Do NOT Publish That Article (if you care about U.S. patent rights)

The America Invents Act changed our patent system from "first to invent" to "first to file." But what does that really mean?

The Future of U.S. Manufacturing

If machines and artificial intelligence are increasingly replacing humans in the workforce, how will engineers fare in the transition?

What Does it Take to be an IEEE-USA Government Fellow?

IEEE-USA annually sponsors three government fellowships, which afford U.S. IEEE members opportunities to spend a year in Washington, DC, serving as technical advisors to either the U.S. Congress or to key U.S. Department of State decision-makers.

Policy in the Cloud: Part II — Issues Engaging Policy-Makers

Cloud Computing represents a revolutionary technological leap forward for policy-makers, who must grapple with new issues related to security, privacy, law enforcement and more. The second installment of this three-part series looks at the issues policy-makers face on this complex issue.

Policy in the Cloud: Congress Looks at the Fed's Role in Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing represents a revolutionary technological leap forward for policy-makers, who must grapple with new issues related to security, privacy, law enforcement and more.

Report Addresses Entrepreneurship, Promises 10K New Engineers a Year

The United States must invest in infrastructure, accelerate entrepreneurship, increase competitiveness and focus on developing the professionals the economy will need in five to 10 years, says a new report from the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

STEM Education Bill Introduced in Congress

On 5 October, Rep. Raul Labrador introduced a bill to change the process international students use to become U.S. citizens. The bill would dramatically reduce the time between students earning advanced degrees and getting a green card.

Comparison of FY 2012 Appropriations for Defense Science and Technology Programs

As of 26 September, the House of Representatives and the Senate Appropriations Committee had completed work on FY 2012 appropriations for the Department of Defense and its science and technology programs. Both chambers are looking at similar Science and Technology cuts of over 4 percent, but with funds shifting to provide increases for basic research.

Key Federal Research and Development Appropriations Take Shape for '12

With Fiscal Year 2012 beginning on 1 October, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have completed work on proposed FY 2012 budgets for NASA, NSF and NIST. The result has overall funding levels declining at all three Science and Technology agencies, although there is an effort to minimize the impact on the research and development components of the agency budgets.

IEEE-USA Position Statements — What are They, Why do we Need Them and What do They do for Me?

Many people know that IEEE-USA takes positions on important engineering, technical and career-related aspects of public policy that impact U.S. IEEE members. But maybe you’re also among the many people who don’t really know much about IEEE-USA’s positions and what they’re meant to do.

Policy 101: Watching Washington

Thanks to the internet, Americans now have much better access to information about Congress, pending legislation and their elected officials than ever before. You just need to know where to look.

Opinion: The Patent Swamp

With engineers being drawn into unethical acts, shell companies with fake addresses being formed to behave much like the Mafia, IEEE Life Senior Member Marlin Ristenbatt believes we have entered a “swamp.”

Policy 101: Meeting with Legislators

There are many ways to share your views on important policy matters with Members of Congress. But the best way to influence an elected official, by far, is to meet with him or her directly.

Policy 101: Inside the Minds of Congressional Staff

The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) helps Members of Congress run their offices more efficiently. However, CMF also provides us with useful insights into how Congressional staff thinks.

Third IEEE Green Technologies Conference Underscores IEEE's Commitment to Clean Tech

The 2011 IEEE Green Technologies Conference was conceived on the pressing need to address one of the nation’s most complicated challenges: securing green and clean energy sources for the 21st century.

A Brief History of the U.S. Federal Government and Innovation (Part I: 1787-1917)

In this first installment of a series of articles on the long, broad and deep history of the federal government's role in technological innovation, IEEE History Center staff look at the period beginning with the nation's independence up to World War I (1787-1917).

Backscatter: In Praise of a Job Well Done

Former Spectrum editor Donald Christiansen muses on the role and value of the craftsman in the engineering workplace. To him, the craftsman once was, and hopefully remains, an important adjunct to the engineer.

White House and Industry Leaders Partner to Promote Entrepreneurship

In January, the President announced "Startup America," a public-private partnership to celebrate, inspire and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship in the United States.

High-Speed Rail — Have We Missed the Train?

In February, Vice President Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the President's plan to invest $53 billion in high-speed, intercity rail service over the next six years. The Administration calls the investment vital to U.S. competitiveness, but will a cost-conscious Congress think it's worth the price?

IEEE-USA Announces Dates for Energy and Career Fly-Ins

IEEE-USA has announced the dates for its Energy Fly-In and Career Fly-In this spring. These events give U.S. IEEE members structured opportunities to meet the new 112th Congress.

Federal S&T Budget at a Crossroads

With pressure building to bring the spiraling federal budget deficit under control and a change in political leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives, Federal R&D spending has become a prime target for congressional budget-cutters.

The Changing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce

In remarks delivered to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, NSF Director Dr. Subra Suresh discusses the National Science Foundation's role in helping to revitalize the nation's STEM pipeline.

White House and Industry Leaders Partner to Promote Entrepreneurship

On 31 January, President Obama announced the “Start-up America” campaign, a public-private partnership to celebrate, inspire and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship through the United States.

Register to Attend Congressional Visits Day

U.S. IEEE members have the opportunity to meet the new 112th Congress on 6-7 April during Congressional Visits Day. During this event focused on federally funded R&D, a coalition of 30 science and engineering groups team up to remind Congress of the importance of basic research.

2011's Patent Reform Legislation

After six years, Congress is once again considering patent reform legislation in the form of the America Invents Act (S. 23). At the heart of the bill is a shift from a first-to-invent to first-inventor-to-file system. But there are many other issues that should also be of concern to technology professionals. What does this bill mean to all of us non-lawyers?

