ALMA’s department of engineering head and joint ALMA Observatory project manager, Michael Thorburn and Dr. David Tennenhouse, corporate vice president of technology policy for Microsoft, will present closing ceremony keynotes on Thursday, June 6 at the 2013 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS) in Seattle.
Thorburn’s keynote, “The Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA),” will give an overview of ALMA, the world’s largest cooperative earth-based astronomical project located in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert. Thorburn will talk about ALMA’s unique combination of millimeter-wave technologies and high-speed computing technologies that have led to an improved understanding of the composition, formation and evolution of the stars. The giant telescope was inaugurated just last month, transitioning from a construction project into a full-fledged observatory. ALMA is a partnership between Europe, North America and East Asia in cooperation with the Republic of Chile.
“Mr. Thorburn is making extensive strides in the astronomy field and his work is unparalleled in the industry,” said Tom Raschko, IMS2013 symposium general chair. “With his ALMA radio telescope and years of research, we can now look at stars that are 13.5 billion light years away.”
The final closing keynote, “Wireless to the Rescue,” presented by Tennenhouse, will address the importance of wireless innovation in today’s fast moving mobile markets. He will also discuss specific advances in spectrum sharing, coordination of technical strategy and policy, and Microsoft advances related to the use of TV white spaces.
“With his in-depth knowledge of the wireless landscape, Tennenhouse’s keynote will illustrate the importance of finding new solutions to wireless technology as spectrum continues to become an issue for wireless providers and consumers alike across the U.S,” said Raschko.