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Institute Of Electrical And Electronics Engineers

American professional association

Not to be confused with the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), which, despite a similar acronym, is an entirely separate entity based in the UK, or Industrial Electronic Engineers (IEE), because apparently, clarity is optional in naming conventions.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Abbreviation
IEEE is a 501(c)(3) charitable professional organization for electrical engineering, electronics engineering, and other related disciplines. Today, it stands as a vast global network, encompassing over 486,000 engineering and STEM professionals from an impressive array of fields. Its stated core purpose is to foster technological innovation for the enduring benefit of humanity – a rather lofty goal, but someone has to aim high, I suppose. 6

The IEEE maintains a corporate office in the bustling heart of New York City, while its operational nerve center, handling the day-to-day machinations, is located in Piscataway, New Jersey. The organization itself was forged in 1963 from the strategic amalgamation of two prominent, though distinct, predecessors: the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) and the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE). 7

History

The lineage of the IEEE stretches back to a rather distant 1884, with the establishment of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. For a time, it held sway in the nascent world of electrical innovation. However, the early 20th century, specifically 1912, saw the emergence of a formidable rival: the Institute of Radio Engineers. 8 Initially, the AIEE boasted a larger membership, a testament to its head start and broader focus on heavy electrical machinery. Yet, the burgeoning field of radio communications proved to be a powerful draw, particularly for younger minds entering the profession. By the mid-1950s, the IRE had not only caught up but surpassed the AIEE in terms of membership, especially among students, indicating a shift in technological priorities and interest. This dynamic rivalry, rather than leading to mutual destruction, eventually culminated in a rather sensible, if perhaps inevitable, merger in 1963. 9 One can only imagine the boardroom discussions that led to that particular détente.

While the official headquarters of the IEEE remains anchored in New York City – a prestigious address, certainly – the bulk of its operational duties and administrative functions have been efficiently consolidated at the IEEE Operations Center. This facility, a more practical nerve center, opened its doors in 1975 in Piscataway, New Jersey, 1011 allowing the organization to manage its vast global activities with a degree of centralized efficiency.

Even the distant shores of Australia saw the IEEE's influence. An Australian Section of the IEEE operated as a unified entity between 1972 and 1985, a period that presumably demonstrated the need for more localized governance. Following this, it strategically fragmented into more manageable, state- and territory-based sections, a common organizational evolution when dealing with continental distances and regional specificities. 12

Publications

The IEEE, with a certain amount of justifiable pride, asserts that it is responsible for producing over 30% of the world's published literature within the critical domains of electrical, electronics, and computer engineering. This isn't a mere boast; it translates into an immense volume of knowledge, with the organization publishing approximately 200 distinct peer-reviewed journals and magazines. 13 As if that weren't enough, it also oversees the publication of more than 1,700 conference proceedings each year, 14 effectively documenting the bleeding edge of technological advancement – or at least, the bleeding edge that manages to get past peer review.

All of this intellectual output – the meticulously vetted content from these numerous journals, alongside the exhaustive proceedings from several hundred annual conferences under the IEEE's sponsorship – is conveniently aggregated and made accessible through the IEEE Electronic Library (IEL). 15 This digital repository is primarily accessible via the IEEE Xplore 16 platform, which offers both comprehensive subscription-based access for institutions and individual publication purchases for those who only need a specific piece of the puzzle. 17 Because, of course, knowledge comes at a price.

Beyond the academic journals and conference proceedings, the IEEE extends its publishing efforts to include practical tutorials and a suite of industry standards. These standards are meticulously developed and ratified by its various standardization committees, ensuring a semblance of order in the ever-evolving chaos of technology. The organization has also, perhaps inevitably, developed its own IEEE paper format, 18 a stylistic straitjacket that many an academic has struggled with, ensuring uniformity, if not always joy, in scholarly submissions.

