*** DRAFT ***
Minutes of the 67th meeting of the Canadian National Committee of URSI
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The meeting started at 9h am on 20 April 2008 in the Chamber (room
903) at Prompt Quebec, 1155 University Ave., Montreal, Que.
Members present:
+Antar, Yahia (RMC/Kingston, Chair)
+Caloz, Christophe (Polytechnique/Montreal, Comm. D)
+Despins, Charles PromptQuebec/Montreal, Comm. C)
+LoVetri, Joe (U.Man/Winnipeg, Comm. E)
+Petosa, Aldo (CRC/Ottawa, Comm. B)
+Prato, Frank (UWO/London, Comm. K)
+Vallee, Jacques P. (NRC-HIA/Victoria, Secretary & member)
Absent members/guest:
-Delisle, Gilles (INT/Montreal, past-Chair)
-Freundorfer, Al (Queen'sU/Kingston, Comm. A)
-Gray, Andrew (NRC-HIA/Penticton, Comm. J)
-Koustov, Alexandre (U.Sask/Saskatoon, Comm. G+H)
-Pinard, Denis (CNRC/Ottawa, guest)
-Staples, Gordon (MDA/Richmond, Comm. F)
Agreed agenda:
--------------
Start-up:
01. Welcome and Introductory remarks (Antar)
02. Approval of the Agenda (Antar)
Secretariat:
03. Approval of the Minutes of the 66th Meeting (Vallee)
NB: minutes are on the CNC web site www.ursi.ca/2007min.html
04. Business arising from the Minutes (Antar)
05. Acting treasurer's report (Vallee)
a. NRC HIA [Fahlman] fund for CNC's annual mtg [$7,927 cdn]
b. NRC CNC [Vallee] trust fund for seed/promotion [$32,969 cdn]
c. NRC CS [Pinard] fund for the HQ in Belgium [$12,104 cdn]
d. Other NRC contributions [HIA Secr.; CorpServ URSI-GA deleg.]
06. Canadian URSI Membership lists, by Commissions (Vallee)
NB: current lists were sent to all CNC members on 2008 April 4
General reports:
07. Chair's report (Antar)
08. Short 5min reports (one from each CNC commission rep.)
Future radio conferences (Antar):
09. Toronto 2010 IEEE-APS/URSI CNC/URSI US-NC internat. symp.
ANTEM 2009 - Cdn Rockies ?
Promotion:
10. Candidatures for URSI Medals & URSI positions (Antar)
11. CNC student awards (Antar)
12. New CNC appointments or reappointments (Antar)
13. Solliciting new ideas on: (Antar)
-how to promote Radio Science in Canada
-how to publicize our activities within the community
Wrap-up:
14 Other businesses (Antar)
15. Tentative date & place for next URSI CNC meeting (Vallee)
------------
01. Welcome & Introductory remarks
======================================
Dr. Yahia Antar, CNC Chair, welcomed all CNC participants to Montreal.
Dr. Antar thanked Dr. Charles Despins for the logistical details of
this meeting.
02. Approval of the Agenda
==============================
The Chair asked for any change to the agenda. ANTEM 2009 was added.
Dr. Prato & Dr. Despins moved for the approval of the agenda. Unanimous.
03. Approval of the Minutes of the 66th Meeting
===================================================
The Minutes were available on the Canadian URSI web site at
www.ursi.ca/2007min.html
The Chair asked for any change to the Minutes. No change.
Dr. Antar & Dr. Caloz moved that the Minutes be approved. Unanimous.
04. Business arising from the Minutes
=======================================
See below.
05. Acting Treasurer's report
=================================
a. NRC HIA fund [Fahlman] for travels to CNC's annual mtg: NRC-HIA
Victoria paid the travels of the CNC members attending the CNC annual
meeting on 2007 April 1 in Ottawa, Ont. amounting to a total of $7,927.
NRC Travel Expense Claim Forms for this year's meeting were sent.
b. NRC CNC trust fund [Vallee] for seed/reserve/decision/awards:
NRC-CNC trust fund in Victoria stood at $32,979 on 2008 April 1.
J. Vallee explained the entries and exits in the last few months.
c. NRC CorpServ fund [Pinard] for the URSI HQ in Belgium
NRC-CorpServ in Ottawa has paid 7712 Euros [about $12,104] to URSI
Headquarters in Belgium for the annual canadian contribution
[representing 8 URSI votes at the GA]
d. Sum and other NRC contributions
-The sum for the items (a,b,c) is $53,010 for URSI matters [as of 1 April].
