IEEE PES UK & Ireland e-Newsletter Aug 2025
Dear PES Member,
Welcome to your August 2025 e-Newsletter.
Upcoming Events
IEEE EMC Society Distinguished Webinar | Reverberation Chambers: Introduction, Basic Theory, Uses and Application, 27th August 2025
Abstract:
Reverberation chambers (RC) are laboratory-controlled electromagnetic environments which can generate statistically uniform fields with known and predictable probability distributions. They are widely used for different electromagnetic compatibility measurements, antenna efficiency estimation, over-the-air tests for wireless systems, and electrical characterization of materials, among other uses and applications.
· What are the basic principles of operation of RCs?
· How can we model and predict the distribution of the fields in a RC?
This presentation will provide some basic though fundamental answers to these questions and, hopefully, also trigger a renewed interest for these intriguing and useful chambers.
About the Speaker:
Ramiro Serra received an MSc in electronic engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2000, a postgraduate degree specialising in technological applications of nuclear energy from Instituto Balseiro, Bariloche, Argentina in 2004 and a PhD degree in electronics and communications engineering from Politecnico di Torino, Italy in 2009.
He is currently an Associate Professor within the EMC Laboratory at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Netherlands and the Program Director of the electrical engineering department at TU/e.
Prof Serra is a member and the vice-chair of the international steering committee of EMC Europe and a member of the international TPC of EMC Compo. He is the chairman of URSI Commission E for the Netherlands and secretary of URSI National Committee of the Netherlands. He is also co-convener of the SC 77B/CISPR-A joint working group for the standard IEC 61000-4-21 on reverberation chambers.
More info: Here
Past Events
IEEE UK and Ireland SSIT Webinar | AI Ethics: from Principles to Practice by Dr Francesca Rossi, IBM: 10th July 2025
This guest lecture is organised by IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT), with UK and Ireland SSIT Chapter, Northern Virginia/Baltimore/Washington SSIT Chapter and North Jersey Section SSIT Chapter as co-hosts.
Key Objectives of the Theme:
1. AI is going to bring huge benefits in terms of scientific progress, human wellbeing, economic value, and the possibility of finding solutions to major social and environmental problems. Supported by AI, we will be able to make more grounded decisions and to focus on the main values and goals of a decision process rather than on routine and repetitive tasks. However, such a powerful technology also raises some concerns, related for example to the black-box nature of some AI approaches, the possible discriminatory decisions that AI algorithms may recommend, and the accountability and responsibility when an AI system is involved in an undesirable outcome. Also, since many successful AI techniques rely on huge amounts of data, it is important to know how data are handled by AI systems and by those who produce them.
2. As AI’s capabilities evolve, from machine learning to generative AI to agentic AI, these concerns are evolving as well, and are among the obstacles that hold AI back or that cause worry for current AI users, adopters, and policy makers. Without adequate and convincing answers to these questions, many will not trust AI, and therefore will not fully adopt it nor get its positive impact.
3. In this talk Francesca will present the main issues around AI ethics, showing how they have evolved over time, and some of the proposed technical and non-technical solutions, as well as practical actions and regulations being defined for AI development, deployment, and use. Francesca will also describe how IBM has been addressing these issues with a company-wide multi-stakeholder and risk-based approach.
News is coming soon on official socia media: IEEE PES.
IEEE PES UK and Ireland Chapter Distinguished Lecture Webinar | AI-Ready Data Centers and their Impact on the Electrical Grid: 24th July 2025
We are delighted to invite the IEEE PES President-Elect 2025 candidate, Prof Edvina Uzunovic from Worcester Polytechnic Institute to give an online technical talk, on “AI-Ready Data Centers and their impact on the electrical grid” from 16:00-17:00 BST on 24th July.
Key Objectives of the Theme:
The electric power industry is a regulated and highly capital-intensive sector. To provide economically efficient energy services, utilities design grids that are just large enough to meet the needs of homes and businesses. However, the rapid expansion of AI-ready data centers – purposely built to support intensive artificial intelligence workloads – is driving a projected tenfold increase in electricity demand by the end of the decade.
This presentation will examine the challenges posed by this unprecedented load growth and highlight how the industry is preparing to manage its impact, while continuing to deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to power the global economy.
News is coming soon on official socia media: IEEE PES.
