IEEE History Center Events and Conferences

About

Since 1991, the IEEE History Committee and the IEEE History Center have sponsored an international conferences and events on some aspect of the history of IEEE technologies.

Previous events

Below are the conferences held so far (ones marked with an asterisk were held under special circumstances). In addition, since 2008 the IEEE History Center has served as the technical co-sponsor for other conferences, including HISTELCON and "Norbert Wiener in the 21st Century."

• 20 May 2024: 1:00 p.m. PT (UTC 20:00) - IEEE Milestone Celebration: TCP, 802 Standards, and Google.
• 19 May 2024: You are invited to celebrate the internet’s 50th anniversary with Vint Cerf and other luminaries. Technical innovators and global leaders will discuss these breakthroughs and contemplate what it will take to create a people-centric future where the internet benefits all of humanity.
• 19 May 2024: 12:00 p.m. PT (UTC 19:00) - A Celebration of 50 Years of the Internet.
• 17 May 2024: 3:00 p.m. PT (UTC 22:00) - The Office of the Future: 3 IEEE Milestones Honoring SRI and Its Xerox PARC Heritage.
• 2 February 2024: Dedication by the IEEE Boston Section of three milestones. They are Air Traffic Control Beacon, 193-nm Photolithography, and the Semiconductor Laser.
• 14 October 2023: The TRON Forum (Chair Ken Sakamura, IEEE Life Fellow/IEEE Computer Society Golden Core Member, Dean of Faculty of Information Networking for Innovation and Design, Toyo University Director, YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo) is pleased to announce that TRON Real-time Operating System Family, has been recognized as IEEE Milestone by the IEEE. The Milestone plaque dedication ceremony is being planned at the University of Tokyo campus where the plaque will be permanently displayed.
• 22 May 2023: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. PST (UTC 01:30 - 04:00): On May 22, 1973, a young researcher at Xerox PARC named Bob Metcalfe sent a memo outlining his concept for connecting the research center’s computers. He called it Ethernet and teamed up with hardware wizard Dave Boggs to make it real. Fifty years later, Ethernet connects us all—to each other and to the global internet. We take for granted how much Ethernet and its offshoot Wi-Fi have transformed our world.
• 26 October 2022: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. BST (UTC 13:00 - 15:00): Dedication of the Invention of the CT X-Ray Scanner IEEE Milestone Dedication, Jupiter House, formerly the EMI Head Office, Clayton Road, Hayes.
• 20 October 2022: Dedication of the Budapest Metro No. 1 IEEE Milestone plaque.
• 20-21 June 2022: Dedication of Atlas Computer and Virtual Memory as an IEEE Milestone, IEEE UKI Section.
• 20-21 June 2022: Dedication of Small-Scale Experimental Machine Manchester "Baby" Computer as an IEEE Milestone, IEEE UKI Section.
• 16-17 June 2022: Dedication of Active Shielding of Superconducting Magnets as an IEEE Milestone, IEEE UKI Section
• 26 April 2022: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET (UTC 19:00 - 20:00) Dedication of Hand-Held Digital Camera as an IEEE Milestone, IEEE Rochester Section. *13 April 2022: 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. PDT (UTC 20:30 - 22:00) Ethernet’s Emergence from Xerox PARC: 1975-1980: Ethernet was invented in 1973-74 at Xerox PARC in Palo Alto, CA, to network the PARC’s Alto GUI workstations and the world’s first networked laser printer. This presentation will trace the history and development of Ethernet as a 10 Mb/s product up through the release of the DIX (DEC-Intel-Xerox) spec in 1980 as a multi-vendor open spec for industry. DEC and Intel asked for and got a few minor changes, and DIX published the first Ethernet spec in the “Blue Book” (two versions). That formed a proposal to IEEE 802 and was the basis of the IEEE 802.3 CSMA/CD standard. This event will feature a panel of the major figures who were involved with creating open 10 Mb/s Ethernet in this time period, with elaboration from a select group of its implementers.
• 8 April 2022: Dedication of String Galvanometer for Human Electrocardiogram as an IEEE Milestone, IEEE Benelux Section.
• 18 December 2021: Milestone dedication for the Calcutta Electric Supply Company, Kolkata, India.
