IMS 2007 is the largest international conference devoted to the research, development and application of RF and microwave theory and techniques. The Technical Program Committee (TPC) consists of 232 dedicated reviewers who received a near-record 1039 submissions from 33 countries and regions. After much hard work, the TPC selected 381 papers for oral presentation and 142 for the Interactive Forum. This year, we arranged the Interactive Forum into four two-hour sessions. This will give the presenters and attendees more flexibility to acquire technical information. We have created five Focused Sessions and three Special Sessions. The Focused Sessions provide information on the latest technical advances in the following areas: (1) millimeter-wave imaging; (2) microwave in societal security; (3) microwave systems in deep space missions; (4) microwave-photonic signal processing; and (5) advances in GaN technology. Two Special Sessions are on microwave activities in the Pacific Rim countries and the submillimeter-wave activities of Mauna Kea. The other Special Session is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. Leo Young, who is well known among the microwave community, particularly in the area of passive components and filters.
There will be five Panel Sessions during lunchtime on Signal Integrity, GaN, MEMS, Terahertz and GaAs. In addition, there is an Information Session on research funding by the National Science Foundation. We will enhance the operation of the Student Paper Competition. The selected finalists will present extremely high level research results carried out as graduate students. These papers are not only presented in the regular sessions but will also compete during the Student Paper Competition session in an interactive format.
In the recent history of the IMS, the Workshops have become more and more popular. This year is no exception. We have organized a total of 47 Workshops distributed on Sunday (20), Monday (14) and Friday (13). Topics cover almost all imaginable subjects related to RF and microwaves, and range from advanced to tutorial in nature. For the first time in the recent history of the IMS, we have implemented a Short Course program. We plan to provide eight Short Courses on Sunday, Monday and Friday. Short Courses differ from Tutorial Workshops. The course is typically taught by one to two instructors and the attendees can obtain IEEE certified CEU (Continuing Education Unit). We have organized Workshops and Short Courses with strong electromagnetic flavor on Friday so that these events may be conveniently attended by the participants of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Symposium to be held on the subsequent week, also in Honolulu.
On behalf of the TPC, I am confident that all attendees will have a very rewarding experience by participating in the technical activities of IMS 2007.