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Contents:

SSIT ANNOUNCEMENTS
PUBLICATIONS
CONFERENCES
ONGOING CALLS

Dear SSIT Members,

We hope that this newsletter finds you well, enjoying either the heat of summer or the chill of winter or something in between, depending on your current location. This month’s SSIT updates include:

• A final call to SSIT volunteers to submit self-nominations to serve in society leadership positions for the 2025-2027 term;
• A newly announced CFP for undergraduate student participation at this September’s IEEE ISTAS 2024 conference (which we hope all readers will share widely!);
• The latest installment in our SSIT Standards Association reports, this time from neurotechnology expert Dr. Laura Cabrera;
• A report from the most recent (and very well-attended!) IEEE Quarter Tech Talk
• The run-down of the latest issue of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine (with lots of links to content you can share among your networks!);
• Another full “Conferences” section with some new events added to the mix (if we’ve missed a conference/workshop that you know of that might be of interest to SSIT members, please do let us know about it so we can include it in future!)

As always, we invite submissions of content for inclusion in future newsletters. Please send along announcements for and reports on local chapter meetings, events, or outreach activities. In addition, we would love to hear about upcoming events, webinars, and conferences relevant to SSIT members.

Please send proposed content via email to [email protected]. The deadline for inclusion in the next newsletter is 9 August 2024.

Best wishes to you all.

Sincerely,

Heather Love (SSIT Newsletter EiC)

Aleksander Franiczek (SSIT Newsletter Associate Editor)

Our Society is led by passionate volunteers who are committed to the mission of SSIT. Self-Nominations are invited for the following positions for a two-year term beginning 1 January 2025. There will be a separate call for Committee leadership positions (not chaired by the following officeholders). 

1. Secretary
2. Treasurer
3. Vice President (Conferences)
4. Vice President (Membership)
5. Vice President (Publications)
6. Vice President (Public Outreach and Visibility)
7. Vice President (Technical Activities)

The position descriptions for these offices are available here. 

Please submit your self-nomination using this form.

The deadline for submission is 31 July 2024. Incumbents are eligible for re-appointment but must still submit a self-nomination.

Submitted by Prasanta Ghosh and Heather A. Love

On behalf of the IEEE SSIT, we invite undergraduate students to submit an Abstract for a Presentation as part of the “Student Track” at the 2024 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS 2024), which will take place from 18 – 20 September 2024.

Both in-person and virtual participation are possible. In-person presentations will take place at Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP), Puebla, Mexico, and virtual presentations will take place over Zoom. At least one undergraduate presenter of each accepted abstract will be eligible to register for the ISTAS 2024 conference free of charge.

The event will provide opportunities for student participants to share their technical ideas, discuss theoretical and practical issues related to Social Implications of Technology, and interact with peers and leaders in this field.

Full details regarding topics of interest, eligibility, guidelines, and links to the submission portal are available on the Student Track page of the conference website.

Some key notes:

• Abstracts should be 250-350 words, and should include clear details about the proposed presentation’s topic, structure, and background context/research;
• Students should submit their abstract as a PDF to the ISTAS 2024 portal before the 16 August 2024 deadline;
• All submissions will go through a review process and decisions will be announced by the end of August;
• Author(s) of accepted abstracts who plan to present remotely will be asked to submit a 10-minute video recording of their presentation approximately one week prior to the conference; the videos will be used in case of internet issues.

We hope that many students from across the SSIT community will wish to participate, and we encourage all members to share this CFP with students who might be interested. Please feel free to contact the organizers listed below if you or a prospective applicant have questions.

Looking forward to receiving your abstracts.

Best wishes,

2024 IEEE SSIT Student Track Organizers

Dr. Prasanta Ghosh ([email protected])

Dr. Heather Love ([email protected])

Dr. Rocio Salazarv ([email protected])

Dr. Jose Luis Vazquez Gonzalez ([email protected])

This is the tenth installment of our column introducing SSIT members to our Standards Committee activities. For previous installments, see the September 2023 - April 2024 issues (available at the SSIT Newsletter Archive). 

