Join us for the IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Emerging Developments in GHz Engineering (EDGE) 2025: IEEE MTT-S Thompson Okanagan Inauguration & Tech Summit
This event marks a significant milestone for our IEEE community in the Thompson-Okanagan region, and we look forward to celebrating with you.
Emerging Developments in GHz Engineering (EDGE) 2025: IEEE MTT-S Thompson Okanagan Inauguration & Tech Summit
Date: Tuesday, August 12th, 2025
Time: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: EME 0050, 1137 Alumni Avenue, UBC Okanagan Engineering, Management and Education Building, Kelowna, BC
Register here: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/494402.
Abstract:
Emerging Developments in GHz Engineering (EDGE) 2025 marks the official inauguration of the IEEE MTT-S Thompson Okanagan Chapter. This full-day event is dedicated to advancing knowledge and collaboration in microwave, RF, and GHz-frequency engineering. EDGE 2025 brings together academic leaders, industry experts, researchers, and students for an engaging program featuring keynote talks, panel discussions, technical sessions, lab tours, and project demonstrations. The summit aims to establish a strong regional hub for innovation and excellence in GHz technologies, providing valuable networking and learning opportunities.
The day begins with remarks from the executive members of the IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section and interim officers of the MTT-S chapter, followed by the formal inauguration ceremony. Attendees will enjoy a range of activities, including an industry panel, a Distinguished Microwave Lecture, a Young Professionals talk, and a networking lunch. Lab visits, project demonstrations, and a poster session offer hands-on experiences, while invited talks and industry presentations explore advanced microwave topics. The event concludes with student and technical presentations showcasing innovative research by emerging engineers and scientists.
Morning Session
Time | Activity |
---|---|
08:00 – 09:00 | Breakfast and Networking |
09:00 – 09:50 | Welcome Note and Inauguration of IEEE MTT-S Chapter |
09:50 – 10:10 | Break |
10:10 – 11:00 | Industry Panel Discussion |
11:00 – 11:30 | Distinguished Microwave Lecture (DML) Talk |
11:30 – 12:00 | Young Professionals (YP) Talk |
12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch Break |
Afternoon Session
Time | Activity |
---|---|
13:00 – 14:00 | Lab Visits / Project Demonstrations |
14:00 – 14:30 | Invited Talk |
14:30 – 15:00 | Industry Talk |
15:00 – 16:00 | Student / Technical Presentations |
This is an excellent opportunity to connect with IEEE members, learn more about IEEE benefits, and participate in discussions about the section’s future.
Bios:
Prof. Mohammad H. Zarifi (Ph.D., PEng, PRC Tier II, SMIEEE) received the B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Tabriz, Iran, in 2004, 2006, and 2009, respectively. He is currently an Associate Professor and Tier II Principal’s Research Chair (PRC) in Sensors and Microelectronics at the School of Engineering at the University of British Columbia, and the director of Okanagan MicroElectronics and Gigahertz Applications laboratory (OMEGA Lab), Canada. Prior to joining UBC, Dr.Zarifi was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta, Canada, from 2013 to 2017. He has authored or co-authored more than 150 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and holds six issued or pending patents. Dr. Zarifi received the CMC-NRC first-place award for industrial collaboration for the innovative microwave sensors in Canada in 2015. Dr. Zarifi’s research focuses on Applied Electromagnetics and Circuits and Systems for Communications and Sensing Applications. Dr. Zarifi is the chair and a member of IEEE MTT-S TC-26 “RFID, Wireless Sensor, and IoT,” as well as a member of IEEE MTT-S TC-4 “Microwave Passive Components and Transmission Line Structures.” He is also a senior member of both the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society and the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society. Additionally, Dr. Zarifi has served as a reviewer for several journals and conferences. Dr. Zarifi has received the Emerging Researcher Award and the Best Teaching Award at the School of Engineering in 2020 and 2021, respectively. He is also an IEEE MTT-S Distinguished Microwave Lecturer for the class of 2024-2027.
Dr. Youry Khmelevsky is a professor and Chair of the Computer Science Department at Okanagan College, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley. With over 30 years of experience in academia and applied research, his work focuses on systems engineering, software development, cloud computing, data systems, and health informatics. Dr. Khmelevsky has led numerous industry-funded and grant-supported R&D projects across North America, Europe, and the South Pacific.
For further information, please get in touch with us
vishal.balasubramanian [at] ubc.ca
Youry Khmelevsky (email: tok-section [at] ieee.org) and
Subscribe to the news at NEWS-THOMPSONOKANAGAN@listserv.ieee.org
Refreshments and a lunch will be provided