• 15 December 2021: Milestone dedication for the International System of Units. Rome, Italy.
• 15 November 2021: RCA Radio Central Milestone virtual ceremony. The date will be the 100th anniversary of the inauguration of the RCA Radio Central facility, which was at the time the world's largest and most powerful station. It also marks the first radio message (in Morse Code) by a president, Warren Harding.
• 5 November 2021: Milestone dedication for the RCA Central. Rocky Point, NY, USA.
• 4 November 2021: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET (UTC 16:00 - 17:30) Distinguished Lecture. Joseph Cunningham, author of "New York Power" and expert on the history of the electrification of New York City, will describe how stresses and strains on the electrical g:rid drove innovative solutions for the generation and distribution of electric power in the metropolis.
• 13 October 2021: 12:00 p.m. ET (UTC 17:00) “Ponies vs Electrons: The Transcontinental Telegraph”, presented by Michael Geselowitz: Almost exactly 160 years ago (24 October 1861), the first North American transcontinental telegraph, linking the east coast of the U.S. with the new state of California, was completed. An amazing technological achievement (it is an IEEE Milestone!), this project impacted not just the profession of electrical engineering, but the trajectory of history of the United States of America. This talk will explore the background, accomplishment, and aftermath of the event.
• 5 October 2021: 11:00 a.m. CT (UTC 16:00) IEEE Day, hosted by IEEE Region 5 History Committee, including presentations on Region 5 Stepping Stone Award Program, IEEE Milestone Award, and history and achievements of the Region 5 sections. The event will be presented on Zoom and will also be concurrently available on YouTube.
• 11 September 2021: 3:30 p.m. PT (UTC 22:30) An event at the Milestone Wall of Fame at the Computer History Museum, where nine speakers will speak to the nine duplicates of Milestone plaques displayed there. Watch the livestream.
• 3 August 2021: 12:00 p.m. ET (UTC 17:00) "Spies and Their Toys: A Selective Look at the History of Espionage Technology," presented by Robert Colburn: Miniature cameras, “spy dust,” tracking dots … are these the inventions of the movies, or are they real-life technologies? In this Lunch & Learn, look at some of the spytech used in intelligence and counterintelligence.
• 20 July 2021: The IEEE REACH team from the History Center is giving a free webinar on using the REACH Program to introduce the history of technology and engineering into the pre-university classroom.
• 13 July 2021: History Center historian Dr. Lisa Nocks, will present, "Let the Patient Be Electrified: The Public Understanding of Medical Electricity from Franklinism to Quell®" at the 2021 virtual meeting of the British Society for the History of Science.
• 13 July 2021: 10:00 a.m. PT (UTC 17:00) Folsom Powerhouse Milestone Dedication. Folsom was one of the earliest electrical plants to generate three-phase alternating current, and the first using three-phase 60 hertz. On 13 July 1895, General Electric generators began transmitting electricity 22 miles to Sacramento at 11000 volts, powering businesses, streetcars, and California's capitol. The plant demonstrated advantages of three-phase, 60 hertz long-distance transmission, which became standard, and promoted nationwide development of affordable hydropower.
• 16 June 2021: Please join the UH College of Engineering online for the ALOHAnet 50th Anniversary Mini-Symposium, Wednesday, June 16th 2021, 8:00am – 1:00pm HST via online platform.
• 16 June 2021: 12:00 p.m. ET (UTC 17:00) “Engineers and Scientists as Science Fiction Authors: From Kepler to Bose”, presented by Nathan Brewer: A study of the intersection of art and engineering, profiling four scientists and engineers who extended their work into literature.
• 18 May 2021: 3:00 p.m. CEST (UTC 13:00) IEEE Milestone - ST Multiple Silicon Technologies on a Chip.
• 12 May 2021: 12:00 p.m. ET (UTC 17:00) “Humanoid Robots: Fiction, Fact, or Commercial Fizzle?”, presented by Lisa Nocks: In the 1960s, the idea of humanoid robots was still the stuff of science fiction, but by the end of that decade, Prof. Ichiru Kato of Waseda University introduced a fifty-year goal of humanoid robots for the home, which he called “My ‘robot.” By the turn of the millennium, the humanoid robot initiative had spread from Japan to dozens of labs around the world. Who is responsible for the advances in humanoid robotics, and what can we expect by 2050?