IEEE P7700

What is this standard?

The P7700 Recommended Practice for the Responsible Design and Development of Neurotechnologies is a new category of voluntary consensus-based socio-technical standard offering a uniform set of definitions, and process guidance to assess the ethical and socio-technical considerations and practices regarding the responsible design, development, and use of neurotechnologies. 

IEEE expanded their governance standard offerings that guide organizations on ethical design and deployment to cover neurotechnologies. We refer to neurotechnology as any technology that provides greater insight into brain or nervous system activity, or affects brain or nervous system function. As such, there are a range of individual technologies for which standards are being developed/have been developed that complement this proposed standard.

P7700 reflects on the unique characteristics of neurotechnology and its impact on individuals and society. As neurotechnologies potentially influence brain activity, they can have effects on intimately human processes such as cognition, identity and human agency. Moreover, neurotechnology applications extend beyond medical use to a wide variety of consumer areas (gaming, wellness, workplace). The standard's primary aim is to provide neurotechnology developers and government agencies a uniform set of definitions, and a methodology to assess the ethical and socio-technical considerations and practices regarding the design, development, and use of neurotechnologies. The standard adopts  a responsible research and innovation approach, which enables developers, researchers, users, and regulators to anticipate and address ethical and sociocultural implications of neurotechnologies, mitigating negative unintended consequences while increasing community support and engagement with neurotechnology innovators. 

Why is it important?

Neurotechnology can be used purely for research purposes, such as experimental brain imaging to gather information about mental illness or sleep patterns. It can also be used in practical applications to influence the brain or nervous system; for example, in therapeutic or rehabilitative contexts. More recently, several developments have been made in the consumer arena, making certain neurotechnologies accessible to individuals for a variety of non-medical purposes, including wellness and fatigue monitoring. 

Significant work on neuroethics has been done in the past 20 years, which has identified considerable opportunities and challenges. However, at the start of this standard working group there were no international recommendations on how to translate ethical considerations into everyday practice of technology research, design, development, and use. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is one of the few international organizations that developed a set of recommendations for neurotechnology with a focus on policy makers and medical applications. More recently, this year UNESCO started working on their ethical recommendations for neurotechnology. 

Compared to these two organizations, IEEE Standard Association can leverage several years of experience developing technical standards and use that knowledge to focus more recently on socio-technical standards. P7700 will be the first truly socio-technical standard aimed at fostering the ethical and efficient innovation of neurotechnology that meets societal and community values at an international level with a focus on the neuroengineering community, developers, and regulators of neurotechnologies. 

The multilayered complexity of technologies that interface with the brain and nervous system present unique considerations to those developing them and regulating them. The new standard is important because this type of practical guidance and tools explicitly helps developers and regulators on how to reflect and respond in a responsible manner to the implications of neurotechnology for individuals and society. IEEE P7700 not only prioritizes the need to address the risks and negative impact to people and society, but also on how to continue expanding the positive impacts of neurotechnology.

What is a real-world example/case study of how this might help?

As a new neurotechnology is being developed, developers can use this standard to integrate socio-technical considerations in the process of design and development (for example, they can mention compliance with this standard when submitting a proposal to a funding agency), while regulators can use it to add due diligence as these technologies enter the market. IEEE P7700 will offer “how-to” general guidance, as well as provide criteria to help evaluate each suggested process and case studies to help with the interpretation and practical use of the standard.

What stage is it at?

We were green lit to start at the end of 2022, but the kickoff meeting took place in January 2023. We have been working hard on building the outline and drafting key areas. We have not yet started voting on any major parts of the standard, but we envision by the end of this year to have some of the proposed processes fleshed out for vote. We have had fluctuation in participation, and while we have a core number of interested volunteers, we certainly are open to a more robust participation of those interested in the responsible development of neurotechnology. We are aiming to start the IEEE ballot process in early 2026, and we are targeting early 2027 for publication.

What is the current geographical or disciplinary spread of your working members?

