IEEE Elections: Return Your Ballots by 1 October
Ballots were mailed in August for the annual IEEE elections. Marked ballots must be received by the election vendor in Eden Prairie, Minn., by noon central time on 1 October. Two IEEE-USA positions — 2009 IEEE-USA President Elect and 2009-2010 IEEE-USA Member-at-Large — are on the slate, along with 15 other election categories. Please take a few minutes to fill out and mail your ballot, or access the election ballot and related materials electronically online at: www.ieee.org/elections.

Clean, Safe Fusion Energy and its Potential to Contribute to World's Energy Supply to be Discussed on Capitol Hill
On Thursday, 18 Sep., Dr. Ned Sauthoff, U.S. ITER director, will discuss the ITER fusion energy experiment and its challenges at a Congressional Research & Development Caucus briefing, co-sponsored by IEEE-USA and ASME. more

Energy Secretary Bodman to Keynote GridWeek 2008
IEEE-USA is a partner in GridWeek 2008 (23-25 September), an annual gathering in Washington, D.C., of Smart Grid stakeholders and thought leaders to to discuss Smart Grid issues and developments around the world. The 2008 conference will focus on delivering sustainable energy through the Smart Grid, with Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman providing a keynote address. more

IEEE Members Receive the 2007 National Medal of Science and 2007 National Medal of Technology and Innovation
Four IEEE members will be honored at a black-tie ceremony on 28 September in Washington, D.C., for their contributions to the nation's scientific and technological endeavor. Paul Baran, NovoVentures, Inc., and Armand V. Feigenbaum, General Systems Company, Inc., have been awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, presented each year to the nation's leading innovators. Leonard Kleinrock, UCLA, and Andrew J. Viterbi, USC, are recipients of the National Medal of Science, which honors individuals for pioneering scientific research. The awards are the nation's highest honors for scientific and technological achievement. Congratulations to these members for their remarkable accomplishments. more

IEEE-USA President's Column: Silver Tsunami Set to Hit U.S. Aerospace and Defense Workforce
When the first baby boomers began to apply for Social Security benefits in late 2007, some people referred to it as the leading edge of a "silver tsunami" that could overwhelm the Social Security system. A similar tidal wave is set to strike the U.S. aerospace and defense work force. more

Promote Technological Literacy: Apply to be IEEE-USA’s Engineering Mass Media Fellow
The AAAS Science and Engineering Mass Media Fellows Program provides an opportunity for college and graduate students in engineering and computer science to work full-time over the summer as reporters, researchers and production assistants in mass media organizations nationwide — including radio and TV stations, newspapers and magazines. Since 2000, IEEE-USA Mass Media Fellows have been assigned to such media outlets as the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, Scientific American, Popular Science and WNBC-TV. The application deadline is 15 January 2009. more

IEEE-USA Online Student Video Competition: Win $5,000 in Scholarship Prizes
Choose an aspect of engineering that you consider to be socially constructive, appealing and fun. Translate it into a 90-second video-clip aimed at an 11-to-13-year-old student audience on "How Engineers Make a World of Difference." The clip should convey why you think engineering is creative, rewarding, and important work. Up to $5,000 in scholarship prizes will be awarded. In addition, winning entries will be shown during National Engineers Week 2009 and on IEEE.tv. The competition is open to all U.S. undergraduate students in engineering and computer science. Entries must be submitted by midnight eastern time on Friday, 16 January 2009. more

TE Online: September 2008 Issue Online
The September 2008 edition of TE Online includes features on: "Backscatter: The Changing Engineering Workplace"; "The Experts Never Told You About These Three Retirement Challenges"; "Consulting: The Dawn of a New Era"; "Engineers: Your Oceans Need You!"; "Are You Prepared for a Career Crash?"; "Why Should Engineers Be Concerned About Copyright Law?"; and much more. more

New E-Book: The Best of Backscatter from
IEEE-USA Today's Engineer
Compiled from the Today's Engineer archives, distinguished author, editor and engineer Donald Christiansen tackles issues with no pat solutions, such as education, communication, and the use of technology for human progress. more

WIE "Engineering Your Future" Conference (3-5 Oct.)
IEEE-USA is co-sponsoring the second annual Women in Engineering (WIE) Conference in Atlantic City, NJ, 3-5 October 2008. Hosted by the IEEE Women in Engineering Affinity Group, Southern NJ Section, this year's conference will feature workshops on: Teambuilding and Chair Yoga; How to Stay Cutting Edge; Outsourcing Engineering; Personality Types; Listening and Communicating Effectively; and How to Survive in a Changing Market Place. more

more new and notable