illegal file-sharing of intellectual property on university and college campuses.

Earlier this year, a diverse bipartisan group of senators introduced the National Energy and Environment Security Act of 2007 (S. 6), which seeks to reduce national dependence on foreign oil and expand non-petroleum transportation options. Shouldn't the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) have included such measures?

To help IEEE members learn to innovate, IEEE-USA is launching a new Innovation Institute geared at training current and future business, academic and government employees responsible for the innovation of new products and services.

Your boss recently stopped by your office to tell you: "Congratulations, next week you will present Project X to senior staff." After the initial wave of anxiety has passed, it's time to get down to planning. Here are some useful tips for a successful presentation.

“Sandwich Generation” does not refer to people who like the commingling of gourmet breads and cheeses; it is a term that refers mostly to middle-aged caregivers who juggle the care of their own children with that of other family members, often an elderly parent. The caregiver is “sandwiched” between responsibilities for two or more generations of individuals important to them. Here are some strategies for easing the burden on sandwich generation caregivers.

When Don Christiansen first conceived of the micromouse competition in 1977, he had no idea that 30 years later, the competition would still be going strong.

There is general agreement that the secret to maintaining U.S. competitiveness is innovation. Commodity manufacturing will move offshore but, the reasoning goes, if the United States is first to market with new technology, it will maintain a leading position among its competitors. But are we doing enough?

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an emerging technology that is providing excellent career prospects for electrical engineering students, as well as experienced engineers looking for new opportunities.

Events like the shootings at Virginia Tech remind us that college campuses are not the insulated safe environments we want them to be. Because the fear of campus crime can have serious consequences on behavior and well-being, overcoming that fear is perhaps as important as campus crime itself. What can we do to help keep our young people safe at school?

Few could foresee, when radio-telephony was in its infancy, the extent to which the mobile telephone (the name applied when the electronics was so bulky that a vehicle was required to carry it) would evolve into the personal cell phone and then the revolution in other applications for the service.

IEEE-USA's e-book IEEE-USA envisions offering IEEE members quality original and compilation e-books at great prices that would both assist them in their career guidance and development, and help educate and inform IEEE members on tech policy topics of interest to engineers.

Surveys indicate that older adults want to remain in their homes as they age despite disabilities that may compromise safety. Maintaining older individuals in their homes is also financially preferable — 40 percent of elder adults cannot even afford to live in an assisted care facility.

Electrical, mechanical and automotive engineers are working feverishly to bring these cars to the market. Since many of these engineers are IEEE members, it makes sense for us to strongly support the development of plug-in hybrids.

How many times have you opened a trade paper or journal, read a glowing blurb about someone’s job promotion or new product, and said: Wait a second, why aren’t I in here? How can you put news releases to work for you?

Many students’ financial aid packages include loans, all of which must be repaid with interest. Some loans, such as Stafford and PLUS loans, are supported by the federal government, which sets maximum interest rates for those loans. Choosing one can be daunting, but if you understand a few basics, you can usually find a loan — or loans — right for you.

looking to take your career to the next level, an effective way to achieve that goal is to establish yourself as an expert in your field and make yourself available to the media as an expert source.

For the first time in American history, four generations are working side by side in the workplace. Never before has there been so much confusion, so many misconceptions and communication misfires. However, if we can find a way to cooperate and learn from each other, we'll all be better off in the long run.

Don Christiansen addresses some of the numerous responses we received to his column “Math . . . What Good Is It?,” in which he noted the difficulty in interesting U.S. K-12 students in mathematics.

You don't need to be a huge company to take advantage of the benefits of intellectual property ownership. IP such as copyrights, trademarks and patents may not be hard goods that you can sell, but they are investments. With the right planning and development, small businesses, sole-proprietorships, and even individuals can earn money for years based on their initial investments of time, creativity and expertise.

The FCC and Congress have signaled a willingness to step into the breach on the network neutrality issue. Legislation was tabled in 2006, but new bills are already making the rounds on Capitol Hill.

With the average cost of four years at a private college (tuition, room, board and other expenses) climbing to $118,597 ($48,937 for a public university), it's no wonder that many families are concerned about college savings. How can a 529 college savings plan help you provide for your children's higher education?

Engineers are trained to innovate, but some haven't honed the skills necessary to influence others and to develop ideas that increase profits. Managers are often trained to elicit creativity, but they can’t always get into engineers' minds to harvest their ideas.

NexThing is a hypothetical construct which is technically feasible and likely to emerge before 2010 either "from scratch" or as the evolution or merger of existing companies. The concept here captures the shape of things to come as far as how professionals will interact in the future.