The 100-Year Starship

Sending humans on an Interstellar flight to colonize far-away planets was a concept relegated to the realm of science fiction until DARPA and the NASA Ames Research Center announced that they were planning the first step in the next era of space exploration — the “100-Year Starship” — needed for a journey between the stars.

IEEE-USA Wants You to Welcome the New Congress

Congress welcomes 110 new members this year, most of whom do not have backgrounds in engineering or the sciences. IEEE-USA is looking for volunteers to visit your new Legislator’s local office to discuss IEEE and engineering.

A Look at the New House Science, Space and Technology Committee

The House Science and Technology Committee starts 2011 with a new chair, a new name, a long list of new members, and a new focus on oversight, government efficiency and the space program.

Lame Duck Congress Passes Key S&T Legislation

Just before adjourning its post-election "lame duck" session, Congress reauthorized the America COMPETES Act, expiring legislation that aims to bolster U.S. economic and scientific leadership by supporting basic research, improving science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, and fostering innovation.

Outlook for 2011

As in past years, this annual survey will examine the outlook in eight areas of significant importance to the U.S. endeavor in 2011: technology, energy, climate change, workforce, employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure and the economy.

Federal Government 101: The IEEE-USA Congressional and State Department Fellowships

IEEE-USA's 2010 Engineering & Diplomacy Fellow, Norman Lerner, P.E., recaps his year at the U.S. State Department, and answers some questions about the program — including why a successful professional in the private sector would even consider participating.

A Decade in Review: 2001-2010

The decade beginning in 2001 was marked by a string of events that changed our lives and continue to shape our future. From the televised tragedy of 9/11, to the election of America's first African-American President — it was a remarkable ten years, with engineers playing an important role in many of the events.

Biofuel Review Part 6: Job Creation and Government Spending

To create jobs, should nations shift their energy workforce to biofuel industries, given the substantial growth potential and that biofuels require about 100 times more workers than fossil fuels to produce the same amount of energy?

Harnessing the Cloud To Serve Individuals With Disabilities

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced a national Accessibility and Innovation Initiative during remarks at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Do Taxes Affect Innovation and Jobs?

Taxes are in the news, with the presidential panel on debt reduction expected to issue its report in less than a month.

Outlook for Key S&T Competitiveness Legislation Uncertain

Congress' early election recess and the time constraints on the anticipated post-election "lame-duck" session raise serious doubts about the prospects for reauthorization of the landmark 2007 America COMPETES Act.

NIST Realigns Labs to Improve Decision Making, Strengthen Interdisciplinary Research

After 20 years with its research components organized largely by scientific disciplines, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is realigning its laboratories according to a mission-based structure.

Smart Grid Needs More Broadband Spectrum, Researchers Contend

For the Smart Grid to work as touted, a constant stream of online communications is necessary between customers' electric appliances and electric utilities. To increase the flow of information, more broadband spectrum will have to be allocated to the utilities.

K-12 STEM Initiatives on the Fall Agenda

With the start of the new school year, there was a concerned effort in mid-September to focus national attention on the challenges and opportunities for enhancing K-12 science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the United States.

Home Stretch for the 111th Congress

With approximately eight weeks left until the General Election, the next two months should be among the most active of the year in Washington as lawmakers rush to finish work on priorities in time to tell their voters.

Plans Outlined for Carbon Capture and Storage

In mid-August, a federal task force outlined a plan to overcome barriers to widespread, cost-effective deployment of carbon capture and storage technologies within 10 years.

Electric Vehicles on the Rise: What Does That Mean for the Engineering Community?

Even before the first wave of electric vehicles rolls out of dealers' showrooms, a great deal of work is already under way to make it possible for roads — and the electric grid — to handle them.

The Supreme Court’s Bilski Decision Leaves Questions Unanswered

Many had hoped that the Supreme Court's Bilski decision would clarify exactly what is and is not patentable. However, the Court's decision left much unresolved.

ITIF Debate Focuses on Global Broadband Access

In a 90-minute debate on 21 June, telecommunications policy experts argued the resolution that: That the United States is lagging seriously behind other countries on broadband access and this is due primarily to a failure of U.S. telecom regulation.

Bridging the Divide Between Scientists and Engineers and the Public They Serve

Many people are leery of the science behind things like childhood vaccinations, global warming and the safety of Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository. Perhaps, though, if scientists and engineers better understood the public and how its views are shaped by, among other things, ideology, values, priorities, misinformation, and yes, a poor understanding of science, the public would be more accepting of generally sound scientific data and theories.

The Innovation Delusion

In the United States, innovation has become almost synonymous with economic competitiveness. But will our economy be able to flourish if our companies just specialize in innovation, but produce overseas? NYU Research Professor Ralph Gomory argues that we need to do more than produce exciting new ideas; we must also be able to compete in large productive industries.

Work Continues on E2 Bill

IEEE-USA continues to push Congress to pass the Engineering Education Act of 2010, or E2 bill, before Congress adjourns later this year.  The Act is supported by a broad coalition of engineering societies, businesses, universities and other groups, all of which see value in teaching American students basic engineering design concepts.

IEEE is Getting Greener

The Second Annual IEEE Green Technologies Conference, held in picturesque Grapevine, Texas, presented some ingenious research on sustainable engineering.

Science Coalition Report Stresses Importance of Federally Supported Research to U.S. Competitiveness

Significant and consistent levels of federal funding for university-based research are necessary in order to help bolster U.S. global competitiveness and long-term economic health, according to a report released on 11 May by the Science Coalition.

