Category Archives: News

IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Life Members/AGs/Chapters/SBs Summer Social 2025

IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Life Members/AGs/Chapters/SBs Summer Social 2025

Join fellow IEEE Life Members (LMs), Affinity Groups/Chapters and Student members, and Thompson Okanagan Section leaders for our annual Summer Social! This event is an excellent opportunity to connect, share ideas, and strengthen our IEEE community.

Who can attend?

  • Free for all IEEE Members

  • Family members and guests are welcome (registration fee: $10 to cover food & drinks)

Photo/Media Policy: Photography, video, and audio recording may take place during the event. Participants may appear in photos or recordings taken for IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section activities. Individuals will not be identified in published materials without prior consent.

The Summer Social is organized by the Thompson Okanagan Section Life Members and supported by:

  • Thompson Okanagan Section
  • Thompson Okanagan Section Chapter, MTT17
  • Okanagan College Student Branch
  • Thompson Okanagan Section Affinity Group, CN
  • Thompson Okanagan Section Affinity Group, YP
  • Thompson Okanagan Section System Council Chapter, SYS45
  • University of British Columbia – Okanagan Student Branch

🗓 Date & Time: Sunday, September 7th (new date), 2025, from 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM

📍 Location: HS 101, Okanagan College, Kelowna, BC V1Y 4X8

Please register here: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/496687

Agenda:

11:30 PM – 12:00 p.m. | Registration and Welcome Refreshments (non-alcoholic)

12:00 – 12:05 PM | Opening Remarks

  • Welcome and event overview

12:05 – 12:40 PM | Introductions from IEEE Leaders

  • S. Carl Zanon, Life Members Affinity Group Chair (10 minutes)

  • Vishal Balasubramanian, MTT-S Chapter Chair (10 minutes)

  • Kristina Cormier, Okanagan Student Branch President and IEEE Western Region Student Representative (10 minutes)

  • Youry Khmelevsky, Thompson Okanagan Section Chair (5 minutes)

12:40 – 2:15 PM | Networking Lunch & Social

  • Meet fellow IEEE members, affinity group participants, and student leaders

  • Learn more about IEEE membership benefits and opportunities

  • Share ideas for future section activities and collaborations

2:15 – 2:30 PM | Group Photo Session & Closing Remarks

For further information, please get in touch with Youry Khmelevsky (email: tok-section [at] ieee.org) and subscribe to the news at  NEWS-THOMPSONOKANAGAN@listserv.ieee.org
Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided

Emerging Developments in GHz Engineering (EDGE) 2025: IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section MTT-S Chapter Inauguration & Tech Summit

Join us for the IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Emerging Developments in GHz Engineering (EDGE) 2025: IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section MTT-S Chapter 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 Thompson Okanagan Section MTT-S Chapter 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.

See more information here: Emerging Developments in GHz Engineering (EDGE) 2025, or please use the URL attached to the image below:

Abstracts: 

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.

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, an Adjunct Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley and Honorary Research Associate at UBCO. 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.

Thomas R. Jones (GS’14–M’19) received his B.Sc. degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Alberta in 2007 and his Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Alberta in 2019.
From 2008 to 2013, he worked in industry as a project engineer for Tracer Industries Canada Ltd. In 2013, he joined the Microwave to Millimetre-wave (M2M) group as a research assistant at the University of Alberta. From 2019 to 2021, he was a visiting NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at Purdue University and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Alberta. He is currently a Senior Research Associate at Purdue University. His research interests include microwave, millimetre-wave, and sub-THz design for high-speed and high-power communication systems and radar, reconfigurable RF front ends and tunable filters, and the microfabrication of on-chip millimetre-wave devices.
Dr. Jones was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, the Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF) Graduate Student Scholarship, the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship, and the NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship. He was a recipient of the First Place Excellence in Nanofabrication Award at the 2017 CMC TEXPO Student Design Competition held in Montreal. He was awarded the 2023 Douglas R. Colton Medal for Research Excellence by CMC Microsystems. Dr. Jones served as Finance Chair for the IEEE 2019 Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering and served in various other professional roles, including Vice-Chair for the award-winning IEEE Northern Canada Section AP-S/MTT-S Joint Chapter. He is currently serving as the IEEE MTT-S MGA Regional Coordinator for R7 Canada.