The core working group members come from 6 different countries (USA, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Japan) but the broader working group members include other countries, such as China and Germany. The disciplinary spread covers engineers, lawyers, social science researchers, ethicists, and neurotechnology developers.

What type of people might be interested or well suited for this standards group?

Anyone who is interested and committed to the responsible design, development and use of neurotechnology for the benefit of humanity. More specifically, people who want and can contribute their time and knowledge to drafting and refining the process tools and recommendations. There is a wide range of people that can contribute their expertise, from academics, neuro engineers, neurotechnology developers, policy makers, government program leaders, data scientists, lawyers, social scientists, and users of neurotechnology would be well suited for the group.

What triggered your own interest in this area?

I have been the Chair for the IEEE BRAIN Neuroethics subcommittee since 2021, and our work developing a neuroethics framework made me realize the importance of having a socio-technical standard focused on neurotechnology. At the time, the OECD has been the only large international organization working on recommendations for neurotechnology. I learned about IEEE Standards Association involvement in the P7000 series of socio-technical standards, and it made perfect sense to have IEEE SA working on a socio-technical standard on neurotechnology. In late 2021, I had several meetings and conversations about the process to start a new standard group, and consulted with several colleagues to make sure the development of such a standard made sense. After all those conversations in mid-2022 we submitted the project authorization request to start this new working group, and got approved to start at the end of 2022. 

My engineering and ethics background laid the foundation for my interest and understanding in this area. There is no doubt that neurotechnologies bring incredible opportunities to help treat brain and mental health disorders, to help diagnose them, and to increase wellbeing. Yet, they also raise important considerations about their implications for both individuals and societies.  As more neurotechnologies expand beyond the medical setting, the more we need to be engaged in reflecting and responding to these considerations.

It has been a very interesting experience as this is the first time I am involved with developing a socio-technical standard, but I am excited to contribute and work with amazing colleagues. To start, I have the privilege to work with Ricardo Chavarriaga, the vice chair of the working group. There are also a number of dedicated working group members helping draft and engaging in constructive discussion on the processes and tools for responsible neurotechnology development, design, and use in our monthly meetings. It is the team effort that keeps the course of the working group, and we (Ricardo and I) thank them all for their work and patience as we navigate the intricacies of leading a new working group.

Call to Action

If you would like to get in touch, please email me as Chair, IEEE P7700 ([email protected]) or contact the IEEE Standards Association Program Manager, Christy Bahn ([email protected]) to indicate your interest.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) programs span a variety of technical disciplines to develop breakthrough technologies for national security, all of which have the potential to raise ethical, legal, and societal implication – or, ELSI – considerations. Taking time to consider ELSI’s role in a program can contribute to the responsible development of emerging technologies and improve research by fostering conversations that identify unknowns, anticipate consequences, and make design decisions to maximize benefits and opportunities and minimize risks and harms.

This SSIT chapter event features Dr. Rebecca Crootof, DARPA’s inaugural ELSI Visiting Scholar, who will discuss her approach to developing a process to ensure that ELSI can inform — and even improve —all DARPA programs. We hope that many SSIT members will join us!

• Date: 27 August 2024
• Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm (Eastern Time)
• Location: Arlington, VA, USA

Click here for full details and registration information.

A group of IEEE Young Professionals & Impact Creators gathered on 28 June 2024 to form a collaborative platform at Quarter Tech Talk Table 13.0 (QT3) in the form of a Panel Discussion on the topic: “Breaking Perceptions: Cybersecurity & its Opportunities.” The panel was conducted in collaboration with the IEEE SKN Student Branch, IEEE SSIT, IEEE TV and IEEE PCCOE&R as host.

Event Details:
This was the 3rd fully in-person panel with 150+ Participants across Pune, India attending. The discussion featured Vaishali Nagori (Senior Security Researcher | FEV India Pvt Ltd) & Yogesh Kulkarni (General Manager, Regional CISO -Intellectual Property, Head of Cyber Security Resilience) as panelists. Nidhi Shingade and Ramneek Kalra were the keynote speakers at “Spark to Impact: Igniting your IEEE Journey," as well as Bozenna Pasik Duncan (Professor at The University of Kansas), Prashant R Nair (Chair, IEEE.tv Advisory Committee), and Ramalatha Marimuthu (Director at iExplore Foundation for Sustainability Development).