Biofuel Review Part 4: Food vs. Fuel and Profit vs. Hunger

How does biomass production impact food prices, and how does the value of bioproducts impact the decision making of organizations as they weigh options of commercial profit or societal well-being?

Backscatter: When Designers Should Say "No"

Faced with a design challenge, whether it be to refine an existing product or system or to meet some ambitious new demand, the usual procedure is to itemize the desired new design features—that is, the “needs” and the “wants.”

Should the United States Have an Industrial Policy? Politics and Policy Intersect in America COMPETES Reauthorization

The problem with industrial policy is strategic — some agency must direct the policy, and it is not always clear that the best direction has been chosen. While the United States lacks an official industrial policy, government actions in the past have achieved some goals akin to industrial policy, usually motivated by defense concerns.

The Scorecard: A Common Sense Approach to Carbon Mitigation Portfolio Assessment

The United States and other countries are pursuing a very broad range of technology options to mitigate potential climate change impacts. Do we run the risk of expending our financial and R&D capital on options that will not be available in a timely manner? The Scorecard is a simple, qualitative approach that can provide guidance for answering this question.

Public Input Sought on Privacy Policy and Innovation in the Internet Economy

On 21 April, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced a federal initiative designed to gather public input and review the nexus between privacy policy and innovation in the Internet economy.

Technology Export Controls Revisited

Technology export controls continue to be vital to U.S. security and competitiveness, but also challenge the ability of industry, laboratories and academia to interact internationally. Industry, academia and the government are calling for reforms to the system of licensing technology exports to enhance U.S. national security while allowing key U.S. industries to remain competitive in global markets.

Reviving Free Trade Agreements

Free trade agreements (FTAs) have proven to have an advantage in increasing exports from the United States. Today, the United States has FTAs with 14 countries. In 2006, six new FTAs were implemented: with Bahrain, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Morocco, and Nicaragua. Last year, trade with countries that the United States has FTAs was significantly greater than their relative share of the global economy.

IEEE-USA Leadership Applauds New FCC National Broadband Plan

The leadership of IEEE-USA has applauded the National Broadband Plan (NBP) recently introduced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), aimed at providing access to very high-speed broadband Internet service for all American homes and businesses.

What Should an Engineer Know About First to File?

Senate bill S.515, a patent reform bill, is poised to change the United States from a "first-to-invent" patent system to a "first-to-file" system. What could this mean for engineers and companies whose lifeblood is their intellectual property?

Chairman Gordon Outlines Agenda for House Science and Technology Committee

Reauthorizing the landmark America COMPETES Act will be the top priority this year for the House Science and Technology Committee, according to Chairman Bart Gordon, D-Tenn.

High-Skills Immigration the IEEE-USA Way

IEEE-USA has developed model legislation to help guide Congress when it takes up educational and employment-based immigration reform.

Electronic Medical Records — Sorting out the Alphabet Soup of Health Care IT

The recent push to computerize healthcare has resulted in a confusing set of acronyms that even health IT professionals sometimes have trouble understanding. The transition from paper medical records to electronic records has resulted in a proliferation of terms. The following is an attempt to sort out the “alphabet soup” of healthcare IT and expand some of the common acronyms that you may encounter.

Outlook for 2010

As in past years, this annual survey examines the outlook in eight areas of significant import to the U.S. endeavor: technology, energy, climate change, work force, employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure and the economy.

IEEE-USA Acts to Reform K-12 Education

IEEE-USA and a coalition of engineering groups has drafted legislation that will be introduced into Congress to help states make engineering and technology a formal part of their standard science curriculums.

Biofuel Review Part 3: Land Availability, Conversion, and Deforestation

The third in the series on biofuel and biomass energy provides a discourse on an exceptionally important concern of biofuel and biomass production — that of land availability, conversion and deforestation.

"New Age" in Fusion Energy Research and Development Now At Hand, Experts Testify

An exciting "new age" in fusion energy research and development is now beckoning, including important advances expected to be achieved at the ITER international experimental reactor in France, fusion experts have testified before a congressional panel.

Augustine Review Panel Says NASA’s Resources Aren’t Sufficient to Meet Goals in Human Spaceflight

The U.S. human spaceflight program currently appears to be on an “unsustainable trajectory,” according to a report by a 10-member expert panel chaired by Norman R. Augustine, retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp.

Engineering — The Silent "E" in K-12 STEM Education

What is the future of precollege engineering education in the United States? What learning opportunities do engineering curricula provide to students? How can policy-makers bring meaningful changes to this country's educational programs? These are just a few of the questions addressed in the new NAE report, Engineering in K-12 Education: Understanding the Status and Improving the Prospects.

Railroad Resurrection

The U.S. rail network today, at 94,942 miles, is less than half of the mileage in 1970. However, sharply higher fuel prices have highlighted the economic value of railroads, and the industry seems poised to enjoy a renaissance of sorts.

IEEE-USA Joins Bilski Amicus Brief

On 9 November 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in perhaps the most important patent case in decades: Bilski v. Kappos. On 1 September, IEEE-USA joined with Lee Hollaar in submitting an amicus curiae brief on this landmark case.

An Interview with House Science Committee Chair Bart Gordon

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) has been serving as chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology since the start of the 110th Congress. He recently shared his thoughts with Today's Engineer on a number of important issues.

Help for Engineers Interested in Public Service

IEEE-USA has joined forces with a coalition of engineering and science associations to provide training for engineers interested in running for public office.