Prof. Moez of the University of Alberta: Kambiz Moez (S’01-M’07-SM’12) received his B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tehran, Iran, in 1999, and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Since January 2007, he has been with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, where he is currently a Professor and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students – ECE. His research interests include the analysis and design of analog, radio frequency, and millimetre-wave CMOS integrated circuits and systems for a variety of applications, including wired/wireless communications and sensors, radio frequency energy harvesting, biomedical imaging, instrumentation, radars, and power electronics. He has authored or co-authored over 110 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers in his field of research. Dr. Moez is a Registered Professional Engineer in the province of Alberta. Dr. Moez served as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers from 2021 to 2023. He is currently serving as an Associate Editor for IET Electronics Letters.

Dr. Rashid Mirzavand is a dedicated academic and researcher leading the Intelligent Wireless Technology Group at the University of Alberta. As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, he is passionate about fostering an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity, and excellence in research and education. His entrepreneurial spirit has led him to co-found and serve as CTO for three companies specializing in smart sensors, near-field measurement, and wireless power transfer technologies.
Dr. Mirzavand’s research focuses on RF/microwave/mm-wave circuits, sensors, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, and numerical methods. He is committed to advancing innovation and addressing real-world challenges, with a particular emphasis on promoting diversity and equity in STEM fields. With numerous awards, three granted and nine filed US patents, and over 180 publications to his credit, Dr. Mirzavand is a respected voice in his field. He is a registered member of Alberta’s Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists.

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 lunch will be provided

Formation of the IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Affinity Groups and Chapters Results:

Congratulations!

Formation of the IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Affinity Groups and Chapters Results:

  1. We received the official approval of the petition to form the IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Life Member Affinity Group. The approval date is 30 March 2025, and the identification code is LM70043.
  2. We received the official approval of the petition to form the IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Systems Council Chapter. The approval date is 03 April 2025, and the identification code is CH07206.
  3. The petition to form the IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Microwave Theory and Technology Society Chapter has been officially approved. The approval date is 04 April 2025, and the identification code is CH07205.

For further information, please get in touch with us:
Youry Khmelevsky (email: tok-section [at] ieee.org)
Subscribe to the news at okanagan@listserv.ieee.org

IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Elevation Celebration & Annual General Meeting

Join Us for the IEEE Thompson Okanagan Section Elevation Celebration & AGM

We are pleased to invite you to the Okanagan Subsection Elevation Celebration and the First Thompson Okanagan Section Annual General Meeting. This event marks an important milestone for our IEEE community, and we look forward to celebrating with you.

Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: A146 – A Building (with S Building), Okanagan College

Register here: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/467550.

We are delighted to present the Digital Research Alliance of Canada: Digital Resource Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Workshop before the celebration, starting at 11 AM.
DRI Workshop Agenda:
11:00 am – 11:10 am | Opening Remarks (IEEE Section Chair, Dr. Youry Khmelevsky, and Okanagan Student Branch Chair Kristina Cormier)
11:10 am – 11:50 am | Introduction to DRI
11:50 am – 12:05 pm | Coffee Break
12:05 pm – 12:20 pm | Research Project Presentation (Kristina Cormier)
12:20 pm – 12:50 pm | Demonstration of DRI Services
12:50 pm – 1:00 pm | Discussion and Final Thoughts

Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: S104 – S Building Theatre, Okanagan College

Section Celebration Agenda:
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm – Welcome Lunch, Celebration Opening (Section Chair, Dr. Youry Khmelevsky, and TOK Student Branches, Matthew Wilder, IEEE Area West Chair opening address)
1:45 pm – 2:15 pm – Intro & IEEE President Dr. Tom Murad Welcome
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm – Benefits of IEEE: Usman Munawar & Kristina Cormier
2:45 pm – 3:15 pm – Coffee & Social
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm – AGM
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm – Round Table, Celebration Closing

5:00 pm – 9:00 pm — 2025 Okanagan Innovation and Technology Expo at KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence

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:

Dr. Tom Murad, The IEEE Canada President & Director IEEE – R7.