Along with the above, Host Guests included Dr. Harish Tiwari (Principal of PCCOE&R), Dr. Rahul Mapri (HoD, E&TC Dept, PCCOE&R), Prof. Vijayalaxmi Kumbhar (Assistant Professor, PCCOE&R & Branch Counselor of IEEE PCCOE&R SB), Dr. AV Deshpande (Branch Counsellor of IEEE SKN Student Branch, Prof RH Borade (HoD and Vice Principal) and Dr. Sonal Jagtap (HoD E&TC) who greeted the occasion with their motivational words & presence.

After the inauguration ceremony, the event was kickstarted with an engaging Panel Discussion on Topic, “Breaking Perceptions: Cybersecurity & its Opportunities,” moderated by Nidhi Shingade (IEEE Impact Creator) & Ramneek Kalra (IEEE Impact Creator). Some of the main discussion points are listed below:

• Yogesh kickstarted the panel by introducing Cybersecurity, the types of cybersecurity domains that students can get into, and how it relates with Artificial Intelligence.
• To add-on, Vaishali introduced the audience to her career-journey as the sole woman on her team when she started a career in Cybersecurity Domain, which motivated a lot of girls.
• Both panelists then reflected on different use-case applications of Cybersecurity and cyberattacks that they have been working on from their past experiences.
• Both panelists also highlighted research areas in Cybersecurity along with learning resources that students can take advantage of to kick-start their journey in this domain.
• The panel discussion ended with an open-floor QA.

Speed Mentoring:
IEEE QT3 concluded with guidance from our invited panelists and volunteers who are currently working with renowned MNCs along with Speed Mentors for the Day—Priyanshu Kukkar (SAS R&D, Pune) & Lakshmi Deepak Choudari Guduru (Hiringhood, Hyderabad). The basic idea behind organizing speed mentoring was to have a direct interaction with the industrialists to learn more in a 1:1 mentoring setup.

Diverse Audience:
This edition was joined by 150 participants including 43 IEEE Members and 107 Non-IEEE Members. Panelists and participants ended up enrolling to become IEEE members post-event.

Are you interested in hosting the 2025 Editions?
If Yes, you can nominate yourself and learn more details about the event.

For any queries/clarifications, please feel free to connect with us at [email protected]

June 2024 Issue Now Available!
The June 2024 issue of IEEE Technology & Society Magazine is now available on Xplore. The breakdown of the issue (which you can download on the Table of Contents) appears below. A number of the contributions have been made Open Access and can readily be shared with colleagues who are not IEEE community members. Open Access works are labeled with an asterisk (*).

*Departments

• President’s Message, “Advancing Science and Technology Policy” (Luis Kun)
• From the Editor-in-Chief, “When Not to Use AI” (Ketra Schmitt)
• News, “Introducing the Editorial Board—Part II” (Ketra Schmitt, Diana M. Bowman, Safiya U. Noble, Stephen Cranefield, A. David Wunsch, and Peter Lewis)
• Interview, “DNA Retention, Human Rights, and the Landmark Decision That Underpinned the EU AI Act” (Katina Michael)

*Commentaries

• “Advancing Gender Equality Through Interdisciplinarity” (Lindsay Rogers)
• “Text Neck: Looking Down at Devices for Way Too Long” (Katina Michael)
• “Rainbow Mirrors: Technology and Our Collective Moral Imagination” (Matthew Mytka and Alja Isakovic)

Features

• “Cyberattacks on Energy Infrastructures as Modern War Weapons—Part I: Analysis and Motives” (Tawfiq M. Aljohani)
• “Cyberattacks on Energy Infrastructures as Modern War Weapons—Part II: Gaps, Standardization, and Mitigation” (Tawfiq M. Aljohani)
• “Rossum’s Universal Robots: A Technology Studies Perspective” (Cameron Shelley)
• “Closing the Socio–Technical Gap in AI: The Need for Measuring Practitioners’ Attitudes and Perceptions” (Malak Sadek, Rafael A. Calvo, and Céline Mougenot)
• *“COVID-19 and Other Emergencies as Determinants of Antitrafficking Efforts” (Jean-Pierre Gauci and Noemi Magugliani)