Buy American – Good, Bad or a Wash for America?

“Buy American” is making a comeback in response to the nation's foundering economy, and in light of "Buy American" provisions within the current administration’s stimulus program. But is it the best thing for America?

Alternatives for Health Care Reform

The House of Representatives is ready to debate their $1 trillion bill after the August recess, but the Senate Finance Committee has not revealed the details of their $900 billion version yet. A look at the issues Congress will be embroiled in this Fall.

IEEE-USA E-Books Adds New GovDocs – Free to Members

Select government documents and reports are provided through the IEEE-USA e-book catalog as an information service to IEEE members. The catalog has been recently updated to include the three new titles.

Congress and DOE Focusing Intensified Attention on Energy-Water Nexus

Congress and the Department of Energy are focusing intensified attention on the energy-water nexus, particularly in the context of efforts to develop advanced technologies which promise to substantially reduce water withdrawals and consumption by electric power plants.

Op-Ed: An Engineer's Perspective on PCAST's H1N1 Influenza Report

On 24 August, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released its Report to the President on U.S. Preparations for 2009- H1N1 Influenza. Did PCAST miss opportunities to foster greater impact by not addressing this issue through the interoperability lens?

Is Energy Independence a Goal?

The Waxman-Markey bill, promoting energy efficiency and reduction in pollutants thought to be responsible for climate change, narrowly passed the House in June, 219 to 212. What happens next?

Independent Panel Charged to Outline Sustainable Path for U.S. Space Exploration

NASA's human space flight program is in limbo at a time when its space shuttle and space station are approaching the end of their projected operational life-spans.

Small Business Loan Program Reauthorization Stalled in Congress

Congress missed a 30 July deadline for reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) loan program and the similar Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, but agreed to continue the programs until at least 30 September.

IEEE-USA Reviewing Position Statement on Nuclear Power

Kristine L. Svinicki, a commissioner of the U.S. NRC, recently observed that “in the United States — and globally — there has been much discussion in recent years of a so-called ‘Nuclear Renaissance.’ Where does IEEE-USA stand?

Administration Highlights Proposed DOE Energy Innovation Hubs

The outlook for the $280 million request by the Department of Energy for the establishment of Energy Innovation Hubs is in the hands of the all-important conference committee.

Biofuel Review: Part 1 — Biofuel Basics

Debate over biofuel usage is heating up. This article, the first in a series of six articles on the most contentious issues surrounding biofuels, provides an introduction to the basics of the major biofuels.

The Growing Threat of Space Debris

Obama Cybersecurity Initiatives Drawing Support from Members of Congress and High-Tech Industry Execs

Key members of Congress along with high-tech industry executives are voicing qualified support for President Barack Obama’s cybersecurity initiatives, particularly his decision to establish a new White House office headed by a so-called “Cybersecurity Czar.”

Movement on Immigration Reform?

IEEE-USA Energy Fly-In Helps Legislators Develop National Energy Policy

IEEE-USA held its first annual Energy Fly-In to help stress to legislators the importance of formulating energy policy that bolsters economic activity, better protects the environment and promotes national security.

NRC Report Urges Clear U.S. Policy on Use of Cyberattack, Along With Continuing Development of Cyberwarfare Capabilities

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.

Grid Upgrades: Smart Grid Boosts Renewables

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.

IEEE-USA Efforts to Advocate Use of Healthcare IT Substantially Mesh with Obama Administration Initiatives

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.

Obama Watchers Laud Key Administration S&T Appointees

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.

Obama's Ambitious Energy Plan

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.

Student's Voice: Still Bridging the Communications Gap Between Engineers and Policy-Makers

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.

Coverage of IEEE Energy2030: Development of Smart Grid Builds Momentum

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.

House S&T Committee Considering Legislation to Help Scope Out Serious Problems with Electronic Waste

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.

Public Safety Benefits from DTV Transition

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.

Volunteer Spotlight: 2009 IEEE-USA President Gordon W. Day

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.

National Academies Report: Substantial Overhaul of U.S. Export Controls and Visa Restrictions Needed

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.

U.S. Companies Investing in STEM Education

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.

Outlook for 2009

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.

Using the Internet to Promote Progress in Science and Technology

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.

Backscatter: The Global Engineer

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?

Meet the FCC's New Chief Technologist

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.

Energy Fixes: Smart Grid, Nuclear Plants

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.

IEEE Central Indiana Biofuels Conference

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.

Conference Coverage: GridWeek 2008

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

My Summer as a WISE Guy

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

IEEE EMBS Magazine Focuses on Interoperability Imperatives

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.

Energy Conservation: Past & Future

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?

Student's Voice: Industry Moving Forward with Smart Grid, Academia Stuck in 20th Century

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.

Why Should Engineers Be Concerned About Copyright Law?

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.

First National Science & Technology Summit Recommends Policies to Sustain U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness

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.

STEM Immigration Bills Gathering Support in Congress

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.

Washington Technology Digest

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

Transport Policy Options for an Aging Population

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.

Opinion: The Jolly Roger of Digital Television

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.

your engineering heritage: Electricity – Even More Basic than We Knew

Backscatter: Early Adopters

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.

Congressional Briefing on Emerging Nuclear Technology

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.

Washington Technology Digest

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.

Technology Export Controls — Protection or Bureaucracy?

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.

Outlook for 2008

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.

Washington Technology Digest

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.

The Future of Biofuels

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?

What’s Keeping Women Out of IT?

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.

The STEP Act: Securing the Next Generation of American Engineers

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?