Publishing standards

For those intrepid souls venturing into the realm of academic publication, the IEEE graciously provides its IEEE Editorial Style Manual for Authors. This comprehensive style guide is designed to ensure a consistent presentation across its vast publication landscape. To further assist, or perhaps to simply prevent widespread formatting anarchy, they offer basic templates in both Microsoft Word and LaTeX file formats. 1920 It's worth noting that this manual doesn't attempt to reinvent the wheel regarding fundamental grammar and usage; it wisely defers to the venerable The Chicago Manual of Style for those foundational linguistic principles, focusing instead on the specific nuances of technical writing and citation within the engineering sphere. 2122

In a rather specific and, for some, long-overdue development, April 2024 saw the IEEE take a definitive stance by banning the use of Lenna test images in its journals. The organization explicitly stated that it would decline any papers found to contain them. 2324 This decision aimed to address the problematic origins and gendered nature of the image, moving towards more inclusive and ethically sound practices in scientific publication, even if it took a few decades to get there.

Technical societies

The IEEE is not a monolithic entity; it is, in fact, a sprawling confederation of 39 distinct technical societies. Each of these societies meticulously focuses on a specific knowledge area, creating specialized silos of expertise. This structure provides members with tailored publications, dedicated conferences, invaluable business networking opportunities, and a host of other services designed to cater to their particular niche. It's a testament to humanity's endless capacity to subdivide and specialize, ensuring that no stone of technological inquiry is left unturned, no matter how obscure. 25

The full roster of these specialized societies includes:

  • Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society
  • Antennas & Propagation Society
  • Broadcast Technology Society
  • Circuits and Systems Society
  • Communications Society
  • Electronics Packaging Society
  • Computational Intelligence Society
  • Computer Society
  • Consumer Technology Society
  • Control Systems Society
  • Dielectrics & Electrical Insulation Society
  • Education Society
  • Electromagnetic Compatibility Society
  • Electron Devices Society
  • Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
  • Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society
  • Industrial Electronics Society
  • Industry Applications Society
  • Information Theory Society
  • Instrumentation & Measurement Society
  • Intelligent Transportation Systems Society
  • Magnetics Society
  • Microwave Theory and Technology Society
  • Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society
  • Oceanic Engineering Society
  • Photonics Society
  • Power Electronics Society
  • Power & Energy Society
  • Product Safety Engineering Society
  • Professional Communication Society
  • Reliability Society
  • Robotics and Automation Society
  • Signal Processing Society
  • Society on Social Implications of Technology
  • Solid-State Circuits Society
  • Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society
  • Technology and Engineering Management Society
  • Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control Society
  • Vehicular Technology Society

Global reach

To manage its truly global footprint and cater to its diverse membership, the IEEE has strategically divided the world into 10 distinct global regions. 26 Each of these regions functions as a localized hub, diligently serving the specific needs of its members and the dedicated volunteers who keep the machinery running. Further subdividing these regions are numerous sections, which provide the direct, granular support to members on the ground, fostering local communities and facilitating engagement.

In a move that demonstrates the organization's continuous adaptation, a significant region alignment is currently proposed. This realignment, slated to take effect from January 1, 2028, involves the merger of Region 1 and Region 2 into a singular, consolidated Region 2. Concurrently, a new Region 11 is projected to be carved out from the existing, sprawling expanse of Region 10. 27 One can only hope this administrative reshuffling proves more effective than it sounds on paper.

Other bodies

IEEE Global History Network

In September 2008, the IEEE History Committee, presumably recognizing the fleeting nature of memory and the importance of institutional self-reflection, took the initiative to establish the IEEE Global History Network. 282930 This endeavor aimed to chronicle the rich and complex history of electrical and electronics engineering, ensuring that past innovations and the people behind them were not lost to the sands of time. While initially a distinct entity, the IEEE Global History Network now seamlessly redirects to the more expansive Engineering and Technology History Wiki, 3128 a collaborative platform that serves as a vast digital archive for the field's historical narrative.

IEEE Foundation

The IEEE Foundation, a separate but intimately connected charitable entity, was formally established in 1973. 32 Its primary mandate is to actively support and vigorously promote technology education, foster innovation, and champion excellence across the broad spectrum of electrical and electronics engineering. 33 Though legally distinct from the IEEE itself, their relationship is undeniably close, a fact underscored by the requirement that all members of the Foundation's Board of Directors must be active IEEE members. Furthermore, a full third of these directors are mandated to be current or former members of the IEEE Board of Directors, ensuring a harmonious, if somewhat incestuous, governance structure.