-In addition, NRC-HIA in Victoria pays for the staff involved in
CNC activities, annual meeting, maintaining trust fund & web site, etc.
-NRC-CorpServ in Ottawa contributes towards the travel of 1 voting
delegate at the URSI GA [excluding federal government members].
*** Dr. Prato noted that our CNC is one of the best that were ranked
by NRC CISET. He noted that NRC CISET has only $400 000 to spend on
about 33 CNCs, the same amount each year; but he noted that
the fees raised by the international organizations rise each year.
06. Canadian URSI Membership lists, by Commissions
======================================================
Canadian membership is open to anyone interested, who is active, and who
publishes (no election). Each CNC member updates his Cdn commission's list.
J. Vallee has queried each CNC member about updating their commission list.
Dr. LoVetri started a discussion on whether an automatic web-based system
could update the membership lists, one for each URSI commission. Such a
web-based membership system would still need editing by each CNC commission
member. In addition, each CNC commission member will be expected to
manage/update the information relevant for his/her URSI Commission.
Accounts and passwords, as well as editing menus, should be available.
Setup and maintenance, including French translation, would be needed.
It was proposed by Charles Despins and seconded by Joe LoVetri to ask
Dr. LoVetri to see if his contact person is still agreeable, and if so
that the CNC makes a decision by email. Unanimous.
07. Chair's report
======================
Dr. Antar reported on happenings at the international level, and his
involvement in setting up future conference meetings in Canada.
Lot Shafai was nominated for the Booker Award by the CNC.
Aldo Petosa and Frank Prato worked hard for the URSI GA Young Scientist
Awards, in conjunction with the URSI GA in Chicago in 2008 August.
Canada gets 5 such international Awards.
Yahia Antar was nominated by CNC for Vice-President of URSI.
Yahia Antar will be the "Official Delegate" that will be reimbursed
in part by NRC Corporate Service in Ottawa. He will cast 8 votes at the GA.
All other CNC members going to the GA will be "Official Delegates".
Report on the July 2007 Ottawa URSI-NARS conference: there were around
600 attendees. An overall profit of $105 000 Cdn was split this way:
-25% to Canada [CNC] = $26 250
-25% to co-sponsor [USNC] = $26 250
-50% divided as based on the number of Cdn vs US registrants.
Given 197 Cdn and 347 US, one expects 197/544 to CNC = $19 012
-In addition, the reimbursement of the seed money of $10 000, and
-an extra of $1100 was added,
giving a grand total for CNC of $56 362 [held at ANTEM].
Relationship with ANTEM: ANTEM is a non-profit, incorporated organization,
with a bank account, based in Winnipeg. Lot Shafai is the Director.
It is linked to the Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
University of Manitoba.
It was moved by Joe LoVetri, seconded by Frank Prato, to ask Yahia Antar
to contact ANTEM for the possibility of opening an account for URSI CNC,
with expenses to come as directed jointly by CNC Chair & Secretary,
and to enquire what if any would be the service charges and fees. Majority.
If this is agreeable, then CNC Chair will ask NRC HIA about any issue
related to that possible ANTEM agreement.
The CNC thanked the Chair for his detailed report and for his huge work
in the last twelve months.
08. Short 5min reports (one from each CNC commission representative)
======================================================================
Each CNC member spoke about on-going activities & developments in their
field. Some concerns expressed were outside the purview of the CNC mandate.
Each commission representative should try to disseminate, to the Cdn
members of their own commission, the information about URSI & meetings.
* Summary of the report received from Christophe Caloz:
1. ISSSE
Meaning: International Symposium on Signals, Systems and Electronics
Relation to URSI: one of the 2 major international conferences of the URSI
(with EMTS), specific to URSI Commissions C and D
Frequency: Every three years
2. Technical Activities
Four workshops; 4 tutorials; 31 technical sessions (including 7 special
sessions, organized by invited authorities); 3 keynote addresses
Four distinguished lecture (IEEE-sponsored event, coupled to the conference)
One poster session; Industrial exhibition
3. Numbers
210 papers submitted, 156 papers accepted; around 230 attendees
4. Specifics
First time in Canada; first time archived and recorded in the IEEE Xplore
data basis.