Energy Bill an Important Step Toward Energy Independence

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?

Balancing Wants and Needs in Transportation Policy-Making

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?

Opinion: E-Voting — A High-Tech Headache

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?

William T. Golden, A Tribute

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.

WISE: Engineering the Future

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.

Taking a Wide-Angle View of the U.S. Electric Power Grid

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.

How Safe Are Our Ports?

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.

The Informed Opinion: Is the Patent System Broken?

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?

Washington Technology Digest

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

Protecting IP Rights in a Global Economy

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.

Congress Passes Landmark Legislation, America COMPETES Act

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.

IEEE-USA Launches an Innovation Institute

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.

Congress Looks At Technology’s Role In Addressing Illegal File-Sharing On University Campuses

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.

Filling the Gaps Left by the Energy Policy Act of 2005

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?

RFID Industry Hungry for Engineers

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.

Wireless — Everywhere Soon?

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.

Are We Doing Enough for R&D Funding?

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?

Providing for Older Adults Using Smart Environment Technologies

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.

Saving Energy with Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

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.

Keeping an Eye on Network Neutrality

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.

IEEE-USA's New Critical Infrastructure Protection Committee

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.

The Perspiration of Patenthood

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.

IEEE-USA Works to Sustain Federal R&D Investments

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.

IEEE-USA Tech Policy Activities: An Overview

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.

Outlook for 2007

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.

Opinion: Energy Infrastructure Decentralization

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?

IEEE-USA's 2007 Innovation Agenda

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?

Fixing Medicare: An Intergenerational Dilemma

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.

Alternative Energy — Hype or Real?

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.

Student's Voice: Engineering a Communication Bridge (Part 4)

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.

Future Energy Technologies and Employment Challenges

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.

U.S. Competitiveness and the Profession

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 Member Panel Surveyed on RFID

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.

Congress Finalizes Record DOD R&D Budget

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.

"Seeing in the Dark" — Safe Night Driving

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.

Keeping Tomorrow's Engineers in School Today

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.

Stakeholders Endorse Uniform National System of Electronics Recycling

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.”

President's Message: Of Polls and Pipelines

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.

Students' Voice: Engineering a Communication Bridge (Part 3)

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?

NSF Set to Implement Reorganization of Engineering Directorate

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.

The Heat is on the Grid

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.

Allegheny Energy — A Model of Recovery

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.

Opinion: The Rocky Road for Hybrid Vehicles

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.

Working on the $100 Laptop

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.

Volunteer Spotlight: On Jean Eason

Students' Voice: Engineering a Communication Bridge

Do We Need Another OTA?

An Interview with Joe Bordogna

IEEE-USA Responds to Senate Immigration Bill

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.

CVD 2006 Wrap-up

How the Government Refocused on Innovation and Competitiveness (Part II)

"Innovation" and "competitiveness" aren't just empty buzzwords in Washington these days — they've garnered very real bipartisan support from both chambers of Congress and the White House, and have yielded a number of promising legislative initiatives. In Part II, this article examines the National Academies Report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm.

Washington Scene: Patent Reform, Fair Use and Inventors Rights

Congress is considering sweeping changes to patent law, as well as legislation that would reinstate the "broadcast flag" on all new digital media. Where does IEEE-USA stand, and what is the organization doing to protect the intellectual property rights of inventors?

IEEE Members Meet With Rep. Tom Delay

In March, the IEEE's Houston and Galveston Bay Sections held a joint meeting with Rep. Tom Delay, where he listened to their concerns and shared some of his views on issues affecting U.S. IEEE members, including space exploration, the nuclear power industry, and immigration.

The Stealth Profession: How Do Engineers and R&D Benefit the Nation?

A disconnect seems to exists between the arcane and esoteric realm of basic research — conducted in secretive labs by cloistered engineers and scientists — and the familiar and ubiquitous technologies we take for granted today. But the fact is, many of the technologies we utilize daily were born in those very same labs.

Student's Voice: Bridging the Gap Between Engineers and Policy-Makers

During the summer of 2005, RIT graduate student Patrick Meyer interned with IEEE-USA's Energy Policy Committee, analyzing the progress of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. As Student's Voice editor for Today's Engineer, Meyer hopes to help bridge the divide between engineers and policy-makers.

Spotlight: On Ralph W. Wyndrum Jr., 2006 IEEE-USA President

Get to know a little bit more about 2006 IEEE-USA President Ralph Wyndrum.

How the Government Refocused on Innovation and Competitiveness

"Innovation" and "competitiveness" aren't just empty buzzwords in Washington these days — they've garnered very real support from Congress and the White House, and have yielded a number of promising legislative initiatives. This two-part article examines two reports that crystallized this movement, beginning with the Council on Competitiveness report Innovate America.

Notable S&T Quotes from 2005

Some of the more notable science and technology quotations that appeared in the American Institute of Physics (AIP) FYI Newsletter in 2005

Administration, Congress Get Behind Innovation

Responding to a troubling National Academies report and a broad industry initiative, President Bush and Congress have recently proposed competitiveness initiatives that are designed to help the United States maintain its leading edge in science and technology.

NASA's Big Plans

Despite lean R&D budgets and hurricane-ravaged facilities, NASA plans to move ahead with its ambitious goals to develop a new Crew Exploration Vehicle that will return manned crews to the moon and later to Mars.

Member Feedback Wanted: IEEE-USA Needs Help Protecting Inventor Rights

IEEE-USA needs your help advancing a model law to establish reasonable limits for employment agreements, and help clarify when intellectual property belongs to an employee and when it can be claimed by an employer.