A member of the Engineering Order of Honour – Professional Engineers Ontario “PEO”, is a respected Technology leader, Innovator, thinker, Board Member, award-winning Educator, and distinguished speaker & advocate of innovation and creativity, specifically in the Areas of:

Engineering & Technology, Mechatronics, Digitalization, Smart Infrastructure, Industry – 4.0 & 5.0, Leadership, and technical education & Talents/skills development.

He Joined Siemens in Canada (2010 – 2023). His latest role was the “Country Lead (V.P.) of Engineering, Technical Excellence & Academics”, as well as being the founder & Director of the Awards winning “Siemens Canada Engineering and Technology Academy (SCETA)”, and the Siemens Mechatronics Systems Certification Program (2014 – 2020).

Prior to that, he held different Executive Management & C – Level roles with an extensive career in Professional Engineering, Innovative Technical Operations and including Academia and R&D work.

He is now Adjunct Professor at the College of Engineering & Physical Sciences – University of Guelph, “CTO” of Innoventus Engineering Inc., and a member of various Boards of Directors in Industry and Academia.

Dr. Murad holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical & Electronics) and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Power Electronics and Industrial Controls from Loughborough University of Technology in the UK, with a Leadership Program Certificate from Schulich Business School, York University in Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Murad is:
IEEE Canada – President & Chair of the Board of Directors.
IEEE – Region 7 (CANADA) Director / Delegate (Global).
Board of Director – Ontario’s Government’s Post Secondary Education Quality Board “PEQAB”.
Board (Council) member – Engineering Institutes of Canada “EIC”.
Fellow of Engineers Canada “F.E.C”.
Fellow of Engineering Institutes of Canada “EIC”.
Awardee of IEEE Canada’s 2019 J.M. Ham Outstanding Engineering Educator Award.
Member of the PEO Licensing “Engineering Experience Review”- ERC Committee (since 2003).
Advisory Board Member – School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering at Simon Fraser University “SFU”.
Licensed Professional Engineer “P.Eng.” in Ontario (PEO & OSPE); Alberta (APEGA) & N.W.T. (NAPEG).
Chair – IEEE Toronto Section (2016-2017).
Ex-Vice Chair & Member of Board of Directors – Ontario Soc. Of Professional Engineers “OSPE”.
Ex-Member of Board of Directors – Canadian – German Centre for Innovation and Research.
Ex-Member – Board of Directors – Green Centre Canada.

Matthew Wilder’s Abstract:
Greetings from the Vancouver Section & welcome to the West Area of IEEE Canada
Presentation of Vancouver Section scholarship award

Matthew Wilder’s Bio:
Matthew Wilder is a Senior Engineer with TELUS Communications, a leading ISP and technology company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. At TELUS, Matthew is responsible for IP Address Management and IPv6 strategy. Matthew serves the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as the West Area Chair of IEEE Canada. He also serves the Vancouver Section as Chair of the Conference Committee and has previously served as Chair of the Vancouver Section in 2022. Matthew also volunteers with the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) as the Advisory Council’s Vice Chair. He has written articles for IEEE Canadian Review and blogs for ARIN, ISOC, and other industry publications. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Applied Sciences from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Victoria.

Usman Munawar’s Bio:

Mr. Usman Munawar is an accomplished IEEE Senior Member & HKN with over 12 years of experience bridging industry and academia. A seasoned electrical engineer and researcher, he has made significant contributions to the field, authoring 17 publications in esteemed journals, transactions, and conferences. His extensive expertise includes overseeing 125+ engineering design projects, addressing 25+ data science challenges, integrating 50+ industrial systems, and coding over 300 algorithms—from small-scale solutions to large, complex systems.