Marconi and Tesla’s bitter race to own the patent for radio seems almost quaint compared with the blatant exploitation on today’s IP landscape.

The IEEE-USA Board of Directors formally approved in their last meeting of 2006 the CIPC as an official IEEE-USA committee, effective 1 January 2007.

On 15 February, President Bush signed into law a stop-gap spending measure that will keep the government running for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Carlos Corderio, Ph.D., an outstanding senior engineer and project leader, is IEEE/IEEE-USA’s "New Face of Engineering" for 2007.

The first episode of a new IEEE-backed engineering-based reality TV show, Design Squad, was shown as a "sneak preview" on selected local public television stations nationwide during National Engineers Week, 18-24 February.

Engineers don’t write well, we are told. O.K., so maybe the first step is not writing badly. Writing well may follow. Don Christiansen looks at some positively dreadful writing (not from engineers, mind you) and some compelling passages (from science and engineering writers), and wonders if engineers really deserve the criticism.

Social networking Web sites can be a great tools for engineers trying to build their careers, but recent headlines should serve as a warning: inexperienced, careless or irresponsible users can get into a world of trouble if they're not vigilant.

IEEE-USA's Technology Policy Editor George McClure dons his prognosticator's hat to provide a look at the year ahead. He shares insights on eight topics that may affect your career in 2007: technology, energy, climate change, workforce, employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure and the economic outlook.

You recently started exploring the job market, just to see what's out there. Low and behold, you stumbled across a position with a company that is everything you’ve ever wanted — more pay, good management, a challenging product line. You decide to take the offer, but your current boss surprises you with a counter offer. Now what do you do?

In 2006, IEEE-USA Government Relations volunteers and staff focused on getting Congress to implement the provisions of the National Academy of Engineering report Rising Above the Gathering Storm that matched our legislative agenda. Have our prospects improved with the new Congress?

No matter what station your life is in, U.S. science and technology policy can affect you and your career. IEEE-USA undertakes substantial activities in advocating technology policies of interest to the U.S. membership. IEEE-USA Vice President for Technology Policy Cliff Lau provides an overview of IEEE-USA's tech policy committees.

Global warming, also known as climate change in some circles, is a politically charged topic. While it is true that the temperature on earth has increased over the past 100 years, it is still uncertain to what extent human behavior has contributed to the trend.

In addition to the normal stresses of finding, accepting and starting a new job, you may also feel the strain of emotional and financial pressures. Whatever your circumstances, a positive attitude is vital to your job search and your ultimate success. The IEEE Financial Advantage Program offers practical advice for staying afloat until you secure your next job.

Given the unparalleled potency of the nuclear power, control over the entire infrastructure is very closely guarded, and few opportunities exist for ordinary citizens to be involved. So, why does this matter?

Part of the success of the Internet is its largely unfettered access and its adaptability to many modes of information transfer. But most information technology gurus agree that it is this unrestrained accessibility that leads to questionable content and decreases the efficiency of online research by scientists, academicians, and other serious users.

On 7 November, CIGNA mailed certified letters to all the participants in the IEEE’s member group comprehensive health care insurance plan. The bad news: Effective 1 January 2007, benefits will be cut; rates will rise again; and the plan is now closed to new participants. The good news: The IEEE is dedicating extraordinary effort to help find new health-insurance options for members and their families.

Medicare is the 800-pound gorilla in the room that people ignore, when looking at the smaller problem of future funding for Social Security. The aging of our population, as birth rates decline and life expectancy increases, is the most significant demographic force that will shape our economy and society in the coming decades. How well we deal with the funding issue will affect the extent to which we push costs forward to future generations. Saving more now can reduce their future burden.

Successful negotiation involves business skills as well as interpersonal skills. Often, engineers look at the negotiating conversation as unpleasant, because it implies conflict and anger. Learning how to negotiate from a non-emotional point will greatly increase the chance that the outcomes will be positive for both parties.

Today's alternative energy sources enjoy a state of tremendous appeal to power producers and consumers alike. The beginnings of commercially available alternate energy, however, were very modest by today’s standards.

Read about how one engineer discovered that he was ideally suited for a role as a reserve peace officer in the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, and how you might be, too.

As part of its ongoing effort to enhance the image of engineers in the United States, IEEE-USA's volunteer leaders have endorsed an ambitious public-awareness program that reaches out to youngsters, adults and the public at large.

Terrance Malkinson reviews this fifty-five chapter resource on the rapidly growing and vibrant field of Human Performance Technology (HPT).

Get to know one of IEEE-USA's key volunteers, Scott Tamashiro.

