Welcome to 2024! In this new year, we will strive to make the MTT-S an even more inclusive community. We have launched several new initiatives aimed at membership development, social media presence, new conferences, and educational activities.
Looking back at the past year, I would like to extend my gratitude and heartfelt congratulations to our 2023 MTT-S President, Prof. Nuno Borges Carvalho, for his leadership and dedication, which steered the MTT-S toward significant achievements across various domains, with the Society membership increased to unprecedented numbers, a very successful IMS 2023 in San Diego, and new initiatives for improving diversity and inclusion as well as industry engagement.
In 2024, we are committed to making a substantial effort to expand MTT-S membership and to increase the value it offers to our community. We will organize mentoring sessions for students and young professionals, to empower the younger generations of members to actively participate in the Society, while providing guidance and recommendations for their professional development. We also established a new subcommittee, to be focused on encouraging and supporting the formation of new student chapters worldwide. Expanding our membership in Africa is another priority of 2024: a team of MTT-S AdCom members will visit several African countries, with the aim to foster the development of local activities in our field of interest and to facilitate the creation of new chapters. Moreover, following the inaugural International Microwave and Antennas Symposium (IMAS 2023) in Egypt, we are excited to announce the second edition of IMAS conference to be held in Morocco. Furthermore, to connect with a broader audience, we will undertake an extensive action to boost the MTT-S’s social media presence, especially in LinkedIn, to extend outreach efforts to individuals who might otherwise miss out on valuable information about the MTT-S.
Concerning conferences and publications, in 2024 we will continue working to improve our portfolio, which currently features more than 30 conferences per year and 9 journals. The MTT-S flagship conference, IMS 2024, will return to Washington, DC after many years, and we eagerly anticipate an unforgettable experience for all attendees. We are also excited to introduce a new online conference, the World Microwave Congress (WMC 2024), which will be a fully virtual event that brings together speakers from industry, academia, and government agencies to discuss technology roadmap, business opportunities, and recent advances.
In the area of education, the MTT-S aims to provide educational content for all members, ranging from introductory topics for undergraduate students to application-oriented materials for practitioners and industry professionals. We will work to further enhance the Distinguished Microwave Instructor (DMI) program, designed to engage undergraduate students, the Distinguished Microwave Lecturer (DML) program, with internationally renowned experts and technical leaders delivering their lectures at the local chapters, and the monthly webinar series, which covers a wide range of topics, including device modeling, circuit design, 5G systems and biosensors, and many more.
In conclusion, we look forward to spending 2024 making MTT-S an even more dynamic, enriching, and welcoming community for all. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions regarding the MTT-S, or should you wish to become involved as a volunteer in our Society.
Maurizio Bozzi
2024 IEEE MTT-S President