EPICS in IEEE has facilitated more than 255 projects in over 39 countries, empowered over 12,000 students and 1,600 volunteers, and has impacted more than 1,600,000 people. I hope that EPICS in IEEE continues to contribute to IEEE and local communities for years to come. If you are interested in being a part of their work, consider submitting a proposal by 1 May. 

IEEE HT is also partnering with several IEEE Societies this year: the Antennas and Propagation Society, Communications Society, Electron Devices Society, and Industry Application Societies. These collaborations will result in new funding opportunities for IEEE members to engage with humanitarian technology programs, and we encourage you to watch for details coming soon. 

At its core, IEEE’s work is for the benefit of humanity. IEEE HT strives to assist all humanitarian efforts within IEEE and raise awareness on their impact. I encourage you to consider joining us in making the world a better place.

Sincere regards,
Grayson Randall

EPICS in IEEE is calling for Service Learning Proposals! Students can collaborate with IEEE members and non-profit partners to address local technological needs.  All projects must work with a non-profit community partner and have IEEE members involved. Selected projects can receive up to US$10,000, mentorship, and resources.

Submit by 1 May 2025.

Check out the EPICS in the IEEE Annual Report to learn more about the highlights of the program in 2024. It was a stand-out year for the program distributing US$226K to 39 teams around the world. Thank you to all of the partners, donors, participants and volunteers who helped make the program’s 15th year so incredible!

There are many reasons to celebrate the outstanding work accomplished by SIGHT volunteers each year. IEEE SIGHT Day on 28 April is a time to foster a spirit of community for the global SIGHT network, increase awareness of IEEE SIGHT within IEEE, and celebrate the impact SIGHT volunteers and Groups are making. Attend the SIGHT Awards Ceremony to hear from the three 2024 SIGHT Award recipients about their contributions and activities in 2024. 

SIGHT Groups are encouraged to organize and host their own activities to celebrate with their members, those from their Student Branch or Section, or other SIGHT Groups around the world. Groups may write to [email protected] to request a guest speaker or to share an invitation with a larger audience.

The Tech4Good call for proposals received nearly 330 submissions this year! Even though the deadline for submitting a proposal has passed, you can still get involved with the program by reviewing first round submissions to determine if they are strong candidates for funding. Those interested can watch or read the reviewer training and then complete the 2025 HTB Subcommittee Member Application to sign up. Reviewers must be IEEE members and may not be undergraduate students. 

Make an impact by supporting IEEE MOVE! MOVE recently deployed two vehicles and multiple volunteers to the flood areas in Kentucky, supporting American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. A MOVE vehicle also visited the Atlanta Science Festival, showcasing to students how engineering and technology skills create real-world solutions to critical challenges. You can be a part of the important work of the MOVE program today by becoming a volunteer.

Calling all innovators to enter the 2025 IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Challenge! Start-ups, grassroots organizations, universities, and others working toward digital inclusion in original ways are encouraged to participate. Help IEEE contribute to worldwide digital inclusion by submitting a novel, early-stage project or concept that offers unique ways to increase internet access and usage for the 2.9 billion unconnected people around the world. Submit your 500 word abstract by 16 May 2025.

Submit a Paper or Register to Attend a Humanitarian Technology Conference

• The 2025 IEEE International Humanitarian Technology Conference (IHTC) is an interdisciplinary conference series organized by IEEE Region 7, Region 8, and Region 9. IHTC 2025 will be hosted at the University of Alberta, Canada from 13 - 15 August. 
  
  
• IEEE R10 Humanitarian Technology Conference (HTC2025) will be held at Chiba University of Commerce, Japan, from 29 September to 01 October. With the theme “Beyond SDGs – A New Humanitarian Era with Intelligent Partners,” the conference aims to underscore society’s rising expectations for humanitarian technologies to deliver practical, enduring solutions. 
  
  
• The 15th IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC 2025) is a flagship, international conference sharing effective approaches, best practices, and practical and/or scholarly technology-enabled interventions that address the needs of underserved and marginalized communities around the world. This year GHTC 2025 will highlight and explore “Technologies in Context” as its annual theme. The conference will be hosted at the Colorado School of Mines, USA from 22 - 25 October.

Important Dates & Upcoming Events

• 25 April - Paper submission deadline to the R10 HTC2025
• 28 April - IEEE SIGHT Day & SIGHT Awards Ceremony
• 2 May - Paper submission deadline for the IEEE International Humanitarian Technology Conference (IHTC)
• 16 May - Paper submission deadline for the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference
• 13 - 15 August - IEEE IHTC 2025 (University of Alberta) 
• 29 Sept - 01 Oct - IEEE R10 HTC2025
• 22 - 25 October - IEEE GHTC 2025

Visit the HTB/SIGHT calendar for more humanitarian technology events and activities.