*Book Reviews (links to PDFs available from the main journal issue page on IEEE Xplore)

• Book Review, “Data Driven: Truckers, Technology, and the New Workplace Surveillance—Karen Levy” (David N Lucska)
• Book Review, “Charged: A History of Batteries and Lessons for a Clean Energy Future—James Morton Turner” (Eric P. Wenaas)
• Book Review, “The Autumn Ghost: How the Battle Against a Polio Epidemic Revolutionized Modern Medical Care—Hannah Wunsch” (Steve Rowley)
• Book Review, “A Book of Waves—Stefan Helmreich (Carl Wunsch)
• Book Review, “Covert Radio Agents, 1939–1945: Signal From Behind Enemy Lines—David Hebditch” (Eric P. Wenaas)
• Book Review, “Spectrum Auctions: Designing Markets to Benefit the Public, Industry and the Economy—Geoffrey Myers” (Anders Fredriksson)

Information About the Journal

IEEE TSM is SSIT’s award-winning flagship publication. It features peer-reviewed and general interest articles that explore and analyze the profound impacts of technology on our world.

Find out more about the publication’s scope, topics, and article submission guidelines here, and visit the IEEE TSM section of the SSIT website to read about current and past issues.

Information About the Journal

The IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society publishes four issues each year (March, June, September, and December); submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.

The editorial team seeks research papers on the interactions among technology, science, and society; on the impact of such interactions on individuals and society; and on the ethical, professional and social responsibility in the practice of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Find out more about the publication’s scope, topics, and article submission guidelines here, and be sure to visit the Transactions section of the SSIT website to read about current and past issues. 

For expressions of interest to serve on the editorial board as an ongoing reviewer or associate editor, or for other enquiries please email founding editor-in-chief [email protected].

Call for Special Issue Proposals

The Co-Editors-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society (IEEE TTS or Transactions) are calling for special issue proposals from interested members of the international community: informed academics, practitioners, government representatives, and third sector advocates and volunteers, inclusive of independent researchers. This call pertains to special issues that will be scheduled for publication in 2025-26. 

• The special issue proposals should be in line with IEEE TTS’ fields of interest and address an interdisciplinary space or theme with researchers who have strengths in two or more fields, and, more broadly, in technology and society.
• The special issues must address contemporary, real-world challenges of significance to individuals, communities, organizations, industries, and or society more broadly. The challenges or special issue themes proposed should transcend borders and demonstrate complexity, while relying on multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary approaches. 
• The focus of topics identified in the special issue proposals should deal with the prominent areas of consideration relevant to the identified special issue theme, and the call should be layered allowing for theoretical and methodological contributions, and diverse empirical analysis that is qualitative, quantitative, or experimental, with clearly identifiable objectives.

Please click here to view the full details and requirements, as published in IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society.

Starting this month and going forward, conference titles which currently have live CFPs are noted as such. We hope this additional information will be helpful to SSIT members looking to submit their work for consideration.

7 – 8 September 2024
Tunisia

IEEE YESIST 12 (Youth Endeavours for Social Innovation Using Sustainable Technologies) is an international talent show that was started with the goals of unifying social responsibility and ethics in young minds through activities and to encourage service-oriented engineering practice. The event offers a platform for the students and young professionals to showcase their fresh pristine ideas to find the key to humanitarian and social issues affecting directly the community around them.

The event seeks to encourage service-oriented engineering practice and inspire the next generation of engineers to embrace social responsibility and ethical practices. It's more than a showcase; it's a call to action, promoting a community of service-oriented engineering practitioners committed to making a real difference. 

