How can we make IEEE more relevant?

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Candidate Statement

As IEEE President my focus will be to make IEEE more global and more relevant to technology professionals from all over the world through the following actions:

First, demonstration of relevance. Through proactive outreach and demonstrating benefits of IEEE membership, from unparalleled networking opportunities at over 2000 international IEEE conferences, access to the finest technological literature, innovative collaboration facilities with like-minded colleagues worldwide, we can powerfully demonstrate IEEE’s relevance to current and prospective members.

Second, deeper engagement with technologists at the grassroots level.  For IEEE societies, chapter members are our key resource. To provide a direct link between chapter leadership and the society governing board, I set up highly effective IEEE Power & Energy Society Chapters’ Councils in China, India, Africa and Latin America that organize local events and reach out to local industry. I will encourage similar developments throughout IEEE.

Third, enhanced lifelong learning opportunities. I helped establish the immensely successful online PES University. This “university” offers tutorials, webinars, plain-talk courses in the Power & Energy Society’s Field of Interest. I will progress setting up of an IEEE University encompassing all IEEE’s fields of interest to support career development of practicing engineers.

Fourth, giving life to our motto, Advancing Technology for Humanity. The global events of the past several months have shown us that technologists have a role to play for humanity. Let us employ the matchless facilities IEEE offers to address the post-COVID ‘new normal’ supporting remote working, international collaboration, carbon foot-print reduction, continuing professional development, and build a resilient future.  

Biography

(S’74-M’78-SM’83-F’98-LF’15)

Professor Saifur Rahman is the founding director of the Advanced Research Institute (www.ari.vt.edu) at Virginia Tech, USA where he is the Joseph R. Loring professor of electrical and computer engineering. He also directs the Center for Energy and the Global Environment (www.ceage.vt.edu). He is a Life Fellow of the IEEE and an IEEE Millennium Medal winner. He was the president of the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) for 2018 and 2019. He was the founding editor-in-chief of the IEEE Electrification Magazine and the IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy. He has published over 140 journal papers and has made over four hundred conference and invited presentations. In 2006 he served on the IEEE Board of Directors as the vice president for publications. He is a distinguished lecturer for the IEEE Power & Energy Society and has lectured on renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart grid, energy internet, blockchain, IoT sensor integration, etc. in over 30 countries. He is the founder of BEM Controls, LLC, a Virginia (USA)-based software company providing building energy management solutions. He served as the chair of the US National Science Foundation Advisory Committee for International Science and Engineering from 2010 to 2013. He has conducted several energy efficiency, blockchain and sensor integration projects for Duke Energy, Tokyo Electric Power Company, the US National Science Foundation, the US Department of Defense, the US Department of Energy and the State of Virginia.

  • IEEE PES Corporate Engagement Program
    Under my leadership, the Power & Energy Society started the IEEE PES Corporate Engagement Program in 2018. This is designed for the employer to pay the employee’s IEEE membership dues, and in return getting special recognition from the Power & Energy Society. This engages the organization more closely with IEEE. Additionally, this program gives the employer an opportunity to recognize and reward higher performing engineers or faculty members.
  • IEEE PES Chapters’ Councils
    We need a deeper engagement with technologists at the grassroots level. For IEEE societies, chapter members are our key resource. To provide a direct link between chapter leadership and the society governing board, I set up the highly effective IEEE Power & Energy Society Chapters’ Councils in China, India, Africa and Latin America that engage members, organize local events and reach out to local industry. I will mirror similar developments throughout IEEE.
  • The PES University
    One of the high-value opportunities IEEE members and non-members have expressed to me is lifelong learning, which IEEE can provide. I helped establish the very successful online PES University. This “university” offers tutorials, webinars and plain-talk courses in the Power & Energy Society’s field of interest. I will work on setting up an IEEE University encompassing all of IEEE’s fields of interest to support career development of practicing technologists.

IEEE Activities

IEEE Board/Committees

  • Member, IEEE TAB/PSPB Products & Services Committee, 2018 and 2020.
  • Member, Board of Governors, IEEE Society for the Social Implications of Technology, 2014 – 2016.
  • Vice Chair, IEEE Publications Board, 2010.
  • Chair, IEEE Products & Services Committee, 2007 – 2010.
  • Director, IEEE Board of Directors, 2006
  • Chair, IEEE Publications Board, 2006.
  • Vice Chair, IEEE Publication Services and Products Board, 2004 – 2005
  • Chair, IEEE TAB Periodicals Committee, 2004 – 2005.
  • Member, IEEE Information Technology Strategic Committee, 2003 – 2004.
  • Chair, IEEE EAB Lifelong Learning Council, 2002.
  • Chair, IEEE Society Education Committee, 1999 – 2001.
  • Member, IEEE TAB Periodicals Committee, 2001 – 2003.
  • Member, Southeastern Electric Utility Research Group, 1986.
  • Awards Chairman, Virginia Mountain Section, IEEE, 1986 – 1987.
  • Member, Executive Committee, Virginia Mountain Section, IEEE, 1986 – 1987.
  • Chair, Virginia Mountain Section, IEEE, 1985 – 1986.
  • Member, IEEE Virginia Council, 1985 – 1986.
  • Vice-Chairman, Virginia Mountain Section, IEEE, 1984 – 1985.

Power & Energy Society

  • Past-President and Member of the Gov Board, IEEE Power & Energy Society, 2020 – 2021.
  • President and Member of the Gov Board, IEEE Power & Energy Society, 2018 – 2019.
  • President-elect and Member of the Gov Board, IEEE Power & Energy Society, 2016 – 2017.
  • Vice President, Publications and Member of the Gov Board, IEEE Power & Energy Society, 2012 – 2013.
  • Vice President, New Initiatives & Outreach and Member of the Gov Board, IEEE Power & Energy Society, 2008 – 2011.
  • Vice President, Technical Information Services, IEEE Power Engineering Society, 2001 – 2003.
  • Vice President, Education/Industry Relations, IEEE Power Engineering Society, 1999 – 2000.
  • Chair, Virginia Mountain Chapter, IEEE PES, 1981 – 1982.
  • Secretary/Treasurer, Virginia Mountain Chapter, IEEE PES, 1980 – 1981.
  • Member, IEEE PES Long Range System Planning Task Force, 1980 – 1986.
  • General Chair, IEEE PES ISGT Conference, Washington DC 2013, 2014 and 2015
  • General co-Chair, IEEE Asia Pacific Power & Energy Engineering Conference, Wuhan, China 2010