High-Tech Concerns in the GAO Offshoring Report

In November 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a study detailing an investigation of the issues surrounding offshoring of services, including those specifically associated with high-tech jobs.

What Lies Ahead: Forecast for 2006

Now that we're four years past the end of the last recession, what lies ahead in 2006? TE examines changes and trends in eight categories that are likely to affect all of us in one way or another in the new year: technology, energy, climate change, workforce, employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure and the economic outlook.

Q&A With Washington State Representative Toby Nixon

Washington State legislator Rep. Toby Nixon is an IEEE member and a project manager at Microsoft. He recently sat down with IEEE-USA's Russ Harrison to discuss how engineering and politics intersect.

DTV Transition Deadline Delays Leave Public Safety Networks Hungry for Bandwidth

The deadline for the transition to digital television has been pushed back to April 2009, giving lawmakers and the FCC more time to decide what to do with the analog spectrum that will be returned shortly after the transition is complete.

The Governance Board and You

The Board governs on behalf of the organization's owners or members; it is accountable for an organization's performance and integrity. How does it affect you?

Workshop Assesses U.S. Regional, State and Local Initiatives for Nanotechnology R&D and Commercialization

Partnerships, cooperation and sharing lessons learned were key watchwords during a two-day government-industry workshop bringing together dozens of representatives from regional, state and local initiatives across the United States that aim to help promote and support the development of nanotechnology.

Volunteer Spotlight: On Gregg Vaughn

IEEE-USA's vice president of member activities is the ECE department chair at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He also loves barbeque and thinks he may be overusing the expression "cool." Read on about one of IEEE-USA's key volunteers.

U.S. Copyright Office Revisits Anticircumvention Rules

As mandated by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the U.S. Copyright Office has opened rulemaking proceedings to determine when it is okay to circumvent technological measures designed to protect copyrighted works.

U.S. Lags in Next-Generation Internet Development

When it comes to IPv6, Europe and Asia are leaving the United States in the dust.

Pulse: Employment Data Paints a Disturbing Picture

Troubling trend: falling unemployment coincides with falling employment among EEs.

Energy Act Includes Provisions Championed by IEEE-USA

Two significant, IEEE-USA-supported provisions make it into the final law.

Spokane Boasts Model Gigabit Network

Spokane is wired and wireless like very few other cities. They should take note.

IEEE-USA and the Globalization Challenge

Whether it’s characterized as globalization, offshoring, trade in services, competitiveness or Thomas Friedman’s "world flattening," U.S. engineers are facing unsettling new challenges and asking what needs to be done not only to preserve their own career vitality, but also to maintain a strong U.S. engineering workforce and keep engineering an attractive career path for future generations.

Engineering Education Evolves

Olin College is on the cutting edge of engineering education.

Special: Katrina Poses Extreme Challenges for Power Engineers

IEEE-USA Today's Engineer asked two electric power engineers experienced in storm damage and service restoration for their thoughts on the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, and what power engineers are doing, and will need to do, to restore electric service in affected areas, returning Gulf Coast residents to some semblance of normalcy.

United States Facing Cyber Security Crisis, Experts Tell Capitol Hill Briefing, As IEEE-USA Prepares New Position Statement

IEEE-USA and the IEEE Computer Society Task Force on Information Assurance sponsored a 26 July forum to discuss a February 2005 Report by the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee.

What Your Professors Might Not Have Told You About Intellectual Property

Most engineers deal with intellectual property (IP) issues on a daily basis. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're familiar with IP basics and how they might affect their careers. Take this simple quiz to test your knowledge of IP legal basics.

In My Opinion: The Tech Dream Deferred

Nearly 20 years after the Hudson Institute's workforce 2000 report called for the creation of one million new high-tech jobs for people in low-income neighborhoods, the nation is mired in a jobless recovery. For far too many Americans, the dream of economic prosperity that comes with growing numbers of high-skilled, high-wage jobs has been postponed or abandoned. The African-American community has been particularly hard hit.

IEEE Interconnection Standard Facilitates Electric Reliability

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandates full implementation of the IEEE Interconnection Standard (IEEE 1547), increasing electricity supply diversity and ensuring the reliability and safety of the American electric power system.

Hearing Summary: The Status and Future of the Hydrogen Economy

In his 2003 State of the Union speech, President Bush announced the creation of a new Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. Two years later, what progress has been made toward implementation of the Hydrogen Economy?

Alternative Energy Sources

Some estimate that our petroleum stores will run out in approximately 20 years, while others predict a supply that will last at least one 100 years more. Prognostications and arguments aside, it is reasonable to assume that someday energy usage will have to shift from petroleum to alternative sources. What are those alternatives?

Voting Machine Standards Move Forward

Engineers around the country are working together to develop standards that should help make sure that focus continues to be on vote counts, rather than the way votes are entered and tabulated.

IEEE-USA and IEEE's Power Engineering Society Team Up to Teach Congressional Staff Power System Basics

The IEEE Power Engineering Society (PES) and IEEE-USA’s Energy Policy Committee joined forces on 23 May to bring PES’ educational course, “Power System Basics for Non-Engineering Professionals,” to Capitol Hill for the benefit of congressional staff.

Pulling the American Energy Industry Out of the 20th Century

With the unrelenting flow of energy-related information coming from Capitol Hill, many engineers, policy-makers and ordinary citizens are wondering how the Energy Policy Act of 2005 will change the way things work. In this case, confusion may be warranted: FERC is given unprecedented authority; PUHCA is repealed despite warnings that consumers will face higher energy prices; and a Renewable Portfolio Standard is implemented in states in which it may be technically impossible to meet such requirements.