• 24 March 2021: IEEE History Center Presents: The Telephone Ladies and the Bell System's "Spirit of Service" during World War II. Explore the Bell System's responses to increased demand for telephone service during World War II and AT&T's decisions to expand its female labor force. Then delve into the experiences and significant contributions made by women civilians and members of the armed forces as they provided “three minute furloughs” for American GIs and communication lines for the war effort at home and abroad.
• 22 February 2021: Milestone Dedication for BASIC Computer Language
• 9 February 2021: Nikola Tesla, the AC Motor, and the Origins of Power Electronics, a webinar sponsored by the IEEE Power Electronics Society History Committee, 11:00 a.m. ET (UTC 16:00). Presented by W. Bernard Carlson, University of Virginia/National University of Ireland Galway. Register for the event.
• 3 February 2021: Milestone Dedication for Gravitational Wave Antenna. Register and see more information.
• 21 January 2021: Milestone Dedication for Rotating Fields and Ferraris Induction Motor
• 15 December 2020: Milestone Dedication for First Operational Fingerprint ID System
• 6 November 2020 10:00 a.m. ET (UTC-5 15:00) - 8 November 2020 6:00 p.m. ET (UTC-5 23:00) 2020 Sigma Xi STEM Art and Film Festival: Everyone is welcome with free admission to the Sigma Xi STEM Art and Film Festival, featuring work that portrays science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). In addition to showcasing IEEE REACH videos, the festival will have more than 35 pieces of art, more than 15 films including animations, science fiction, and documentaries for general audience and K-12 students & teachers, Free Style Rap by Canadian rapper Baba Brinkman, Rap Music Videos in the Classroom by Baba Brinkman, #SciCommMake Showcase, "As Above as Below" panel discussion and exhibits, and a public vote to name the best film and artwork. Register for the event.
• 13 October 2020: 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. PT (UTC-7 20:30-21:30) Webinar: ALOHAnet IEEE Milestone Dedication Ceremony. ALOHAnet was the first radio packet broadcast network, and it introduced the very first random access protocol: the protocol that is utilized by every wireless technology today. This virtual event will be broadcast live from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa College of Engineering. The live-stream link will go live 15 minutes prior to the ceremony and will be available to the general public for viewing only. Streaming quality will be 1080p; in comparison, YouTube streaming quality is 720p.
• 10 October 2020: Historian Dr. Lisa Nocks will give the keynote lecture at a free conference, "Does Science Fiction Influence our Technical and Social changes?", as part of a conference sponsored by the IEEE Southeastern Michigan Section. Please join at 11:30 a.m. CT (UTC-04 16:30).
• 8 October 2020 Webinar: Lockheed’s Spy Satellite Programs – Looking From Above the Iron Curtain: 1:30 p.m. PT (UTC-07 20:30). In this online program, Lockheed veterans will discuss the original Corona mission and the key challenges required by Agena for its long-term success. They will illustrate how Agena subsystems and technologies co-evolved and advanced together with system integration and test techniques. They will also show how the program taught the aerospace industry many fundamental lessons, including how to successfully specify and accommodate products from multiple suppliers. Speakers: Sam Araki , Miles Johnson, James Carlock, Terry Zaccone, Hugh Satterlee, Bill Monroe; moderator: Tom Gardner. Organized by the Santa Clara Valley Section's Silicon Valley Technology History Committee and the IEEE Consultants' Network of Silicon Valley.
• 30 September 2020: IEEE Pre-University Webinar at 4:00 p.m. EAT (UTC+3 13:00). Please join IEEE REACH and TryEngineering to learn about free pre-university STEM resources for educators, students, parents, and volunteers. Resources address core STEM concepts including the history of technology and the engineering design process. Improve students’ technology and engineering literacy skills with these resources. Acquire full lesson plans, hands-on activities, and other materials that engage and inspire the next generation of technology innovators.
• 17 September 2020: Join the IEEE Foundation and the IEEE History Center as Institutional Historian and Archivist Mary Ann C. Hellrigel, Ph.D., explores the introduction of electric light during a free IEEE Foundation Spotlight Webinar at 1:00 p.m. ET (UTC-04 17:00). This webinar is called "Edison Invented a Practical Incandescent Lamp, So What?"