In his fourth and final installment of the series, Patrick Meyer divulges his lessons-learned and offers some insight as to what can be done to manufacture a communication bridge between engineers and policy makers.

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.

The 2005 IEEE member satisfaction survey showed that although 80.5 percent of members were “highly satisfied” or “satisfied” with the IEEE as a whole, they were least satisfied with the healthcare insurance program. Association plans have become virtually extinct. In 1990, IEEE was one of 142 nonprofit associations that offered health insurance to their members (as opposed to their employees). Of those, today only three large associations remain — with the IEEE being the largest.

A Google search for "résumé writing" will return thousands of links to articles on how to construct a résumé, each promising a fulfilling and rewarding new job. In fact, the Web holds so many articles about résumé writing it’s hard not to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume. The purpose of this article is to help a technical person construct a résumé with a marketing slant.

This seems to be the question that many elementary school kids are asking. A teaching system that cannot answer them is often blamed for losing future engineers and scientists who, at this youthful stage, may be mathematically adept but uninterested in pursuing math studies because they cannot imagine any useful way to apply what they might learn.

Sobering conclusions about the dangers of night driving are leading researchers to develop solutions that involve infrared cameras to augment the drivers ability to see, and displays — both heads-up and head-down flat panels — to let the driver see what the sensor sees.

In May, the Bush Administration released the 233-page U.S. National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan. Although the outbreak or timing of a pandemic is in no way certain, it is important that an effective plan be created and that citizens are familiar with it, so that the nation will be prepared and united in action in the event that this pandemic or other epidemic should emerge.

Engineers Week (EWeek) organizers are hoping that a new engineering-based reality TV show and a slew of other youth-oriented activities will pique the interest of "tweens" — that elusive nine to 12 year old demographic — in 2007.

With just days to go before the October 1 start of fiscal year (FY) 2007, Congress finalized an FY 2007 Department of Defense (DOD) budget that contains a record-breaking $76.8 billion for research and development (R&D) spending.

“Forensic” is nearly a household word today, thanks to a nightly splatter of courtroom, crime lab and police shows on TV. Despite being synonymous with gruesome investigations, forensics — derived from the word forum — actually refers to any juncture where specialized professional knowledge is brought to bear in a legal setting. How do engineers figure into the process?

Stakeholders including manufacturers, retailers, recyclers and environmental organizations, whose views are presented in a recently released Commerce Department report, “agreed that a uniform national system of electronics recycling is preferable to a patchwork of differing state systems.”

Last fall, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) launched a program to identify best practices for improving the retention and success of freshman and sophomore EE students. More than 40 schools applied for program grants, five of which were awarded $20,000 grants each to fund their programs. More than 400 students were affected, with all of the schools are reporting positive results.

Every engineer is familiar with the feelings that can creep in during the few moments before you are called into a job interview. But instead of being overly concerned with the notion that the employer would want your skill set, why not try something different and interview your prospective next boss?

Becoming a guru in all things lean can definitely boost your standing with the boss. But here’s something pivotal to keep in mind as you read about lean, or participate in formal lean training: lean success does not come just from what you know. Rather, it’s what you do with that knowledge that is of value to you and your employer.

IEEE membership grants you access to subject matter experts and services that can assist you in your personal lives. More than ever, the IEEE is committed to helping engineering professionals obtain information, decision making tools and a choice of solutions to meet some of the most significant life needs, such as portable benefits in the areas of health care, education, financial planning, small business and retirement.

A flow of information between engineers and policy-makers exists, but in many cases the information flows from engineers in “engineer-speak” and is received by policy-makers who are accustomed only to “political-speak.” This absence of a common lexicon can result in differing interpretations. How can we engineer a solution?

Get to know a little bit about one of IEEE-USA's most active and respected volunteers.

According to a recent Harris Interactive Poll, Americans count engineers among the top 10 most admired professionals. Not bad, considering all of the professions out there. But in his latest column, IEEE-USA President Ralph Wyndrum explains why it would be even better if more people remembered that the doctors, nurses, scientists and military officers who garnered the most admiration would be hard-pressed without the instruments engineers conceived and designed.

"Nearly all recent surveys of science and mathematics curricula in our secondary schools paint a picture of gloom and doom. A cross section of high school curricula and faculty taken across the United States reveals a lack of consistency in both the number and quality of courses." That was written 20 years ago and is still pertinent today.

The National Science Foundation is set to launch a major reorganization of its Directorate for Engineering, including the addition of cyber systems to the division of Electrical and Communications Systems, as well as creation of a new crosscutting Office of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation.

