It is our pleasure to invite you to experience IMS2015, May 17-22, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. The IMS2015 steering committee, consisting of over 75 volunteers, is very excited to host IMS for a second time in Phoenix.
Our mission is to provide a rich attendee experience by creating and fostering a forum for presenting state-of-the-art technical papers on RF and microwave related topics, exhibiting the latest products and technology solutions and networking with peers.
Microwave Week is comprised of three conferences. The International Microwave Symposium will begin on Sunday, May 17 with workshops and short courses. The RFIC Symposium begins Sunday evening, with a primary focus on RFIC design, RFIC circuits, system engineering and RF testing. The IMS technical paper presentation and industry exhibition will be held Tuesday through Thursday. For the first time at IMS2015, a one day RF Boot Camp will teach RF basics to graduate students and young engineers as well as demonstrate the use of test instruments for modeling and characterization of RF components. Microwave Week will conclude on Friday with IMS workshops and the Automatic RF Techniques Group (ARFTG) Conference. ARFTG covers RF and microwave test and measurement techniques. Visit rfic2015.org, ims2015.org and arftg.org for more information on each respective conference.
In addition to the traditional tracks, IMS2015 will feature discussions on emerging RF and wireless related growth areas such as wearable electronics, Internet of Things (IoT), RF/microwave technology in life science and 5G. Opening plenary speaker, Professor John Rogers, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will introduce wearable electronics with a talk entitled “Soft Assemblies of Radios, Sensors and Circuits for the Skin.” The wearable electronics theme is further highlighted throughout the conference with a special panel session on Tuesday and a Wearable Electronics Pavilion on the exhibition floor. Closing ceremony speaker, Dr. Darlene J.S. Solomon, senior vice president and chief technology officer for Agilent Technologies, will discuss RF and microwave technology needs in the life sciences.
In addition, 17-year-old Joseph Hudy is scheduled to give an inspirational talk. Hudy, a Phoenix high school student, amazed President Obama with his Extreme Marshmallow Cannon at the White House Science Fair in February 2012, when Hudy was only 14. Hudy has been recognized by Business Insider as one of the smartest kids in the world.
Seven focused programs to promote student participation and diversity will be taking place this year. The student paper contest, student design competition, Ph.D. student initiative and the ‘IMS Connect’ programs are designed to increase college graduate participation at the conference. The ‘IMS Connect’ program aims to encourage participation of students from underrepresented minorities in the International Microwave Symposium and better prepare them for careers in science and engineering.
The IMS2015 Women in Microwave team has organized a focused session and a panel session this year. Leading professionals practicing RF and microwave technologies will be presenting papers during this session. It will be followed by a panel session discussing “Diversity in Microwaves – Let’s Talk about the Demographics!”
Additionally, two more programs for middle and high school students interested in science and engineering will take place on Thursday. The IMS STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program will introduce students to the field of microwave engineering and technology through a STEM-focused “day at a conference” experience. The second program is the High School Student Science and Engineering Invitational. The goal is to showcase the high school science and engineering talent of students in the metropolitan Phoenix area. This one-day event will include opportunities to showcase students’ science fair projects, interact with engineers and graduate students and provide a conference experience.
To enrich the attendee experience further, ample opportunities to interact with peers and exhibitors are provided throughout Microwave Week. Day-to-day programs have been created, keeping in mind the importance of networking for conference participants. We believe this will be an enriching and rewarding experience for all attendees.
The IMS2015 steering committee has put together a superb program for you and is looking forward to your participation in making this conference a huge success!