Another exciting event in April is IEEE SIGHT Day. As the founding Chair of SIGHT Day, it’s exciting to see this latest iteration and learn of the activities SIGHT Groups are holding. If you weren’t able to attend the Chat with the Chair session I moderated yesterday, visit the SIGHT website to check out the recording.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal to one of the HTB calls for proposals that closed in April. I’m thrilled with the response to the collaborative call that HTB held with the IEEE Communications Society with 24 submissions made from 11 countries. I’ll be working this year to expand this partnership model to other IEEE Societies, and will explore opportunities with IEEE Region Directors as well. Together we will align on joint initiatives that I’m confident will inspire, empower, and engage members across the world.
I’d like to touch on the amazing response to the HTB/SIGHT call for proposals - 177 submissions is an all-time record! - and mention that my fellow HTB Board member Dr. Katherine August and I will identify candidates for the HTB/SIGHT Taenzer program. These are projects that would focus on technical solutions for persons with disabilities or community organizations that primarily serve persons with disabilities. We will also develop a webinar series to highlight relevant topics aligning with the Taenzer program this summer, so stay tuned.
Coming up in May, I will be attending the 8th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals convened by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. This will be an excellent opportunity to explore partnership possibilities with other global organizations in the humanitarian technology and sustainable development space. Then I will be joining the rest of the HTB members in Boston for our in-person meeting.
As the year continues, I look forward to your continued participation in HTB partnership offerings and commit to providing ways for all IEEE members to engage in humanitarian technology activities at IEEE.