Mr. Munawar earned his M.A.Sc. in Electronic Systems Engineering from the University of Regina, Canada, where he was named to the Dean’s Honor List. He was also awarded the prestigious IEEE PES Outstanding Student Scholarship (2020). His academic journey includes completing Stanford University’s Technology Entrepreneurship program (2012), participating in Oxford and Cambridge’s Smart Village program (2017), and visiting the MIT Media Lab as an IEEE Delegate (2022).

Currently, Mr. Munawar serves as Project Manager at Powertech Labs Inc. (a subsidiary of BC Hydro), where he leads critical initiatives in Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and founded the Future Energy Integration Lab. His expertise spans Smart Grid technologies, energy disaggregation, predictive maintenance, optimization, machine learning, deep learning, data mining, forecasting, and smart infrastructure solutions, with applications in Smart Cities and Smart Villages.

Previously, he worked as a Design and Development Engineer at Greenwave Innovations Inc. (2021–2023), where his contributions led to three international/national product awards. In 2017, he launched a successful renewable energy startup, completing 50 projects in just six months. Prior to 2019, he held academic roles, securing funding from major agencies such as USAID, UNESCO, and GIZ for impactful projects, including the deployment of solar-powered lighting in 133 sports facilities.

Kristina Cormier’s Bio:

Kristina Cormier is a fourth-year Computer Science student at Okanagan College. She has always been curious about science and technology. Recently, she has discovered a passion for data analysis and machine learning algorithms. Kristina is the Chair of the Okanagan College IEEE Student Branch. She coordinates with her team to help organize events and volunteering. Kristina truly enjoys mentoring, meeting new people and discovering new opportunities.

During AGM:

 

For further information, please get in touch with us
Youry Khmelevsky (email: tok-section [at] ieee.org) and
subscribe to the news at okanagan@listserv.ieee.org

2025 Okanagan Innovation and Technology Expo – March 22

Join us for the Okanagan Technology Expo 2025, an exciting event hosted by the IEEE UBCO Student Branch where innovators, industry leaders, and students come together to showcase cutting-edge technology and groundbreaking ideas. This year’s theme, “The Timeline of Innovation,” highlights the journey of technological advancements, celebrating the progress and perseverance behind every great invention. https://okgntechexpo.carrd.co/

Agenda:
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Opening Ceremony Welcome remarks and an introduction to the event theme: “Timeline of Innovation.”
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM Keynote Speaker 1 A thought leader shares insights on the journey of innovation and the future of technology.
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Mingle & Booth Tour Explore student and industry booths showcasing cutting-edge projects and developments.
6:30 PM – 7:00 PM Speaker Series Presentations by a leading professor and a standout student innovator.
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Booth Competition & Catering Experience hands-on demonstrations and interactive exhibits, and enjoy catered refreshments.
8:00 PM – 8:30 PM Competition Winners Announcement Celebrate the best booths as the winners are revealed, with prizes awarded to the top three teams.
8:30 PM – 9:00 PM Keynote Speaker 2 A renowned industry professional closes the evening with an inspiring talk.
9:00 PM – Onward Networking & Wrap-Up: Continue conversations, forge connections, and wrap up the event.

📅 Date: 22nd March, 2025
📍 Venue: KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence

Explore a dynamic lineup of speakers, including industry pioneers and student innovators, as they share insights on the past, present, and future of technology. Engage in hands-on demonstrations, connect with professionals from top tech and engineering firms, and witness the creativity of student-led projects in our Booth Competition, where the most innovative displays will compete for prizes.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a student passionate about STEM, or simply curious about the next big thing in technology, this is your chance to experience innovation in action. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn, network, and be inspired!

Student team achievements at the IEEExtreme Programming Competition 2024

Congratulations to the student teams from the Thompson-Okanagan Section for their remarkable achievements in the IEEExtreme 2024 Programming Competition. IEEExtreme is a global 24-hour challenge in which student teams solve a series of complex programming problems under time pressure. Organized by the IEEE, this competition fosters innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence among the next generation of computing professionals.

