March 2022

We’ve received encouraging feedback so far, and are looking forward to fostering HAC’s relationship with SPS this year. On another IEEE Society-related note, the inaugural IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) and IEEE HAC joint call for proposals that concluded on 28 February received fourteen proposals from five countries. Reviewers are currently evaluating the proposals and funding decisions will be made in the coming month or so. This is the first call for proposals of the year, and HAC is thrilled to see the active participation from AP-S Chapters. This demonstrates that IEEE Societies continue to recognize the value that HAC can offer their members.

HAC also participated in the IEEE Eta-Kappa-Nu (HKN) Pathways to Industry event with a virtual booth and video to outline how IEEE-HKN members can participate in HAC activities at a grassroots level to address needs in their local communities. Thanks to IEEE-HKN for the invitation!

We also announced the 2021 SIGHT Group of the Year award recipient this month. On behalf of the entire HAC, congratulations! (You’ll have to read Lwanga’s note to see which Group received the Award!) This is a small but important way to recognize the efforts of SIGHT Groups and share them with the global HAC/SIGHT community. This year, for the first time as part of the SIGHT Day celebrations, we will be hosting an Awards ceremony with both of the 2021 recipients. I certainly hope you will join that session and the other activities in the exciting lineup as well - such as the Opening Session I will be hosting with 2022 IEEE President Dr. Ray Liu.

As a closing note, I encourage all who have not yet done so to consider submitting a proposal to the IEEE HAC/SIGHT call for proposals, open just several more days through 4 April. We are already seeing interest with 60 proposals having been drafted so far. Given that this is the first call for proposals of the year, it is an excellent time to apply for HAC/SIGHT project funding. Many resources are available on the HAC website if you are writing a proposal for the first time and need guidance.

Next month, I look forward to sharing more with you about the IEEE SIGHT Day celebrations and the first IEEE HAC quarterly report of the year.

Stay safe and healthy,
Sampathkumar Veeraraghavan
2021 - 2022 IEEE HAC Chair

I’ll start this month with my profound congratulations to the IEEE CEC (Chengannur College of Engineering) SIGHT Group for being chosen as the recipient of the 2021 IEEE SIGHT Group of the Year Award! I also recognize the IEEE NJ Coast Section SIGHT Group for being named as an Honorable Mention for the Award! I wish both of them the best of success in their upcoming endeavors. More information on these Groups can be found in a section below and on the SIGHT blog.

I’d also like to remind readers that the third annual IEEE SIGHT Day will be held in just under one month on 28 April. SIGHT Day is held to foster a spirit of community for the global SIGHT network, increase awareness of IEEE SIGHT within IEEE, promote the opportunity to support SIGHT financially, and celebrate the impact SIGHT volunteers and Groups are making. Activities will be planned from 25 - 29 April, so there will be multiple opportunities to take part. I hope to meet and engage with many of you during the sessions planned.

Finally, for those interested in submitting a proposal to the IEEE HAC/SIGHT call for proposals, please be sure to do so before the deadline of 4 April 2022. Seeing the significant response from IEEE members and the large number of proposals is very heartening, and we look forward to supporting your technological solutions and work in your communities as much as we can.

Yours sincerely,
Lwanga Herbert
2021 - 2022 IEEE SIGHT Chair

FEATURED STORIES

2022 IEEE SIGHT Day Celebration

In 2011, the SIGHT program was conceptualized and inaugurated in Kerala, India. Today, we have many reasons to celebrate the outstanding work accomplished by SIGHT volunteers. IEEE SIGHT Day will be held on 28 April to foster a spirit of community for the global SIGHT network, increase awareness of IEEE SIGHT within IEEE, promote the opportunity to support SIGHT financially, and celebrate the impact SIGHT volunteers and groups are making.

Join us for the Opening Session with 2022 IEEE President Dr. Ray Liu, the first-ever SIGHT Awards ceremony, SIGHT Group Socials organized for your Region, sessions from other IEEE programs, the SIGHT Day trivia challenge, or a chance to Chat with the HAC/SIGHT Chairs. More events are currently being planned and will be added to the SIGHT website soon.