Extra: What Will Grokster Decision Mean For Technology Users and Inventors?

The Supreme Court handed down its much-anticipated decision in the MGM vs. Grokster file-sharing case on 27 June. The decision will affect the public's access to the Internet and the development of future technologies, as well as determine how Americans receive their entertainment, according to IEEE-USA experts.

A New Frontier: The Privatization of Space

While NASA has slowed its space flight program, private companies and investors, spurred by high-stakes competitions like the Ansari X Prize, are pushing ahead with their commercial space programs toward the promise of even greater payoffs.

Reader Poll: First-to-Invent vs. First-to-File and Other Patent Issues

Patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office are the primary protection inventors can employ to derive compensation from their inventions, and are therefore a primary driver of innovation. Lawmakers are considering changes to some of patent law's most basic tenets. Where do you stand on the proposed changes?

Are We Underfunding Basic Research in the Physical Sciences?

Funding for health sciences has doubled within five years, but the physical sciences and engineering have not been nearly as fortunate in increasing R&D funding. How will the Department of Energy's 18 national labs — which constitute 40 percent of the total national funding for physics, chemistry, materials science and other areas of the physical sciences — fare in the coming years?

DARPA Assailed for Cutting Back Support of Basic Computing Research at U.S. Universities

IEEE-USA and other major professional technical organizations, together with key members of Congress and prominent computer scientists and engineers, have criticized the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for cutting back its support of basic, open-ended, “blue-sky” computing research at U.S. universities.

Has Airport Security Improved Since 9/11?

Before 9/11, airport security consisted of a ticket agent asking you if you packed your bag yourself, if it had been in your continuous custody since you packed it, and whether you had been given anything to carry aboard by an unknown stranger. Today we wait longer and must endure additional scrutiny, but what has really changed? And are we safer?

Reengineering for More Reliable Power Distribution

Restructuring is sweeping the electric power industry and changing the role engineers must play in achieving a reliable supply of electricity.

Electric Power Deregulation — A Bad Idea?

The United States is now more than 15 years into an experiment to deregulate and restructure its electric power industry. Has the change benefited industrial and commercial users, ordinary consumers and the nation's economy?

IEEE Members Go to Washington to Learn About Engineering R&D

At the 3rd Annual Engineering R&D Symposium, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) underscored the urgent need for U.S. engineers to become politically active to protect their interests or risk losing their dominance to a quickly emerging, foreign high-tech industry.

Engineering a Better Future

The United Nation’s millennium development goals (MDGs) are an ambitious set of goals (see Table 1) aimed at reducing poverty and improving the lives of people living in the world's least developed countries. What role can engineers expect to play in accomplishing these goals?

The Future of Social Security

While the payroll tax for Social Security is bringing in more money than is being paid out now, by 2018 that situation is expected to reverse as fewer workers contribute and more retirees draw benefits. Everyone's talking about it... but what's getting done?

United States vs. Europe — Who's More Productive?

In the early 1990s, there was growing optimism that the burgeoning European Union (EU) would become a driver of productivity growth around the globe. Today, however, the outlook is less optimistic.

Will the Loss of the Hubble Space Telescope Matter?

If nothing is done, the Hubble will likely fail catastrophically by 2008. Although it has led to some of the most significant discoveries in recent history, NASA has no current plans to send either a manned or a robotic rescue mission to extend Hubble's life. Does it really matter?

Report Sets Agenda for Fostering Innovation

A recently released report, the National Innovation Initiative (NII), is helping policy-makers set an agenda that will help the country maintain its leadership position in innovation.

Grokster and You

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing, Grokster, Kazaa and copyright inducement have been in the news the past year. What's it all about, and how does it affect you?

Rep. Sherwood Boehlert on Key Science and Engineering Issues

Since becoming House Science Committee chair in January 2001, Rep. Sherwood Boehlert has emerged as an outspoken champion of science and technology programs on Capitol Hill. TE recently sat down with Boehlert, to discuss his thoughts on the S&T budget, the Hubble space telescope, outsourcing of U.S. high-tech jobs, and other issues.

capitol shavings: A Contingency Plan for Congress

capitol shavings: Social Security

Powering the 21st Century: We Can — and Must — Modernize the Grid

IEEE Senior Member Massoud Amin, who coined the term "self-healing grid" during his tenure at the Electric Power Research Insitute (EPRI), responds to a piece on electric power industry reliability that appeared in last month's Today's Engineer.

Spotlight: On IEEE-USA President Gerry Alphonse

2005 IEEE-USA President Gerry Alphonse is an IEEE Fellow, an accomplished engineer and a highly respected leader in technical and professional communities. He recently sat down with Today's Engineer to share some of the more personal defining moments in his remarkable life.

pulse: New L-1 and H-1B Provisions in the FY05 Budget

National Nanotechnology Initiative Unveils Strategic Plan

A new strategic plan for the National Nanotechnology Initiative sizes up the first five years of the government's R&D effort as a success, and lays out an ambitious agenda for continuing development of nanotechnology over the next five to 10 years. The new strategic plan includes facilitating transfer of new technologies into products for economic growth, jobs and other public benefit.

reader poll: Phased Retirement

Is the United States Saving Enough for Retirement?

Long-term comparisons of the household savings rates of Europe, Japan and the United States reveal that, although all three have been trending downward, the Japanese are saving twice the amount — Europeans four times — as the United States. Given the questions swirling around the future of Social Security, and facing a declining number of traditional employer-maintained defined benefit pension plans, are we saving enough for retirement?

