Welcome to Philadelphia, home of the 2003 International Microwave Symposium! The fifth-largest city in the United States and the second largest on the East Coast, Philadelphia (known from June 8-13, 2003 as Microwave Metropolis) is one of the world's most dynamic destinations. In Philadelphia, you will be at the crossroads of big city excitement and hometown hospitality where the promise of the future meets old world charm. Most famous as the birthplace of American independence and home of the Liberty Bell, Philadelphia offers a unique variety of attractions, culture, entertainment and activity that is sure to bring a smile to your face and the desire to return soon.


For this visit, your Philadelphia-based IMS2003 Steering Committee is very proud to present to you the fruits of our eight years of hard labor: Microwave Week 2003. This is the highlight event for our industry and profession, and all hands are onboard to deliver the newest research, the most startling breakthroughs, innovative product announcements, and fine social and guest programs intended to nurture networking while satisfying the need for experiencing new places.

It is very interesting for me personally to contrast the current IMS venue and program with that of the very first IMS I attended in Santa Monica, CA, in 1963. We held the IMS in a single hotel, without an exhibition, papers were presented on blackboards and 35 mm slide projectors... technologically rather primitive. However, the camaraderie, the involvement of the technical people with the industry, the boundless enthusiasm and excitement, the multiplicity of meetings demanding time and attention, the cutting-edge (for the time) presentations... nothing has changed in those areas at all.

I know that at that 1963 IMS, I learned some of the most significant lessons of my life. I'll just tell you one little story: During one of the sessions, as a young graduate student, I was privileged to sit in the vicinity of a very, very famous member of our profession, a teacher, inventor and owner of a very well known company. Let's call him Professor ABCD. He presented a paper and the questions began to fly, fast and furious. One person started his question with "in contradiction to the famous Professor ABCD, I contend the following..." Well, I really don't remember too many of the technical details, but I do remember that Professor ABCD just sat there after the impertinent and discourteous question, and didn't give much of an answer. I gathered up my courage, tapped him on the shoulder and timidly asked "Professor ABCD, it's clear that the question challenged your presentation and that you really didn't answer the question or the questioner as sharply as you might - why not?" In his very proper Bostonian accent he gave me one of the most important lessons of my microwave life. "That person works for my number one competitor..." he said. "The more people at that company thinking the way he does, the less I have to worry about the competition." Believe me, I have never forgotten that clear message and have reminded myself of this incident many, many times in my own professional and business life.

I guess I should also mention that the 1963 event was slightly international, in that one of the guest tours seemed to take some attendees ever so slightly south of the California border. Not all of the lessons learned were technical or commercial! That attendees at an IMS will continue to experience unique and varied learning situations is something about which I am quite certain. IMS2003 acknowledges the rich history of earlier IMS events. In contrast to the early days, our society is now approximately 50 percent US, with the non-US portion growing more rapidly than the domestic segment. The membership of our technical program committee reflects this international and transglobal phenomenon. In recognition, IMS2003 has provided translation of the Web-based Call for Papers into French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese. This not inconsiderable task was undertaken to ensure that more of the paper contributors felt welcome and were provided with a clear definition of the desired paper content and available subject areas. My thanks to our multi-lingual steering committee members and other volunteers who, in conjunction with Berlitz, spent many hours getting exactly the right "flavor" into the translations. I have received very favorable response to this initiative, and hope that this program is continued for future IMS events and indeed is expanded into many other languages as well.

Among the many other innovations for IMS2003, the Pennsylvania Convention Center will provide seamless IEEE802.11b wireless Internet access for all participants equipped with a laptop and 802.11b wireless card. The busy week will include a record number of high quality workshops and special sessions, the RFIC Symposium, the IMS, ARFTG (all with superb technical content, of course), an enjoyable guest program and an enthusiastic gathering of exhibitors in our very conveniently located, easily accessible Microwave Show. The multitude of social events will contribute to your sleeplessness, but the hotels are so close that you won't have to waste sleep time in travel. I personally offer you my best wishes for a fun-filled, exciting, educational and enjoyable week.

Dr. Richard V. Snyder is the president and founder of RS Microwave Co. Inc., a well-known 22-year old manufacturer of RF and microwave filters. He is the author of over 65 papers on the subject of filters and couplers, and a book chapter (CRC Handbook), as well as the holder of 15 patents with other applications on file. He received his BS, MS and PhD degrees from Loyola-Marymount, USC and PINY. His current research areas include electromagnetic simulation as applied to filters and networks, dielectric resonators, suspended resonators and active filter networks. Dr. Snyder served the IEEE as North Jersey section chairman and was a 14 year chapter chairman for the MTT and AP Societies. He has twice received the Region 1 award. In January 1997, he was named a Fellow of the IEEE. In January 2000, he was selected as a recipient of the IEEE Millennium Medal. A reviewer for the IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, the IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, Microwave Journal, and other IEEE and MTT publications, Dr. Snyder also teaches filter and network courses, and advises PhD candidates as an adjunct professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. His professional involvement also includes MTT-ADCOM special assignments and various MTT Chapter lectures on the subject of filters and networks, as a member of the MTT-S Speaker's Bureau. He was the recipient of the best paper presentation notice at the 1991 MTT-S Symposium. He served as standards chairman for the MTT ADCOM. He served seven years as chairman of MTT-8 (the Microwave Theory and Techniques Society Technical Committee charged with oversight of filters and passive components), and is now a member of the MTT Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) charged with managing all 23 technical areas for the MTT Society. Dr. Snyder has also served the North Jersey IEEE Section as EDS/C&S chair, METSAC chairman and as an organizer of Tutorial Sessions for Electro. He previously was a research engineer at ITT-Gilfillan, chief engineer for Merrimac Industries, vice president of FEL, where he ran the Microwave Division, and chief engineer for Premier Microwave.