* Summary of the report received from Charles Despins:
1. Efforts are on-going to bring a major IEEE conference to Canada through
which URSI could gain visibility as a sponsor and/or co-organizer (i.e. the
CNC). Two potential targets are the IEEE International Conference on
Communications (ICC) and the IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking
Conference (WCNC). WCNC is smaller than ICC but still significant (1000
attendees) and more focused on URSI's interest group. The Commission C Chair
is currently interfacing with IEEE to bring WCNC to Canada within two to
three years and he will sollicit a letter of support from the CNC Chair in
the fall of 2008. Further developments are thus expected in the late fall.
2. The Commission C Chair suggested that 'Best Student Paper Award' be
presented at the Prompt R&D consortium's annual conference to be held next
on November 20th, 2008. The CNC agreed and set the award level at 300$.
* Summary of the report received from Al Freundorfer:
1. Pestered my Commission for submission and attendance up until a couple
of weeks before URSI 2007, the first North American Radio Science Meeting,
to take place July 22-26.
2. Reviewed papers for commission A and D for the North American meeting. I
also ask for help on URSI Commission A UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)
Future from Canadians as requested by International Commission A.
Thanks to Shantnu Mishra I was able to get a responce from CSA.
3. I email the commission about the upcoming URSI GA in Chicago including
the CNC Award Papers.
* Summary of report received from Joe LoVetri:
1. Commission E organized several sessions at the two URSI conferences held
in Ottawa last summer (2007): the URSI 2007 North American Radio Science
Meeting (NARSM), July 22 - 26, 2007, and the 2007 International URSI -
Commission B Electromagnetic Theory Symposium (EMTS), July 26 - 28.
At the NARSM there were three E sessions: Electromagnetic Noise and
Interference Modelling, Electromagnetic Interference in Complex Systems,
and High-Power Electromagnetics and two joint EK sessions: Electromagnetic
Breast/Microwave Imaging; Electromagnetic Brain Imaging. At the EMTS there
was one E session entitled Modelling Techniques for EMC/EMI.
2. At the URSI General Assembly to be held in Chicago from August 7-16, 2008,
Joe LoVetri has organized one Commission E invited session with Prof.
M D'Amore from the University of Rome, entitled: Interaction with complex
systems, and one joint KE invited session with Dr. Susan Hagness from the
U. of Wisconsin, entitled Biomedical Applications: Microwave Breast Imaging.
3. Joe LoVetri mentioned that he will be helping to organize the 2010 AMEREM
conference in Ottawa and he will be attending the EUROEM 2008 Symposium and
Technical Exhibition this July 21-25 where he will work with Dr. Lot Shafai
to present a proposal for the 2010 conference. It was suggested that he
should offer URSI CNC involvement in the 2010 AMEREM conference.
* Summary of report received from Aldo Petosa:
1. URSI NARS 2007 Meeting in Ottawa, July 22-26.
Was involved in the Technical Program Committee (TPC) for
this conference. Many other CNC members were heavily involved
in the organization, TPC and local arrangements for this conference.
There was also a strong participation provided by the Ottawa
community including: the Communications Research Centre (CRC),
Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC-Ottawa),
the University of Ottawa, and Carleton University.
The conference consisted of about 700 technical papers presented
in up to 10 parallel oral sessions. The conference drew significant
international participation (350 people from the US and 100 from overseas).
There were a large number of student papers (90 from the US
and 42 from Canada).
2. EMTS 2007 Meeting in Ottawa, July
This international symposium of URSI Commission B, held every three years,
was supposed to be held in Alexandria, Egypt, but at the last moment, was
moved to Ottawa and was held right after the URSI NARS 2007 meeting.
Again, many CNC members were involved in the local organization
and the TPC for this conference, which drew about 200 delegates
over a two-day period. There was strong Canadian representation at this
event which also drew a significant international participation.
3. XXIX URSI General Assembly, Chicago, Aug. 2008
Worked with the USNC Commission Chair, David Jackson,
to organize the Commission B Poster Sessions for this upcoming
conference. There are approximately 250 papers in the poster
sessions, with worldwide participation.
4. CNC-CODATA
Represented CNC-URSI at the 24th Annual Meeting of CNC-CODATA
held in Ottawa on Oct. 26, 2007. Gave a short presentation on CNC-URSI
mandate, organization, and a brief summary of some of the past and upcoming
conferences being organized (or supported) by CNC-URSI
5. CNC Student Awards
Coordinated the process for the CNC Student Awards being planned for the
upcoming XXIX URSI General Assembly.
