It’s usually mentioned {that a} single second can spark a lifelong journey. For me the second occurred in 2011, once I was a graduate pupil—not in a lab or a classroom however moderately in a convention corridor in Rome. I used to be presenting my graduate analysis on a helix antenna for wideband terrestrial and GPS L2 communications on the European Convention on Antennas and Propagation. EUCAP, organized by the European Affiliation on Antennas and Propagation, is supported by IEEE.
Though I attended the convention to obtain suggestions on my analysis, I left with one thing far larger: an introduction to IEEE.
On the time, I didn’t know that the group would redefine my profession, develop my worldview, and plant the seeds of a purpose-driven life in engineering.
I returned dwelling energized, not solely to develop in my discipline but in addition inside IEEE, so I joined as a graduate pupil member.
Fourteen years later, I now function chair of the IEEE Islamabad Part, having walked a journey constructed on studying, management, and the assumption that engineering should serve humanity.
Turning a spark into gasoline
Upon returning to Pakistan after EUCAP 2011, I noticed the immense potential for creating significant native influence on the nation’s engineers if IEEE’s world vitality and sources have been successfully harnessed. My background in RF and microwave engineering performed a central function in shaping my contributions to IEEE.
Whereas working on the Nationwide College of Sciences and Know-how (NUST) in Islamabad, I recognized a urgent native want that may very well be addressed utilizing IEEE’s assist and sources: The nation lacked a centralized platform for microwave and RF-related analysis, collaboration, and coaching.
To fill that hole, in 2016 I shaped Pakistan’s first joint chapter of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation, Circuits and Methods, Electromagnetic Compatibility, and Microwave Idea and Strategies societies.
The joint chapter gives workshops and technical periods for lecturers, college students, and younger professionals. It additionally gives alternatives for worldwide collaboration and networking amongst IEEE members.
Greater than 200 occasions have been organized, bringing distinguished professors and researchers to Pakistan as audio system. The visits catalyzed IEEE memorandums of understanding that included pupil alternate packages and cross-border analysis.
Extra importantly, they uncovered a whole lot of younger Pakistani engineers to world-class information. School and college students from throughout Pakistan are taking part and dealing at amenities they couldn’t beforehand entry, akin to anechoic chambers and electromagnetic compatibility labs which are utilized in antenna and microwave system testing.
Our efforts have been acknowledged in 2019 and 2020 with Finest Chapter Awards from the societies that shaped the joint chapter.
In the course of the early a part of the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapter launched a webinar collection on YouTube that confirmed easy methods to use devices for the characterization of antenna and microwave circuits.
Nosherwan Shoaib [middle], Hammad M. Cheema [left], and Muhammad Umar Khan accepted the Finest Chapter Award on behalf of the joint chapter of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation, Circuits and Methods, Electromagnetic Compatibility, and Microwave Idea and Strategies societies. Cheema is its vice chair and Khan is its treasurer.Ghulam Rasool
Supporting IEEE’s mission
I’ve led a number of IEEE humanitarian tasks which have improved lives in a few of Pakistan’s most underserved communities.
One venture that left a long-lasting influence on me was constructing houses for households displaced from the 2022 floods within the Sindh province. Pakistan that yr skilled the deadliest floods the nation had ever seen. An estimated 33 million individuals have been affected, and 20 million are nonetheless dwelling in dire circumstances. The floods broken homes, hospitals, and electrical energy and highway infrastructure.
With assist from the IEEE Humanitarian Know-how Board, the IEEE Particular Curiosity Group on Humanitarian Know-how, and NUST, IEEE volunteers constructed 17 houses. They have been geared up with solar-powered vitality methods that offered electrical energy for lights, followers, and different fundamental tools, guaranteeing long-term sustainability.
IEEE volunteers additionally offered vocational coaching to survivors, equipping them with sensible expertise in fundamental electronics and photo voltaic set up. Their efforts aimed to revive livelihoods, promote self-reliance, and empower individuals to launch home-based companies.
In 2023 I labored with EPICS in IEEE to develop a digital actuality–primarily based remedy platform geared toward supporting behavioral growth in kids with autism. A workforce of undergraduate college students developed the platform, which makes use of a VR headset to simulate behavioral and communication remedy eventualities inside the metaverse. The platform remains to be being examined and validated.
One other EPICS in IEEE initiative I led concerned designing and deploying a good fall-detection system for aged individuals in assisted-living amenities. The system makes use of 60-gigahertz radar sensors to observe posture and alert caregivers within the occasion of a fall.
Range and inclusion in engineering
Selling variety and inclusion has been an important a part of my IEEE journey. Because of assist from the IEEE Girls in Circuits and Methods group and the IEEE MTT-S variety and inclusion advert hoc committee, I’ve organized initiatives geared toward inspiring ladies and different underrepresented teams to pursue engineering as a profession.
I used to be chosen as a STEM champion this yr within the IEEE TryEngineering program. Champions work to do extra STEM outreach and join future engineers with IEEE sources.
IEEE has been greater than an expert community; it has been my launchpad for management, my platform for humanitarian influence, and my group of mentors.
I promote STEM training by participating with preuniversity faculties and organizing hands-on actions to spark curiosity and studying. Being a champion has been an enriching expertise.
My perception in equitable entry to training has been the cornerstone of my STEM outreach efforts. I’ve led greater than 30 workshops in collaboration with 20 native nonprofits, benefiting greater than 500 orphans and homeless kids. The hands-on periods lined radar, robotics, wi-fi communication, and different matters. Along with a workforce of IEEE pupil volunteers, we additionally educated lecturers to copy the actions in faculties.
By means of my work, I’ve had the chance to instill core moral values in college students dwelling in underserved communities. This function has allowed me to advocate for each technical excellence and ethical duty—two pillars I imagine are important for constructing a greater future by means of engineering.
Collaboration is essential
A serious turning level in my volunteer journey got here in 2022 by means of the IEEE Member and Geographic Actions Volunteer Management Coaching program. The VoLT program is designed to deepen volunteers’ understanding of IEEE’s construction, merchandise, companies, and out there sources. It additionally helps individuals respect their function inside native models and the broader group whereas making ready them for management roles. VoLT individuals full a workforce venture, during which they determine an issue, a necessity, a chance, or an space of enchancment inside their native organizational unit or the worldwide IEEE. Then they develop a marketing strategy to handle the priority.
For me, this system offered readability, confidence, and group. My workforce venture—an AI-based vestibule for IEEE—was ranked second among the many submissions. This system was greater than only a coaching train; it was a catalyst for my development as a structured, strategic, and succession-focused chief.
One in every of my most up-to-date management alternatives was chairing the In direction of IEEE Pakistan Council mini-conference in Might. The occasion introduced collectively govt committee members from IEEE sections and subsections throughout Pakistan to discover the formation of a nationwide IEEE council to unify efforts with world IEEE practices.
I additionally spearheaded the institution of the IEEE Islamabad Part life member affinity group and the IEEE Communications Society skilled chapter.
I imagine the lively involvement of senior members is crucial—not just for their mentorship and knowledge but in addition to assist the part attain new heights of excellence.
I strongly imagine in cross-institutional collaboration—which is why the IEEE Islamabad Part is actively partnering with organizations together with the Pakistan Aerospace Council, the Establishment of Engineering and Know-how, and the Establishment of Mechanical Engineers to amplify our influence on the engineering and scientific group. The partnerships will allow joint technical seminars and coaching workshops that broaden our outreach and strengthen our contributions.
By means of worldwide conferences, seminars, joint workshops, and collaborative tasks, the IEEE Islamabad Part has engaged with main electronics firms Rohde and Schwarz of Munich and Keysight Applied sciences of Everett, Wash., to advertise innovation, expertise growth, and utilized analysis. The collaborations improve college students’ skilled readiness and allow trade companions to attach with rising tutorial expertise and cutting-edge concepts.
A management launchpad
What began as a pupil membership has grown right into a purpose-filled career-long journey. IEEE has been greater than an expert community; it has been my launchpad for management, my platform for humanitarian influence, and my group of mentors. Each convention I organized, each youngster I taught, each household I supported, and each volunteer I mentored are chapters of my story, which IEEE helped write.
To all younger engineers, college students, and professionals studying this: IEEE is what you make of it. It may be merely a line in your CV, or it may be a compass that guides your profession and character. If you align technical talent with empathy and pair management with service, you not solely develop, you uplift others as nicely.
I invite you to be a part of, volunteer, and lead. Someplace, somebody is ready for an answer solely you possibly can create—and IEEE may help you ship it.
My journey has by no means been mine alone. It has been a collective effort powered by a unprecedented group. I look ahead to persevering with the mission collectively, as we try to make IEEE not only a skilled dwelling but in addition a platform for lasting influence.
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