Program Impacts

IEEE Foundation holds and manages a significant number of donor designated funds that enable Societies to recognize both technical achievement and service. Society Awards pay tribute to technical professionals whose exceptional achievements and outstanding contributions have made a lasting impact on technology, society and the engineering profession. In the technical arena, pioneering and current contributions to a field of interest are recognized, while service awards honor both volunteers and staff for their contributions to a Society. New funds and generous gifts committed in 2017 enabled the establishment of the following awards:

• IEEE Magne “Kris” Kristiansen  Award for Contributions to Experimental Nuclear and Plasma Science by the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Science Society,
• IEEE Caixin Sun and Stanislaw Grzybowski Lifetime Achievement Award, IEEE Caixin Sun and Stanislaw Grzybowski Young Professional Achievement Award, and IEEE Caixin Sun and Stanislaw Grzybowski Best Student Paper Awards by the  IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Society, and
• IEEE Control Systems Society Roberto Tempo Best CDC Paper Award by the IEEE Control Systems Society.

Supporting Women in Science

The Council on Superconductivity selected Professor Judith L. MacManus-Driscoll of the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy at University of Cambridge, UK to receive the 2017 IEEE Dr. James Wong Award for Continuing and Significant Contributions to Applied Superconductivity Materials Technology. This award recognizes a living individual for a career of meritorious achievements and outstanding technical contributions in the field of applied superconductor materials technology. The award was presented to Prof. Driscoll during the European Conference on Applied Superconductivity in Geneva, Switzerland in September 2017. Prof. Driscoll received a plaque, an inscribed niobium medallion and a cash award of $5,000.

This was the first time a woman has been awarded this honor. “I am in a very important position as a senior female Professor in Cambridge where the proportion of women is very low, particularly women with children. I support women in science at all levels…with proposal writing and personal encouragement. I hold a school Governor position at a local girl’s high school. There, I help to steer the science activities and encourage girls to pursue science degrees,” said Driscoll.

Other honors Driscoll has received include The Joule Medal (for applied physics) from the Institute of Physics and The Inaugural Armourers and Brasiers Prize from the Royal Academy of Engineering for materials research that has contributed to industry. Though not an IEEE member, Prof. Driscoll has made significant contributions in superconductivity materials research.

Gifts from James Wong and IEEE Council of Superconductivity to the IEEE Foundation made the establishment of this award possible.