Ten students from Canadian Universities who will be attending the general
assembly applied for the CNC Student Awards. The selection process is
nearly complete, and five students will be receiving awards.
* Summary of report received from Frank Prato:
1. URSI International Commission K and CNC-URSI ran four symposia associated
with the North American URSI Meeting in Ottawa, Canada, July 2226, 2007
(see http://ursi2007.ee.umanitoba.ca/Home.html). Two were associated with
Commission E CNC and US-NC. Three of the four sessions had an overarching
theme: toward visualization of electromagnetic brain stimulation through
electromagnetic brain imaging and mapping.
2. The first session (K2) focused on Neuronal Stimulation by both inductive
and capacitive coupling including presentations on theory, simulations and/or
experimentation. The third session (EK2) was a joint session on
Electromagnetic Brain Imaging and Mapping with Commission E and focused on
brain MRI, photo-acoustic imaging and current density imaging as well as
brain mapping with EEG and electrical impedance tomography. The fourth session
(K3) synthesize the ideas in K2 and EK2 and hence covered Bioelectromagnetic
Brain Imaging and Mapping of Effects from Electromagnetic Stimulation.
3. The second session was also with Commission E and this session (EK1)
focuses on breast imaging using microwaves - a very exciting, new and
exploding field for URSI.
4. The success of these sessions allowed Commission K to decide on including
similar sessions at the URSI GA08 in Chicago. These sessions especially the
ones on Breast Imaging, Brain Imaging and imaging the effects of EMF brain
stimulations have been oversubscribed suggesting that imaging will be a new
large part of Commission K activities in the future.
5. Commission K at the URSI GA08 in Chicago in August is extremely well
represented with Comm K sessions. Comm K has 10 sessions alone, 2 sessions
as lead with Comm A, B and E and 3 sessions as second with B, B/F and E. In
these sessions 5 convenors are from Canada.
6. As well Canadian Comm K members are playing important roles with respect
to health policy in Canada through recommendations to Health and Welfare
Canada and important publications in the peer review literature such as:
Krewski D, Glickman BW, Habash RW, Habbick B, Lotz WG, Mandeville R,
Prato FS, Salem T, Weaver DF.
Recent advances in research on radiofrequency fields and health: 2001-2003.
J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2007 Jun-Jul;10(4):287-318. Review.
7. As well Canadian Comm K members are making very significant contributions
to international meetings with presentations in the area of Comm K in 2007 at
a. Bioelectromagnetics Society - Japan June/07
b. Bioelectromagnetics Society - San Diego June/08
c. International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine - Toronto May/08
d. Society of Nuclear Medicine - New Orleans June/08
* Summary of report received from Gordon Staples:
1. The list of people interested in Comm F was updated and submitted prior to
the April 19 meeting. The current Comm F list represents a balance of
interests from the government, university, and industry sectors.
2. An URSI student prize of $500.00 was awarded at the Canadian Remote
Sensing Conference that was held in October 2007. The URSI award was given
to the best student paper. There were 14 papers eligible. The award was
given at the Gold Medal Banquet and provided the opportunity to briefly
mention URSI and URSI activities within Canada.
09. Toronto 2010 IEEE-APS/URSI CNC/URSI US-NC internat. symp.
===============================================================
Dr. Antar noted that this is its new name, as the word "NARS" was
deleted, and the old "joint" sharing formula [50-50] was abandoned.
New sharing will follow the numbers of papers presented.
ANTEM 2009, to replace ANTEM 2008, could be held anywhere,
and a place in the Cdn Rockies was suggested. Yahia will offer CNC help
to Lot Shafai. This is a symbolic sponsorship from the CNC (no seed money).
10. Candidatures for URSI Medals & URSI positions
===============================================================
None up for this year.