We also encourage SIGHT Groups to plan and host their own activities to celebrate SIGHT Day. Need an idea for an event to organize? A list of suggestions is available on the SIGHT website. Or, share your SIGHT Story with the global community. Remember, SIGHT Groups should report their activities using the vTools events platform so SIGHT leadership can better understand the reach of this year’s events.

Several Days Remaining - IEEE HAC/SIGHT Call for Proposals!

There are just a few days left before the conclusion of the IEEE HAC/SIGHT call for proposals to support IEEE member grassroots projects that utilize technology to address pressing needs of the members’ local communities. Applications may be submitted until 4 April. All active IEEE members may apply; the primary applicant for any proposal should have an IEEE member grade or higher. Please visit the HAC website for more details.

For members who may not have time or the team to implement a project directly, they can get involved by applying to become a proposal reviewer! Those interested in participating should complete this questionnaire to apply.

IEEE Education Week

IEEE Education Week from 4 - 8 April is a weeklong celebration of educational opportunities provided by the world’s largest technical professional association and its organizational units, societies and councils. IEEE offers pre-university STEM, university, and continuing professional education resources for engineers and technical professionals all over the globe! From local and regional activities, to webinars and online courses, to scholarships and events, and so much more, there are numerous educational resources available. We invite you to discover the many educational opportunities and resources available.

HAC/SIGHT PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

IEEE Solar-powered Blood Bank for Unical Medical Centre

Members from the IEEE Nigeria Section and Nigeria Section SIGHT Group partnered with the Medical Centre of the University of Calabar to set up a solar-powered blood bank to ensure the availability of blood supply and subsidize the cost of treatment for local community members. To accomplish this project, the team built a solar energy system with solar panels, an inverter, and batteries to ensure an uninterrupted, sustainable energy source. Additionally, a cascaded blood bank storage system will be developed and deployed as part of the project. The system will be sustained by token support from the host community and medical centre management.

SIGHT GROUP CORNER

Congratulations to the 2021 IEEE SIGHT Group of the Year

It is our pleasure to announce that the IEEE CEC (IEEE Student Branch, College of Engineering Chengannur) SIGHT Group has been chosen as the recipient of the 2021 IEEE SIGHT Group of the Year Award! The Group was selected to receive this award for its commitment to impacting its local underserved community through the development or deployment of technology. The CEC SIGHT Group has contributed to the SIGHT program by strengthening the SIGHT network, finding sustainable technological (economic, environmental, social) solutions to local challenges, involving the beneficiary population in the planning and implementation of a project, and actively striving to further the IEEE SIGHT mission.

An honorable mention for the Award has been given to the IEEE NJ-Coast Section SIGHT Group for their meaningful contributions to SIGHT in 2021. You can read more about the amazing work of both Groups on the SIGHT blog. Congratulations to our winner and honorable mention, and to all the SIGHT Groups who continue furthering the SIGHT mission!

GET INVOLVED WITH IEEE HAC/SIGHT

Important Dates & Upcoming Virtual Events

• 4 April - Deadline for the IEEE HAC/SIGHT call for proposals
  
• 4 - 8 April - IEEE Education Week
  
• 28 April - IEEE SIGHT Day
  
• 29 April - IEEE SIGHT Awards Ceremony

Visit the HAC/SIGHT calendar for more humanitarian technology events and activities (all virtual for now).

Support IEEE SIGHT

Your donation of any amount to the IEEE SIGHT fund of the IEEE Foundation will help form the IEEE sustainable development leaders of the future and incubate projects that support IEEE’s mission of advancing technology for the benefit of humanity in communities around the globe.

HAC/SIGHT Education Resources

See the free HAC/SIGHT resources on the IEEE Learning Network (ILN) and SIGHT website to equip participants with a basic understanding of humanitarian technology and sustainable development topics.