January 2006 ISSUE
professional development
ieee south offers golden
opportunities for young engineers
BY AHSAN UPAL, P.ENG.
Chair, IEEE GOLD South Alberta
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is the world’s largest technical organization of professionals, with over 380,000 members in 150 countries.
Since its inception in 1884, the institute has played a vital role in advancing the theory and application of electro-technology and allied sciences. Today, it publishes over 30 per cent of the world’s literature on electrical, electronics and computer engineering.
It has served as a catalyst for technological innovation and supported the needs of its members through a wide variety of programs and services.
IEEE electro-tecnology graduates of the last decade are collectively part of our Gold program. A relatively new addition to IEEE’s member services, it started in 1995.
It is an important step in addressing the unique needs of young engineers who demand technical as well as non-technical development. Newly graduated engineers look to IEEE for career guidance, job search, networking opportunities and personal management. Employed newly graduated engineers look to IEEE for leadership opportunities and local social activities in addition to the research and technology information.
IEEE Southern Alberta Section has an active Gold affinity group with over 160 members in the region. The section’s Gold Committee, which plans and organizes Gold activities and events, consists of the writer, Ahsan Upal, P.Eng., as well as Eva Kelemen, E.I.T., Carley Duerr, E.I.T., and Ryan Carnahan, P.Eng.
Gold’s last event was held in September — a guided tour of AltaLink’s 240kV Janet Substation in southeast of Calgary. The substation hosts 240 kV and 138 kV voltages and supplies power to Calgary. The four-hour guided tour gave visitors a chance to see components of Alberta’s Inter-connected Electric System in operation.
For 2006 a number of events are planned, including a technical luncheon, a social evening out, a site visit and an educational session. All Gold events are open to everyone. Cost of attending is usually free for IEEE members.
If you are interested in volunteering with Gold, please contact me at ahsan@ieee.org. For more information, visit us online at http://ewh.ieee.org/r7/southern_alberta/gold/.