11. CNC student awards
===============================================================
In 2003 April, the CNC agreed that such student awards should be for:
-work done in Canada
-conference held in Canada
-student must be at a Canadian university
Vallee reported that since the inception of CNC awards for best student
presentation, the CNC has granted $11 000 to 31 students as follows:
- 2000 Aug. - ANTEM Winnipeg - $500 to A. Grbic
- 2002 Aug. - ANTEM Montreal - $500 to R. Curiac
- 2002 Aug. - WIRELESS Calgary - $500 to G. Cheung
- 2004 Aug. - ANTEM Winnipeg - $500 to M. Heshmatzadeh
- 2004 June - CASCA Winnipeg - $250 to M. Livingstone & $250 to K. Douglas
- 2006 Aug. - ANTEM Montreal - $500 to J. Schwartz
- 2006 Sep. - WIRELESS Montreal - $500 to V. Vivekanandan
- 2007 July - URSI-NARS Ottawa - $6 000 awards ($300 each to 20 students)
- 2007 July - ISSSE Montreal - $500 to H. van Nguyn & $500 to S. Fatah
- 2007 Oct. - CRSS Ottawa - $500 to S. Soenen
* It was moved by Frank Prato, seconded by Aldo Petosa, that CNC funds 5
CNC student awards at $1000 each, for the URSI GA in Chicago in 2008 Aug.
Unanimous.
* A $300 URSI CNC award was proposed by Despins, seconded by LoVetri,
for the best Cdn-based student paper at the
Prompt annual Review conference in Montreal in 2008 November. Agreed.
* A $300 URSI CNC award was proposed by Antar, seconded by Petosa,
for the best Cdn-based student paper at the
ANTEM conference in mid-2009. Agreed.
* A $300 URSI CNC award was proposed by Caloz, seconded by Vallee,
for the best Cdn-based student paper at the
Cdn Remote Sensing conference in Whitehorse in 2008 June. Agreed.
The CNC Award consists of a Certificate. In addition, related
travel/attendance/hotel/food receipts will be reimbursed, up to
the stated amount (as voted above).
Students must use the non-staff reimbursement Form, and attach their
receipts up to the stated amount, and send Form and receipts to Dr. Vallee.
There are no alternatives, according to Treasury Board.
12. New CNC appointments or reappointments
===============================================================
Comm. A: it was proposed by LoVetri, seconded by Prato, to ask HIA
to extend Al Freundorfer's term for 4 years, to 31 Oct. 2012.
Comm. B: it was proposed by LoVetri, seconded by Prato, to ask HIA
to extend Aldo Petosa's term for 4 years, to 31 Oct. 2012.
Comm. C: it was proposed by LoVetri, seconded by Prato, to ask HIA
to extend Charles Despins's term for 4 years, to 31 Oct. 2012.
Comm. G&H: it was proposed by LoVetri, seconded by Prato, to ask HIA
to extend Alexandre Koustov's term for 3 years, to 31 Oct. 2011.
Comm. J: it was proposed by LoVetri, seconded by Prato, to ask HIA
to extend Andrew Gray's term for 3 years, to 31 Oct. 2011.
Comm. E: Joe LoVetri expressed regrets not to be able to continue
for a 2nd term. Yahia Antar will sound out the people suggested.
Comm. F: Gordon Staples ends his 2nd term soon. Yahia Antar will sound out
the people suggested.
Comm. K: Frank Prato ends his 2nd term soon. Frank Prato will
sound out the people suggested.
CNC Chair: it was proposed by Yahia Antar, seconded by Aldo Petosa, to
ask HIA to appoint Frank Prato as Chair for a 3-yr term, to 31 Dec. 2011.
The CNC extends a warm thank you to all departing members.
Dr. Antar becomes the "CNC Past Chair", attending all CNC meetings.
13. Solliciting new ideas on:
-how to promote Radio Science in Canada
-how to publicize our activities within the community
=============================================================
There were considerable discussions, relating to the promotion of
Radio Science in Canada, and how to publicize our activities within our
community.
A possible idea is the setup of a Distinghuished Speaker's series.
14. Other businesses
==============================
CNC members will send new suggestions via emails to the CNC Chair.
15. Tentative Date and Place for the next URSI CNC meeting (Vallee)
=======================================================================
There was a suggested or pencilled-in date for London, Ont.
near the last Monday of April 2009, hosted by Frank Prato.
Y.Antar thanked all members present for their work on the CNC.
Antar thanked Vallee for his hard work and reminders.
J. Vallee thanked all members on behalf of NRC-HIA for helping Radio
Science in Canada, and encouraged them to fill the NRC Travel Claim Forms
and to send them to him at NRC-HIA in Victoria.
The CNC meeting ended near 16h.
PS: Minutes written by J.P. Vallee.