Okanagan College demonstrated outstanding performance, ranking #18 in Canada out of 50 participating teams and #2235 out of 8793 globally. The team OCExceptionHandlers secured the #1 rank within the institution, showcasing exemplary programming skills (the Original post is here).

Castanet: “Okanagan College students tackle 24 problems in 24 hours” https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/521987/Okanagan-College-students-tackle-24-problems-in-24-hours

Thompson Rivers University’s team also achieved a commendable result, placing #40 in Canada and 4656 globally, reflecting the institution’s growing strength in competitive programming.

These achievements highlight the dedication and technical expertise of students from both institutions, who have contributed to advancing digital research and computational science.

Congratulations to all participants for representing their institutions on the global stage!

IEEE Okanagan Section Year End Winter Social Event

IEEE Okanagan Section Year End Winter Social Event (Thurs Dec 19, 2024 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.)

Time & Date: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., Thursday, December 19th, 2024
LocationRoom HS 101 and online in Zoom at Okanagan College (in-person and online)
Registration (is open now): https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/454022 (IEEE Okanagan Section) and https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/453118 (IEEE OK SB)

Celebrate the end of the year with the IEEE Okanagan Section and IEEE Okanagan College Student Branch! Enjoy good company, festive drinks, and delicious food as we reflect on the past year.
Our invited speaker, Martin Mallinson, has over 100 patents and founded Silicon Intervention. They work with analog neural networks and construct analog signal processors using advanced techniques.
We’ll also share details about our upcoming Section Elevation Celebration in early 2025—don’t miss it!

Agenda

4:00 pm – 4:15 pm Intro (Youry Khmelevsky)

4:15 pm – 4:30 pm  IEEE Vancouver (Jacqueline Nichols & Matthew Wilder)

4:30 pm – 4:45 pm OK SB (Kristina Cormier & Ajitesh Parihar)

We take a look back at this year to cover all the fun activities that students participated in and share our plans for upcoming events and activities.

4:45 pm – 5:00 pm Women in Tech (Kristina Cormier / Dolcy Sareen / Keona Gagnier / Thais Damasceno)

Celebrating women in tech and engineering. Highlighting the IEEE Affinity groups and activities. We aim to inspire and empower the next generation of women in STEM through insights and strategies for success.

5:00 pm – 5: 15 pm Open Science Principle: EDIA Research (Ajitesh Parihar)

Discussion about the importance of using open science principles for effective research along with the activities planned for the Digital Research Alliance of Canada’s DRI EDIA Champions Program.

5:15 pm – 5:30 pm Pizza & Social

5:30 pm –  6:30 pm Martin Mallinson

Martin Mallinson is the founder of Silicon Intervention. They are working with analog neural networks and constructing Analog Signal Processors using advanced techniques.

6:30 pm – 7:00 pm Round table

Bios:

Martin Mallinson: With a lifetime of experience in electrical engineering, designing and developing devices worldwide, Martin would like to share his thoughts and experiences. These are very relevant to the new IEEE in the valley. The past 30 years of his work have taken place in companies in Okanagan. How can that be achieved in our beautiful valley while remaining connected to customers worldwide? We’ll hear how Martin manages to do that, the compromises, and the opportunities.

Kristina Cormier is a third-year Computer Science student at Okanagan College. She has recently discovered a passion for machine learning algorithms. Kristina is the Chair of the Okanagan College IEEE Student Branch. She assists with organizing events and volunteering. Kristina truly enjoys being a mentor and helping others.

Ajitesh Parihar is a four-year Computer Science student and a Research Assistant at Okanagan College. He is a tech enthusiast who enjoys learning about innovations and technologies and is passionate about software engineering, cyber security, and algorithms. Ajitesh is the Vice Chair of the IEEE Student Branch and enjoys meeting and working with talented individuals.

Dolcy Sareen is a third-year Computer Science student at Okanagan College and the Okanagan College IEEE Student Branch webmaster. She is passionate about learning new technologies and strongly focuses on data. She enjoys connecting with people and continuously learning from new experiences.

Keona Gagnier is a third-year Computer Science student at Okanagan College.