The competition is held in two stages: a Preliminary Competition (in the pilot level) and a Final Competition. The preliminary competition is organized as satellite competitions in several Asian, African and European countries while the finals are held in a selected country. 

The ninth edition of the YESIST12 is scheduled to happen on the 7th and 8th of September 2024 in Tunisia. There are five competition tracks and one mentorship/training track. The target audience are from school children to senior technologists. IEEE YESIST12 has produced entrepreneurs and innovators who work on and work towards implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals.

18 - 20 September 2024

Puebla, Mexico

SSIT’s annual flagship conference, the 2024 International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) will take place from 18 - 20 September in Puebla, Mexico focused on the theme: The Social Implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The CFP is now live for the conference’s undergraduate Student Track, and all students interested in the social implications of technology are encouraged to submit an abstract proposing a presentation for the conference–the submission deadline is 16 August 2024.

Visit the Keynote page to find out about the stellar line-up of plenary speakers for this year’s ISTAS:

• 2024 IEEE President-Elect, Kathleen A. Kramer (PhD)
• 2024 IEEE President and CEO, Tom Coughlin (PhD)
• Distinguished Mechatronics Researcher and IEEE Ecuador Section executive committee member, Mariela Cerrada Lozada (PhD)

The conference seeks to foster multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and trans disciplinary interactions with cross-sector conversations about legal and economic issues of AI and challenges for policy makers. Examples of risks include inadvertent malicious use of AI, or security risks when, say, medical guidelines produced by these systems may contain false information and cause the death of a patient. Plagiarism may occur with the use of AI in education, industry or government. As Society becomes more dependent on the use of AI, new social challenges will arise when AI and automation eliminate manufacturing jobs, requiring re-education of the work force. AI offers new challenges in cybersecurity as well as new approaches for national and international security, AI ethics, ethics in autonomous weapons systems and the use of autonomous transportation vehicles.

Visit the conference website for the full list of topics of interest.

26 - 28 September 2024

Xanthi, Greece

CAFE 2024, the distinguished IEEE Conference on AgriFood Electronics, emerges as the epitome of innovation in electronics applied to the AgriFood value chain. At the heart of this conference lies a vision to harness cutting-edge electronics and sensor technology to revolutionize the entire food chain—from smart, precision agriculture to advanced processing and retail stages. This conference is not just about technological advancement; it's a platform where electronics meet ecology, enabling stakeholders across the food chain to engage in meaningful dialogue with nature.

By focusing on solutions that address Climate Change and optimize Natural Resource utilization, CAFE 2024 aims to empower farmers and industry players alike to foster a sustainable, environmentally conscious approach to food production and distribution. Join us in shaping a future where technology and sustainability converge to create a resilient and efficient AgriFood system.

The paper submission deadline has passed, but interested attendees can view registration details here. 

14 - 15 October 2024

Washington, D.C.

The 4th IEEE Digital Platforms and Societal Harms (2024 DPSH) will take place from 14-15 Oct. 2024 at American University, Washington DC, USA. This event focuses on Hate Speech, Extremism & Exploitation, and Misinformation & Disinformation, some of key contributors to societal harm that are amplified through digital platforms. The event will deliver insights from experts developing cutting-edge technical solutions, hear how governments and civil society are tackling these challenges, and learn what public policy experts recommend for the future. Participants will hear from experts, join Q&A sessions with the speakers, and participate in small group discussions on each topic.

Addressing the creation, propagation and engagement of harmful digital information is a complex problem that requires broad collaboration among various stakeholders, including technologists, law and policy makers, non-profit organizations, private sectors, and end users. There is an emerging need for these stakeholders and researchers of multiple disciplines (e.g., computing, communication, journalism, psychology, law, public policy, etc.) to have a joint forum to understand the challenges, exchange ideas, and explore possible solutions to today’s information warfare. Learn more here.

23 - 26 October 2024

Villanova University (Pennsylvania, USA)

The 14th IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (IEEE GHTC 2024) is a flagship international conference sharing practical, technology-enabled solutions that address the needs of underserved communities in resource-constrained environments around the world. Submissions will discuss work done to alleviate poverty, provide education and connectivity, and create equitable access to water, energy, and secure food sources with minimal impact on the planet and environment.

