IEEE Committee: Women in Engineering

1. IEEE Committee:Women in Engineering Allan Johnston NPS Liaison February 3, 2007

2. Overall Structure of the WIE within the IEEE • The WIE reports directly to the IEEE Executive Committee • One of 22 such committees • Others include Awards, Fellow, Nominations and Strategic Planning • The Executive Committee provides a limited budget for the WIE Committee • Supports direct costs of 7 of the 10 voting members • Also provides budget for certain activities • Limited WIE functions at conferences and local chapters • Typically $300 to $600 per function

3. Scopes of Interest • Facilitate the development of programs and activities that promote the entry into and retention of women in engineering programs • Promote IEEE membership and retention of IEEE women members • Enhance the career advancement of women in the profession

4. Voting Members of the WIEC • 10 voting members (all appointed for 3-year terms, except the student) • Seven members appointed by the IEEE Board of Directors, including one student (one-year term) • Three one-year appointments from organizational units (EAB, RAB and TAB) • Organizational units must provide funding for travel and other costs of their appointed members • The WEIC appoints one member to the IEEE Awards Board • Voting member locations • 6 from US • 2 from Europe (France, Spain) • One from Dubai • One from Australia

5. WEIC Committee Structure WIE Committee 10 voting members Liaisons from: IEEE USA,EXCOM, Publication Services, Standards, and Awards 10 Regional Coordinators Society Liaisons There are also 136 Affinity Groups, located around the world

6. Society Liaisons • Circuits and Systems • Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technology • Laser and Electro-Optic Society • Nuclear and Plasma Sciences • Oceanic Engineering • Power Engineering • Reliability Society • Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control Only 8 of the 39 societies have appointed liaisons

7. Committee Interaction • Monthly conference calls (normally one hour) • I participated in the first one (Jan. 25), as well as an orientation telecon the previous week • There were 17 participants • Two face-to-face meetings are normally held • The first 2007 meeting was scheduled for March in Australia • It has since been cancelled at the direction of the Board • The present plan is to hold only one meeting, probably this fall in the US

8. Potential Ways to Support the WIE from the NPS • Promote WIE membership at conferences • The main emphasis of the committee is on recruiting students • We have several prominent conferences that provide access to working professionals • A travel display is available that could be shipped to conferences • WIE information could be added to the IEEE membership booth that we have at most of our conferences • Identify individuals for promotion to Senior and Fellow grades • Conference chairs could identify potential candidates from registration information • AdCom and Conference Committees could recommend candidates • Identify prominent women in NPS as potential speakers for WIE functions

9. Membership Trends ~ 2.5% of IEEE members belong to the WIE About 1/3 are male ~2/3 are students Retaining students after graduation is a key problem

10. Work Discussed in the January Telecon • Small funding requests ($300 to $600) for several conferences • Receptions and luncheons • Reports are required afterwards to judge effectiveness • Session adopted for E-WEEK Global Marathon • A WIE Magazine is being considered • The organization currently has a monthly newsletter • Elevation process for Senior Members • Face-to-face meetings • A great deal of relief over cancellation of Australia meeting • IEEE Board wants funds to concentrate on more important issues, such as the WIE Magazine and chapter activities