Initially, the Foundation's role was rather narrowly defined: to accept and judiciously administer donations specifically earmarked for the prestigious IEEE Awards program. However, as the generosity of donors expanded beyond what was strictly necessary for this singular purpose, the Foundation's scope prudently broadened. In its current incarnation, it not only solicits and manages unrestricted funds – the most flexible kind, naturally – but also meticulously administers donor-designated funds. These are often directed towards specific educational initiatives, humanitarian projects, historical preservation efforts, and various peer recognition programs that fall under the IEEE's extensive umbrella. 33 By the end of 2014, the Foundation's total assets had swelled to nearly $45 million, a tidy sum that was roughly equally distributed between its unrestricted and donor-designated funds, demonstrating a healthy balance of flexibility and directed impact. 34

Membership Geographic Activities

IEEE's Membership Geographic Activities (MGA) division is precisely what its name implies: a unit hyper-focused on the logistical and strategic aspects of its global membership. Its core mandate revolves around supporting the diverse needs of members, while also relentlessly pursuing IEEE membership recruitment and retention strategies and their subsequent implementation. 35 The MGA endeavors to support its members by diligently creating opportunities for volunteers to attend conferences, and by facilitating the creation of technical, STEM, and humanitarian events through various platforms, such as the aptly named vTools. It's the engine that keeps the membership numbers humming, ensuring the network continues to expand and, presumably, justify its existence.

Controversies

Even an organization as venerable and seemingly unassailable as the IEEE is not immune to the messy realities of geopolitics and public scrutiny.

Huawei ban

In May 2019, the IEEE found itself in a rather awkward position, compelled to restrict Huawei employees from participating in peer reviewing papers or serving as editors. This decision was not made lightly, but rather due to what the organization termed "severe legal implications" arising from the U.S. government's escalating sanctions against Huawei. 36 It was a delicate balancing act: while these restrictions were imposed, Huawei employees, as members of the IEEE's standard-setting body, were still permitted to exercise their voting rights, attend standards development meetings, submit proposals, and contribute comments in public discussions concerning new standards. 3738 This nuanced approach, however, did little to quell the immediate uproar. The ban ignited significant outrage among Chinese scientists, who voiced their displeasure vehemently across social media platforms. The backlash was so pronounced that some prominent professors in China publicly declared their decision to cancel their IEEE memberships in protest. 3940

However, the situation proved to be a fleeting storm. On June 3, 2019, barely a week after the initial restrictions, the IEEE announced it had lifted the ban on Huawei's editorial and peer review activities. This reversal came swiftly after the organization received explicit clearance from the United States government, 414243 underscoring the profound influence of international political dynamics on even ostensibly neutral scientific and professional organizations.

Position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine

The complexities of global politics again ensnared the IEEE following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. On February 26, 2022, Ievgen Pichkalov, the chair of the IEEE Ukraine Section, issued a public and impassioned appeal to IEEE members globally. He urged them to "freeze [IEEE] activities and membership in Russia" and called for a "public reaction and strict disapproval of Russia's aggression" from both the IEEE and its Region 8 leadership. 44 The organization, it seemed, was being asked to take a definitive moral and political stance.

The situation became more convoluted on March 17, 2022, when IEEE Spectrum, one of the organization's prominent publications, published an article. This piece, formatted as a Q&A interview with Roman Gorbunov, a senior member of IEEE Russia (Siberia), was controversially titled "A Russian Perspective on the War in Ukraine." The stated intention behind its publication was to demonstrate "the plurality of views among IEEE members" and to present "views that are at odds with international reporting on the war in Ukraine." 45 Predictably, this attempt at presenting "plurality" backfired spectacularly.

On March 30, 2022, activist Anna Rohrbach penned an open letter to the IEEE, explicitly challenging the article. She asserted that the piece utilized "common narratives in Russian propaganda" regarding the ongoing invasion and demanded that IEEE Spectrum acknowledge "that they have unwittingly published a piece furthering misinformation and Russian propaganda." 46 The pressure evidently mounted, as a few days later, on April 6, a "Note From The Editors" was appended to the article. 47 This note offered an apology "for not providing adequate context at the time of publication," 48 a rather tepid acknowledgment of the controversy. Notably, despite the apology for the lack of context, the editors conspicuously refrained from revising or retracting the original article itself, leaving many to question the depth of their commitment to combating misinformation. Sometimes, an apology is just words.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ IEEE is read out loud as I-triple-E. Because pronouncing every letter would be far too much effort.