The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) is a non-profit organization, and is the world's leading professional association for the expansion of technology.
IEEE's Constitution deems the purposes of the organization as "scientific and educational, directed toward the advancement of the theory and practice of electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering, as well as computer science, the allied branches of engineering and the related arts and sciences."
In implementing these goals, the IEEE serves as a major publisher of scientific journals and a conference organizer.
It is also a leading innovator of industrial standards in a broad range of disciplines, including electric power and energy, biomedical technology and healthcare, information technology, information assurance, telecommunications, consumer electronics, transportation, aerospace, and nanotechnology.
IEEE develops and participates in educational activities such as accreditation of electrical engineering programs in institutes of higher learning. The IEEE also serves student members in colleges and universities around the world.
Prospective members and organizations purchase IEEE products and participate in conferences or other IEEE programs.
Membership
There are more than 365,000 IEEE members in over 150 countries worldwide. IEEE members are engineers, scientists and allied professionals whose technical interests are entrenched in electrical and computer sciences, engineering and related disciplines. The highest grade of membership - IEEE fellow - is attained through nomination by peers and approval by the IEEE Board of Directors for distinction in the profession.
Publications
The IEEE publishes nearly a third of the world's technical literature in electrical engineering, computer science and electronics. This includes about 130 journals, transactions and magazines and over 400 conference proceedings published each year. In cooperation with John Wiley and Sons, Inc., the IEEE also produces technical books, monographs, guides and textbooks. IEEE journals are consistently among the most highly alluded to in electrical and electronics engineering, telecommunications and other technical fields.
Digital Library
All IEEE content since 1988 plus select content dating back to 1950 is available in digital format. The IEEE Xplore® digital library contains more than 1.2 million documents from IEEE and IEEE journals, transactions, magazines, letters, conference proceedings and active IEEE standards.
Conferences & Meetings
Each year, over 100,000 technical professionals attend the more than 300 conferences sponsored or cosponsored by the IEEE. From microelectronics and microwaves to sensors and security, IEEE conferences cover relevant topics that showcase the depth and breadth of members' technical fields.
Standards
The IEEE is a leading developer of international standards that underpin many of today's telecommunications, information technology and power generation products and services. Often the central source for standardization in a broad range of emerging technologies, the IEEE Standards Association has a portfolio of some 900 active standards and more than 400 standards in development. This includes the prominent IEEE 802® standards for wireless networking.
Educational Offerings
By awarding continuing education units and professional development hours, the IEEE helps its members meet their continuing education requirements, and develops products and services in support of these efforts. The IEEE is an authorized provider of continuing education units through the International Association of Continuing Education and Training. At the pre-college level, the IEEE works with industry, universities and government to raise students' literacy in science, math, engineering and technology.
Grants
Through the IEEE Foundation General Fund and over 80 smaller special-purpose funds, the IEEE Foundation provides approximately US$2 million in philanthropic support each year to IEEE-related programs worldwide.
This support helps:
- Develop educational and public-information programs.
- Sustain historical research services.
- Subsidize workshops that facilitate the exchange of electronic information.
- Propel technological innovation.
- Increase public awareness about the vast impact of engineering on society.
Awards
Accomplishments in IEEE technical fields are recognized with annual awards for outstanding contributions to technology, society and the engineering profession. The IEEE Medal of Honour, the IEEE's highest award, recognizes an individual for an exceptional contribution or extraordinary career in the IEEE fields of interest. Past recipients have included such visionaries as:
Guglielmo Marconi in 1920- for radio telegraphy.
William Shockley in 1980- for junction, analog and junction field-effect transistors.
Andrew S. Grove in 2000- for pioneering research in metal oxide semiconductor devices and technology.