Embattled H-1B Training Funds Likely to Disappear

Late last year, Congress passed bills that rescinded the project that dedicated $100 million in H-1B employer funds to training programs. If the project gets scuttled, only a little more than $9 million will be left for training in areas identified as having shortages of highly skilled American workers.

Electric Power Transmission Reliability Not Keeping Pace with Conservation Efforts

The United States is doing well with energy conservation. Data for the most recent three years show that growth in electric energy demand has been only half the growth in Gross Domestic Product. But reliability improvements have lagged behind, resulting in increased incidence of blackouts.

Budget Cuts Threaten Airspace System Modernization

Cuts in the Federal Aviation Administration budget are threatening to delay the implementation of new air traffic control equipment at a time when the number of planes in the air is projected to increase substantially.

X Prize Gives Space Tourism a Solid Boost

When Burt Rutan and the crew of the privately funded SpaceShipOne took home the $10 Million Ansari X Prize for successfully reaching space twice in a two-week period, they stoked interest in and support for the quest to open the final frontier to tourism and other commercial endeavors.

Capitol Shavings: Be an Informed Citizen

GATS Mode 4 — The Stealth Proposal

The World Trade Organization's (WTO) 148 member countries established a General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in hopes that it will encourage liberalization of trade in service markets, including engineering services. The goal is to stimulate economic growth, but definitions remain fuzzy and many proposals — including the U.S. proposal — aren't available for public review. What implications could GATS have on the careers of U.S. engineers?

Better Ethics Needed to Improve Energy Distribution

In October, several experts outlined and discussed the myriad factors involved in this new era of energy distribution at an IEEE-USA-cosponsored seminar at Notre Dame University on "Ethics and the Changing Energy Markets." Though early attempts to let open markets define the industry bordered on disastrous, many believe that things can settle down and run smoothly.

Internet Gambling

The demand for Internet gambling continues to grow, perhaps as a result of people love for gambling. Determining whether this gambling form should be made legal or not, however, is somewhat ambiguous. While many are stepping up efforts to prohibit Internet gambling, proponents believe it could be a revenue source for states and the federal government…

Is the End to Employer-Paid Health Care Near?

Employers began offering health care insurance as an employee benefit during World War II, in response to imposed wage and price controls, which limited employers’ ability to attract desirable employees by offering them more salary. They could afford the costs for these benefits when the costs rose only as quickly — and in proportion to — the general inflation rate. The burden, however, is now shifting to employees.

Federal R&D Funding: Corporate Welfare?

Funding decisions made by the new Congress will spark debate in the electronics industry in coming months. Some believe federal R&D funding should drive the emergence of exciting new technologies, but others view such federal grants programs to be nothing short of welfare for corporations.

Converting Illegal Aliens to Blue Card Guest Workers

Of the estimated 8 million to 10 million illegal aliens in the United States today, nearly 40 percent are here because they overstayed their non-resident visas. In 1986, Congress issued an amnesty window, giving nearly 3 million illegal aliens legal immigrant status. Advocates are calling for another such amnesty. Might a “blue card” program be more effective?

IEEE-USA Pulse: Transportation Funding

The debate over funding for public transit versus funding for highway projects is not new. Monies for both are scarce, and the demise of projects designed to promote mobility improvements, operational efficiencies, cost effectiveness and environmental benefits may come soon, when the 2005 Transportation-Treasury spending bill cuts projects it determines have no tangible benefit…

Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research: Benefits and Controversies

Ethical debate, research restrictions, a lack of research funding, migration abroad of experts and the absence of a clear strategic plan continue to constrain the full scientific potential of stem cell research and tissue engineering. These constraints have contributed to the loss of jobs for U.S. scientists, engineers and physicians, as well as to a loss of leadership in this health care field.

Capitol Shavings: In My View — On High-Tech Visas

Voice over Internet Protocol and the Changing Face of Communications

Voice over Internet Protocol is expected to ramp up quickly, possibly claiming more than 10 percent of worldwide telephony revenues in just five years. And while the government doesn't expect to be involved significantly in the transition, it will almost certainly have to get involved with the tax, law enforcement and regulatory issues that accompany the change.

Member Opinion: On Defense Budget Waste

Software Piracy: A Cause for Concern Onshore and Off

Software piracy in this country is relatively uncomplicated; companies and consumers simply load a few more copies of programs on their PCs than they paid for. And while this onshore piracy adds up to significant lost revenue, larger-scale piracy occurring overseas concerns software producers far more.

Capitol Shavings: The Hubble is in Trouble

IEEE-USA Pulse: Visa Delays

Delays in the visa process affect companies financially. IEEE-USA president John Steadman joined other organization leaders in urging the federal government to streamline the current visa application process by alleviating repetitive security checks, improving the renewal process, and establishing priority processing for some applications.

In My Opinion: How Big a Threat is Offshoring?

More and more, companies hoping to improve their bottom lines are taking advantage of lower labor costs offshore. In fact, high-tech job outsourcing has become a staple in today’s corporate environment. How much do employers really gain, and what effect is this trend having on engineers and other high-tech professionals?

U.S. IEEE Member Inspires Congressal Action

The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved an appropriations bill that earmarks $2 million for an independent study on the effects of offshore outsourcing. IEEE-USA Career and workforce Policy Committee Chair Ron Hira had met earlier with Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) to discuss offshoring and high-tech employment, prompting Wolf to add a provision to the FY 2005 Commerce, State and Justice Departments appropriations bill for an offshoring study.