When the heat is on, the transmission grid is tested. And it passed without serious incident during the unseasonably hot temperatures in mid July. But, reserve margins in some parts of the United States took a dip, emphasizing the need for new and modern forms of generation that can be sent over a robust transmission system.

The job hunting process has changed dramatically since the dot-com days of the late 1990s. In those heady days, whatever you had on paper in terms of a resume or cover letter got you the job. In today’s job market, marketing yourself and your skills to prospective employers requires a different approach.

Allegheny Energy's recovery following the turbulent days of the energy trading market is an outstanding example of an internally driven revitalization. While the volatility in energy trading has moderated, and most utilities have shown only moderate performance since the onset of deregulation, Allegheny Energy has set itself apart, outpacing competitors since 2003.

Dr. James E. Gover believes that if hybrid vehicles are to be adopted widely to gain the benefits of fuel efficiency, more needs to be done in R&D and in educating the new generation of automotive engineers.

Some IEEE members deal directly with security on the job, but most deal only incidentally with it because their employers demand that their inventions be kept secret, especially from competitors prior to new product releases. But, there’s much more to security than some people being careful about some situations some of the time.

Storm forecasters are calling for another very active season in 2006, predicting 17 named storms, nine hurricanes, and five intense hurricanes of Category 3,4, or 5. IEEE will be the first association to offer ACE Disaster Mortgage Protection® to its U.S. members.

IEEE member Reece Lumsden thinks engineers and attorneys have more in common that one might think. Find out how his engineering background gave him the upper hand in a recent small claims court experience.

Now that the national unemployment rate is down to 4.7 percent, and in some areas of the country, 3 percent, the pendulum is swinging from concerns over where currently displaced engineers and computer scientists can find work to how we will meet the future demands for talent. A continuing concern of IEEE-USA's Career and workforce Policy Committee is that predicting future demand is a precarious task. A look at the Department of Labor's latest forecasts for workforce demand through 2014.

After years of saving and planning for retirement, you may be relieved and excited to realize that you can finally afford to stop working. The period of transitioning from the workforce to retirement will itself present a whole series of financial issues to address. Careful planning in the months leading up to retirement can ensure a smooth transition from employee to retiree. TE offers some guidelines for working with your investment professional to make the transition run as smoothly as possible.

Steven F. Barrett, Ph.D., P.E., recalls arriving at the decision to become a registered professional engineer. Today, he sits on a committee that helps develop and vet the questions used for the examination. It was the right decision for him. Is licensure right for you and your career?

All too often, people revisit their networking contacts when they need an introduction to power a job search campaign. Contrary to popular practice, the best time for leveraging connections is not when you are about to enter the job market, but rather on a continuous basis — always keeping in touch, sharing information, initiating ideas, reaching out and being generous to an increasingly larger circle of colleagues and associates.

A topic of interest to many within the IEEE is how best to build relationships with the organizations that employ our members. Before the IEEE-USA Career and workforce Policy Committee (CWPC) met in Portland, Ore., in March, committee members spent a Friday in a series of meetings with industry and academia reps. The meetings were coordinated through the Oregon Section and members of the Section attended the meetings.

Most of us have, at one time or another, been mentored and taught on-the-job. Some of us have also been “mentored” back in high school, middle school, or even grade school — an experience akin to that “aha” moment when you realized that this is what you enjoy and want to do when you grow up. Help share that “aha” moment with children so that they, too, can become engineers or scientists.

Mary Lou Jepsen's humanitarian mission to develop and mass produce a $100 laptop to be used by the world's children is nearing fruition. The ambitious project's CTO describes how a 10-minute interview with MIT Media Labs' Nicholas Negroponte for a faculty position turned into a three-hour discussion about the need for a low-cost computer and the sort of organization that could make it happen. Jepsen shares a progress report on the organization and the computer that promises to transform education around the globe.

Proper technique and good manners can turn interactions with corporate gatekeepers from frustrating to fruitful. Learn how to increase the odds that gatekeepers will grant you access to important decision-makers. Start with the premise that gatekeepers aren't enemies; like you, they are professionals trying their best to fulfill their assignments, keep the boss happy, and get rewarded for a job well done.

Ever wonder why you didn’t land a job, even though you possessed all of the required technical skills? Unfortunately, even the best engineers experience rejection. Remember: companies need your talent to create and build their products. Without your brainpower, companies wouldn't exist. So, how do you convey that to the hiring manager during the interview?

Congress is embroiled in a major debate over immigration reform, with a spate of bills currently under consideration. Central to this debate is Sen. Arlen Specter's (R-Pa.) bill (S. 2454). Because Sen. Specter is Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over immigration issues, his bill is currently the most likely to be acted upon.