The conference is structured to provide ample opportunity and environments for extensive interaction between attendees. A congruence between the presentation of mature research and reportage of ongoing projects provides an environment in which seasoned practitioners and students new to the field can ask questions and share lessons learned.

While GHTC 2024 will be primarily in-person, there will be a ’Virtual track’ for remote presentations. Registration information can be viewed here.

27 - 30 October 2024

Bangkok, Thailand

The Academy of Art, Science & Technology cordially invites you to the International Conference on Engineering, Economics, Management and Applied Sciences (ICE2MAS-24) hosted in Bankgkok from 27-30 October 2024. ICE2MAS-24, is an International convention for the advancement of academic research in Engineering & Technology, Business management and Social Sciences that invites academicians, independent scholars and researchers from around the world to meet and exchange the latest ideas, frontiers, innovations, advancements and developments in contemporary disciplines.

AAST invites papers for ICE2MAS-24 for following broad areas

• Engineering and Technology
• Business and Economics
• Social Science & Humanities
• Education
• Physical life and Health Science

Selected papers of ICE2MAS-2024 will be published in the SCOPUS INDEXED journals based on quality, suitability, similarity index and recommendations of conference committee and subject to journal editorial and review policies. Participants will also be offered a complementary excursion tour to Safari World and Bangkok City, on 28-29 October 2024 respectively. 

Abstract submissions will be accepted until 29 September 2024. For more details kindly visit this website or email the organizing committee at [email protected].

15 - 16 November 2024

Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru

The Returning Mothers Conference is focused on rediscovering the lost talent pool seeks to support and encourage people who are considering making a career change and career escalation. The conference helps those who want to resume their professional lives through a conference that focuses on entrepreneurial training and business establishment support.

Additionally, it provides an engaging platform to encourage collaboration, communication, and teamwork for the empowerment, and growth of creative minds among the chosen group. It will be an opportunity for the gathering to explore the creative side and find an opportunity to start their own venture.

The conference theme for 2024 is “Promoting Innovation and nurturing future workforce through social inclusion,” and the program will include separate tracks focused on “Health,” “Wealth,” and “Wellness.” Visit the conference website for more details.

19 - 21 December 2024

New Delhi, India

BuildSEC'24 is focused on the solutions for safeguarding our increasingly digital society. This conference goes beyond technical discussions, offering a unique platform to collectively address the most critical cybersecurity and privacy challenges we face today. The conference will explore how cutting-edge technologies and user studies can be leveraged to protect citizens in cyberspace. By bringing together academics, industry leaders, and government officials, we foster collaborative solutions that address real-world concerns. The research tracks delve into advanced security methods, risk analysis, and the impact of technology choices, ultimately aiming to make the digital world safer for everyone.

IEEE BuildSEC'24 will have seven different tracks and accepts papers in a variety of submission formats. Further details can be viewed on the website’s Call for Papers page.

The paper submission deadline has been extended until 9 August 2024. All papers submitted for review must follow the standard IEEE two-column conference format. Accepted papers will be published in the BuildSEC proceedings and IEEE Xplore. Papers must be submitted through Easychair.

Paper Submission Link: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=buildsec2024

11 - 13 June 2025

Boston, USA

The IEEE Life Members Conference 2025 invites submissions of original research papers, reviews, and case studies from IEEE Members and other professionals for its Technical Program. The conference technical program will promote collaboration and share advancements in technology products, services and processes developed for or directed at an aging population.

The conference has three primary focus areas:

1. Technology – explore selected emerging technologies that impact seniors. 

• Technologies of the Future and the Next Chapter
• Aging Society and Technology Progress

2. Applications – discuss applications of technology for aging populations. 

• Financial and Investment Strategies
• Smart Systems, Infrastructure, Equipment and Living

3. Contributions – sharing resources with future leaders

• Mentors and Influencers in the Modern Society
• Professional Development, Sharing and STEM Education

The submission deadline for 5-page digests is 1 December 2024. Authors who have completed their presentation requirements will have their papers submitted to IEEE Xplore for publication. Learn more details about the conference theme and submission guidelines in the conference’s Call For Papers.