IEEE EMC Society Distinguished Webinar | A Practical Simulation Approach for RF De-sense Mitigation of Consumer Electronics: 30th July 2025
This webinar first provides an overview of the finite element method (FEM) used to obtain the transfer function of all signal sources through complex paths including traces, connector pins, vias, etc. to the antenna. This accounts for all unwanted radiating and conducting interference sources. Next, spectral characteristics of the transient signals are defined in one of two ways: either through analytical estimates of spectral profile or through a Fourier transform of time-domain voltage signals. Once all spectra are obtained, along with the scattering matrix from FEM solution, a complete model of the performance can be made from an interference perspective. Examples of mitigation through isolation and spectral management are discussed.
Key Objectives of the Theme:
In this age of ubiquitous sensing and data sharing, small size and higher functionality are often at odds leading to uncertainty and risk in product performance. As product designers levy increasingly demanding requirements, such as higher data rates and greater communication range, device footprint shrinks. Risk from interference of co-located digital and radio frequency (RF) systems are at the forefront of product development schedule and cost assessment. While simulation is prevalent in electronics design from chips and packaging to PCBs and antennas, the complexity of models can be enormous. Furthermore, the expectations of obtaining a useful “digital twin” are often lofty and impractical. Still, when simulation is applied properly it delivers enormous insight, exposing risk and pointing the way to mitigation.
By applying the appropriate mix of physics-based and behavioural techniques, tractable and useful simulations can guide responsible design. Through the combination of state-of-the-art field solver techniques and system level behaviour models a workflow is demonstrated to achieve efficient characterization of complex electronic systems with a variety of mixed signal sources.
News is coming soon on official socia media: IEEE PES.
Announcements
The IEEE PES UK&I Chapter won the IEEE PES Outstanding Award 2023!
We are delighted to announce that the IEEE UK and Ireland Power and Energy Society Chapter was recognised as the winner of the IEEE PES Outstanding Chapter Award 2023 for the Large Chapter Category!
This recognition implies that our Chapter will receive $1000 and a custom-prepared IEEE PES Outstanding Chapter Award banner. The Chapter Chair, Chapter Vice Chair, Chapter Secretary, Chapter Treasurer, Chapter Regional Representative will also receive plaques in recognition of their outstanding leadership.
The IEEE PES Outstanding Chapter Award recognises a PES Chapter for achieving excellence in providing its members with the best overall programs and activities. Each year the Power & Energy Society Outstanding Chapter Award is given to the Chapter that is judged to provide the most outstanding overall contribution and service to its members in the following categories: Technical, Educational and Student Activities; Societal Activities; Affinity Groups (WIE, WiP, YP), Membership Advancement, PES Conferences, Fellow Nominations and Awards, Chapter Operations, Communications Channels and; Enlistment of New PES Members among others.
Many thanks to all committee members and volunteers, especially to current and past Chairs who have made this recognition possible through their leadership!
More details about the award: here.
The official announcement: here and here.
Senior Member Grade Elevation
A Senior Member grade, in addition to professional recognition of your peers for technical and professional excellence, offers the following benefits
1. Eligibility to hold executive IEEE volunteer positions.
2. Letter of recommendation sent to your employer upon request on the achievement of the Senior Member grade and receive an engraved Senior Member plaque, etc.
3. Ability to refer other candidates for Senior Member upgrade.
4. Opportunity to mentor young engineers in fulfilling their career goals.
Why wait? Apply for Senior Member grade elevation online.
Additional information on Senior Member grade and eligibility is available here.
Did you know that the PES Chapter Committee can help you with identifying suitable references towards your Senior Member grade elevation application? Please get in touch with the PES Chapter Committee if you need help with this aspect.
Call for Distinguished Lecturers
Due to the past pandemic situation, the UK & Ireland PES Chapter is mainly organising virtual events. In this order, the chapter is calling for Distinguished Lecturers and general PES members (with proven experience giving lectures) keen on taking part of our series of webinars. If you are interested, please send the talk abstract and bio to the PES Chapter Secretary Lee Crudgington (l.j.c@ieee.org).
Renew Your PES Membership Today!
Renew your PES memberships to continue developing your career, accessing essential networking opportunities, and receiving other exclusive IEEE / PES benefits, including discounted memberships and much more.
>>> Follow us on our social media!
Stay tuned with our latest events, business, and career news!
You can join us in our chapter's LinkedIn discussions and follow us on Twitter @IEEE_PES_UKRI and our YouTube channel.
>>> Get Involved!
We continually bring exciting events for our members. If you have ideas or would like to organise events and need support, please do not hesitate to contact us—we are only an email away.
We hope you will have a great month ahead. Thanks for your time!
Regards,
IEEE PES UK&I Chapter Committee