• Lunch and Learn: "Small Mistakes, Big Consequences, Usability and Solutions": Small mistakes in technology often have big, and expensive, consequences. Fortunately, the opposite is also true. Relatively simple solutions can lead to tremendously successful and usable devices and systems. By looking at notable failures and successes as well as the decision-making that led to them, Robert Colburn, research administrator, IEEE History Center, examines the mindset of making good technical decisions. As a bonus, Colburn also reveals why cruise ships and high voltage electric lines don't mix.
• "Between Two Countries: Vladimir Zworykin, Russia and the FBI": Presented by NJARC member Alexander Magoun, Ph.D., at the February 2019 meeting of the New Jersey Antique Radio Club at Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA. Dr. Magoun tells the story of decades of intense surveillance of RCA scientist Vladimir Zworykin from prior to World War II up until the 1960s.
• 2009, IEEE Conference on the History of Technical Societies, 5-7 August 2009, Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Organized in conjunction with IEEE's 125th anniversary, and featuring, in addition to the technical program, an anniversary banquet at the Downtown Club. The proceedings were published by IEEE and are available on IEEE Xplore.
• 2007, IEEE Conference on the History of Electric Power, 3-5 August 2007, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, USA. Given contemporary concerns about the state of the power grid within the United States and globally, this was a timely topic. Thirty papers were presented to 62 attendees from ten countries. The proceedings were published by IEEE and are available on IEEE Xplore.
• 2004, IEEE Conference on the History of Electronics, 28-30 June 2004, Bletchley Park Trust, Bletchley Park, UK. The profound role electronics have had in shaping the modern world, from the invention of the Fleming diode onward, makes this an important topic of historical study. Forty-eight papers were presented in front of 100 attendees from 20 countries.
• 2001, IEEE Conference on the History of Telecommunications, 25-27 July 2001, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. The essential role that telecommunications has had in shaping the modern world made this an important topic of historical study. Thirty-two papers were presented to 50 attendees from eight countries.
• 2000, Singapore 2000: Promoting the History of Electrical Engineering, 24-26 January 2000, Singapore. The meeting attracted engineers from around the world to discuss archives, oral histories, Milestones, museums, and other historical activities. This conference was held as a satellite of the IEEE Power Engineering Society's (now called Power & Energy Society) Winter Power Conference, and was held in conjunction with the Maui II meeting, sponsored by the IEEE and IEEJ History Committees. Seven papers were presented to nineteen attendees from seven countries.
• 1999, IEEE Conference on Women & Technology: Historical, Societal & Professional Perspectives, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. The History Center was a co-sponsor for ISTAS '99, the 1999 International Symposium on Technology, with the IEEE Society for the Social Impact of technology. The center ran the history track, in which fifteen papers were presented to 120 attendees from ten countries. A proceedings of the full conference was published by the Society.
• 1997, IEEE Conference on the History of Computing, June 1997, Williamsburg, VA, USA. A book edited by Atsushi Akera and Frederick Nebeker resulted from the conference: From 0 to 1: An Authoritative History of Modern Computing (Oxford University Press, 2002).
• 1995, IEEE-IEEJ Meeting on the History of Electrical Engineering, 7 - 8 December 1995, Maui, HI, USA. Members and historians of IEEE and the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan met to exchange information on the collection and presentation of the histories of electrical engineering. Papers and presentations were published in Record of the Maui Meeting (November 1996).
• 1995, IEEE Conference on the History of Engineering, Williamstown, MA, USA. The first conference to be designated as a regular affair and organized around the principles that were to guide the series. Many consider this to be the first IEEE conference on the history of technology. Twelve papers were presented to 25 attendees from five countries.
• 1991, Technological Competitiveness in Electrical and Electronics Industries:  Historical and Contemporary Perspectives, 10 - 13 October 1991, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. Shortly after moving to Rutgers in 1990, the History Center received a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to organize this symposium. Thirty-two invited papers were presented to 50 attendees from nine countries.  Seventeen of the papers were subsequently published by IEEE Press in a volume edited by William Aspray: Technological Competitiveness: Contemporary and Historical Perspectives on the Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Industries (1993).