25 - 28 May 2025
London, UK

The IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS) is the flagship conference of the IEEE Circuits and Systems (CAS) Society and the world’s premiere forum for researchers in the active fields of theory, design and implementation of circuits and systems. This is accomplished through technical conference sessions, poster sessions, live demonstration sessions, and publication of conference papers. ISCAS 2025 will be driven by the theme “Technology Disruption and Society” aiming to emphasize the potential of the CAS Society to find innovative solutions to challenges facing society today. 

Unless conditions change substantially over the coming year, ISCAS 2025 will be an in-person event and authors are expected to be onsite to present their papers. 

Selected papers will be invited for possible publication either in the IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems – Part I, in the IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems – Part II, or in the IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems.

The Call For Papers for ISCAS 2025 is live and regular paper submissions will be accepted until 14 October 2024. 

IEEE SSIT organizes, co-organizes, and sponsors conferences focused on technology, society and ethics. IEEE SSIT is seeking expressions of interest from SSIT members interested in hosting the following conferences around the world.

IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS)

IEEE ISTAS is the annual flagship event of the IEEE Society on the Social Implications of Technology (SSIT). It is organized each year by SSIT in cooperation with SSIT Chapters and IEEE Sections. IEEE ISTAS brings together a broad range of disciplines (e.g., natural and social sciences, policy, ethics and education) to share research and experiences about the implications of technology adoption, adaptation and evolution. 

SSIT is looking toward future ISTAS two to four years from now to allow planning and continuity between annual events. We are issuing a call for proposals for volunteers as organizers of ISTAS in 2025, and beyond. 

IEEE Conference on Norbert Wiener in the 21st Century (21CW)

The 21CW conference series addresses the technical, social and personal legacy of the founder of cybernetics, control theory, and information ethics, Norbert Wiener. It has been held in Boston (2014), Melbourne (2016), and as a virtual event hosted from Chennai, India (2021), with satellite activities in India 2014, 2016, 2018. 

Expressions of interest are welcome for 2027.

If you are interested in hosting one of these events, please contact SSIT Conferences Chair, Jay Pearlman ([email protected]) to request SSIT’s Call for Proposals Guide, which provides:

• Guidance for conference organization and operations
• An overview of expectations for proposal content
• Background on ISTAS conference (including a list of recent events)
• A proposal template

Thank you to the SSIT Members and Chapters who have responded to date to the invitation to contribute content for publication on the SSIT website. We look forward to receiving regular contributions. Please send articles, event notifications and other relevant content including pictures to Miriam Cunningham, SSIT Web Committee Chair.

SSIT Chapters, Distinguished Lecturers and SSIT supported Events are invited to provide Miriam Cunningham with recordings of Guest Lectures and other relevant content linked with SSIT’s Technical areas and field of interest for publication in the SSIT Society Channel on IEEE.tv. Please send a link by email to download the .mp4 file, include SSIT branding in the recording, and ensure that you have written permission from the speaker to publish it.

IEEE SSIT has three major awards, all of which are open for nomination at this time. 

The Carl Barus Award for Outstanding Service in the Public Interest is open to anyone, or group, who performs an important public service, possibly at the risk of career or reputation. This includes anyone, whether or not in the engineering profession, or a member of IEEE. Further information on recipients can be found here. 

The Brian M. O’Connell SSIT Distinguished Service Award is for SSIT volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding service for the benefit of SSIT. More information on this award can be found here. 

The SSIT Norbert Wiener Award for Social and Professional Responsibility is given to an individual or team for exceptional contribution, or outstanding career contribution in the field of the social implications of technology. Further information can be found here. 

To nominate an individual, submit information to Bob Dent ([email protected]). Include the individual’s contact information – name, address, phone, email, professional history (year, organization and position), and the proposed citation in 25 words or less. The nominator must also submit their own contact information.