Thais Damasceno is the past chair of the Okanagan College IEEE Student Branch.

 

Photos from the event:

For further information, please get in touch with Youry Khmelevsky (email: Youry at IEEE.org) and subscribe to the news at okanagan@listserv.ieee.org
Refreshments and pizza will be provided

Okanagan College IEEE Student Branch and Okanagan Subsection are hosting IEEEXtreme 18.0

 

Time & Date: 5 p.m. – 5 p.m. (24 hours), October 25 th, 2024
LocationRoom E301, E302, E303 and E108 (lunch room), Computer Science Department, Okanagan College (in-person)

Okanagan College IEEE Student Branch and Okanagan Subsection are hosting IEEEXtreme 18.0

IEEEXtreme is a global challenge in which teams of IEEE Student members – advised and proctored by an IEEE member and supported by an IEEE Student Branch – compete in 24 hours against each other to solve a set of programming problems https://ieeextreme.org/

In previous years, over 6,000 teams, just under 15,000 participants, and 65 Countries competed. This includes over 600 Student Branches, over 700 Ambassadors, and approximately 2,500 volunteers.

Many kind sponsors and volunteers are contributing to help ensure the success of this event. Registration is open until Oct 12, 2024.

Castanet: “Okanagan College students tackle 24 problems in 24 hours” https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/521987/Okanagan-College-students-tackle-24-problems-in-24-hours

Photos from the Event:

IEEE Day at Okanagan Subsection

Time & Date: 5 – 7:30 p.m., October 9 th, 2024
LocationRoom E202 and online in Zoom, Computer Science Department, Okanagan College (in-person and online)
Registration (is open now): https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/438597

Abstract: IEEE Day is an annual event celebrating the first time in history when engineers worldwide gathered to share their technical ideas in 1884. One of IEEE Day’s objectives is to show how IEEE members in local communities collaborate on ideas that leverage technology for a better tomorrow. (https://ieeeday.org/)

Join us on October 9th at 5 PM for a gathering where the IEEE Okanagan Subsection and student branches from UBCO and OC will discuss the evolution of engineering, computer science, and others.

Agenda:

5 pm – 5:40 pm (OC)

            Kristina – A Retrospective View of STEM Milestones & Achievements

            Ajitesh – Open Science and DRA.  Open Science and DRA

5:40 – 6:20 pm (UBCO)

            Charlotte – A Canadian Engineer Who Made a Positive Impact on Society

            Fernanda – Women in Tech

6:20 pm – 6:30 pm Pizza break

6:30 pm – 7:00 pm (OC)

Dolcy & Brian – Evolution of Data & Networks

Alex – World Wide Opportunities

Bios:

Kristina Cormier is a fourth-year Computer Science student at Okanagan College. She has always been curious about science and technology. Recently, she has discovered a passion for data analysis and machine learning algorithms. Kristina is the Chair of the Okanagan College IEEE Student Branch. She coordinates with her team to help organize events and volunteering. Kristina truly enjoys mentoring, meeting new people and discovering new opportunities.

Ajitesh Parihar is a fourth-year Computer Science student and a Research Assistant at Okanagan College. He is a tech enthusiast who enjoys learning about innovations and technologies and is passionate about software engineering, cyber security, and algorithms. Ajitesh is the Vice Chair of the Okanagan College IEEE Student Branch and enjoys meeting and working with talented individuals.

Fernanda Alves has been working at UBCO for nearly three years. She received her Bachelor of Computer Information Systems at Okanagan College and has a degree. Fernanda is a passionate mentor and advocate for women in technology who enjoys connecting with other passionate individuals and sharing her skills and experiences to benefit others.

Dolcy Sareen is a third-year Computer Science student at Okanagan College and the Okanagan College IEEE Student Branch webmaster. She is passionate about learning new technologies and strongly focuses on data. She enjoys connecting with people and continuously learning from new experiences.

Alex Ross is a fourth-year Computer Science student at Okanagan College and the Okanagan College IEEE Student Branch secretary.

During the meeting: