THE LOCAL Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has secured over 70 technical papers so far of the targeted 100 for presentation at the IEEE Southeast Conference that the Jamaica section will be hosting from April 4-6.IEEE-Jamaica is now chasing after US$45,000 (J$$2.35 million) in sponsorship support to meet the budget for the three-day event, and according to chairman of the planning committee, Dr. Halden Morris, they are close to 50 per cent of the target, and should reach there by the end of this month.
The University of the West Indies is among the confirmed sponsors. The educational institution has made a US$9,000 commitment to host the technical presentation of papers, which includes providing equipment and other support services. In addition it has offered the IEEE the services of a secretary until the conference, referred to as SoutheastCon.
The University of Technology will be hosting the students and the competitions that will run during the event.
In addition, The IEEE Southeast Region 3 has advanced US$3,000 in seed money to pay for a block of rooms that the body will occupy at the conference venue, the Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios. Additionally, the American based regional body will cover the cost of insurance for the conference participants.
Other sponsors and partnerships are being wrapped up with companies like National Commercial Bank, Air Jamaica to fly in presenters, and Comtech, while talks continue with a number of others including Nortel, the Ministry of Commerce Science and Technology to offer one or two scholarships to competition winners, among others.
On Wednesday, the planning committee also announced that the conference will also have a presentation on lightning strikes by one of the world's foremost experts in this area who comes out of Switzerland.
SoutheastCon is the Institute's forum for bringing computer technology and electronics experts together, and is equally geared at students who are exposed to the latest in cutting edge technology and for whom conference sessions are arranged to run parallel to the seminars for professionals.
The April conference is being held under the theme, 'Bridging the Digital Divide.'
