Welcome to the Home Page for the Cambridge Area Committee of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
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The Cambridge Area Committee is one of three which constitute the East Anglian Centre
of the IEE. These are based in Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich.
Some of these now maintain their own Web sites, and you can get more details of local
activities by clicking the hyperlinks below.
There is an electronic mailing list for the Area, which provides an excellent means for
the dissemination of information by email on IEE activities. This is well worth joining as
there's useful information and no "spam" on this mailing list. Non-members are
most welcome to join this mailing list.
Information on local IEE events is also posted to the Usenet newsgroup news:cam.misc and distributed by the IEE's
regional electronic mailing list.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
The IEE has a strong commitment to Continuing
Professional Development. Most meetings held in the Centre qualify for
PDUs (Professional Development Units). For IEE members enrolled in the Continuing
Professional Development (CPD) scheme most events are worth 0.75 technical PDUs. If you
are not already enrolled in the CPD scheme - but would like to - then please either come
along to any meeting and talk to the Secretary or Chairman, or get in touch with the
scheme co-ordinator Ruth Hughes at IEE.
Many of the meetings in the Cambridge Area are held in Lecture Theatre 0 of the
University Engineering Department. Most meeting take place at 6.30 p.m., and for these it
is normally possible to park in the Engineering Department Car Park; however please read
the warning below.
Click here for a map
showing access to the Engineering Department.
Warning: Prospective visitors are warned that there is a security barrier
adjacent to the Department entrance. The associated red/green traffic lights should
be observed at all times. Also, the barrier restricts the maximum width adjacent to
the entrance - some care needed. It is not advisable to leave cars in the Department Car
Park after meetings are over, as in the interests of security the barrier is programmed to
close some time after meetings finish. A special swipe-card is needed to operate the
barrier when it is closed. Security guards patrol the Department, but may not always
be within easy range for much of the time.
This Event Calendar has been generated from the Cambridge Area Committee's Programme
which is distributed to all IEE members within the Centre. It contains details of of
events taking place in and around Cambridge.
If you would like brief information about the East Anglian Centre's Programme - which
includes meetings organised by the neighbouring Area Committees (centred on Norwich and
Ipswich), plus events organised by the Centre Committee itself - please click here. This information is derived from
the Programme Card which is distributed to all IEE members within the Centre.
Information on events staged by the Younger Members' Sections is
available separately.
Certain meetings (marked with a *) are held at BT Labs, Martlesham Heath,
Ipswich. To attend these, visitors must be in possession of a pass, obtainable in
advance, from the Ipswich
Area Secretary.
To avoid disappointment, if you are proposing to travel any significant distance to
attend a meeting, you are strongly advised to check with the local Area Secretary in case
there has been a last-minute programme change. You can obtain more details about any
of the meetings listed below from the Honorary Secretary of the Cambridge Area
Committee.
Important note: the information presented here was believed to
be correct at the time it was compiled.
It is impracticable to update the information to take into account changes of
affiliation and other factors that might affect the current validity of the
content. Viewers must verify for themselves whether presenters' names and
corporate affiliations are still valid.
Cambridge Area Programme 1998/1999
Unless stated otherwise, meetings are held in Lecture Theatre 0 of
the University Engineering Department, Trumpington Street, Cambridge.
Click here for a map
showing access to the Engineering Department.
1 October 1998
18.30
|
Where is Java now - a promise fulfilled? Java
is the most hyped language in the history of computing. Is the hype justified? Is Java a
passing fad, or will it have a permanent impact. This presentation examines the
strengths and weaknesses of Java, where it's succeeding, and why, and demonstrates some of
the more interesting aspects of Java.
Speaker – Jonathan Allin of Origin IT
Biography: Jonathan Allin is a Senior Consultant with Origin IT,
a multinational solutions provider. He is based in Cambridge, UK, and is developing a
number of Java based smart card and enterprise services, that will complement the
organisation's integration solutions. |
Host – R W Mercer 1st Lecture
1st Committee Mtg |
15 October 1998
18.30
|
Electro Magnetic Compatibility – Does your
product meet the growing regulations? This lecture will examine the growth of
regulations in the last 4 years and extensions planned by the European Commission and,
with case histories, explain the problems companies face in keeping their products
saleable.
Speaker – Derek Barlow of dB Technology |
Host – WGP 2nd Lecture |
3 November 1998
18.30
|
Valve Audio – the bright glow of the future An
article in the 'The Times' to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of the
transistor, highlighted the continuing popularity of valve audio amongst both musicians
and Hi Fi enthusiasts. The speaker will argue that the future has never been so bright for
the thermionic valve in audio.
Speaker – Richard McMahon – Cambridge University |
Host – DH 3rd Lecture
2nd Committee Mtg |
19 November 1998
18.30
|
Development of Spin Out Businesses in the Cambridge
Area: the Past, the Present and the Future The speaker will draw on 20-years
experience to examine the past and the present as well as attempt to forecast the future.
Speaker – Walter Herriott – Cambridge Innovation Centre |
Host – WGP 4th Lecture |
10 December 1998
All day
Cambridge Area Seminar |
PCs in the Desk Top Environment Further information on the Web |
Host – Area Committee |
7 January 1999
18.30
Joint with IIE
|
Gallium Nitride: The amazing blue light emitter.
White LEDs to replace light bulbs Gallium Nitride may be the most important new
electronic material since Silicon. It emits intense blue light and if alloyed it will emit
light in any desired colour. Gallium Nitride LEDs may replace domestic light bulbs and
fluorescent tubes.. A diode lasts for 100,000 hours and only consumes 10% of the energy of
light bulbs. Gallium Nitride lasers will enable very high density optical and compact
discs to be written. However to play these you will need a new CD player
Speaker – Prof Colin Humphries – Cambridge University |
Host – WGP 5th Lecture |
21 January 1999
18.30
|
Creativity and Innovation in Organisations The
speaker will use humour to illustrate some important beliefs to assist with recruiting the
right people in the right post.
Speaker – Hugh Browton - Clarity Consulting |
Host – CS 6th Lecture
3rd Committee Mtg |
4 February 1999
Prestige Lecture
18.00
Wolfson Theatre
Churchill College
Cambridge
Map of
Churchill College
Note: the Wolfson Theatre is adjacent to the Bevin Room
|
Seventh Annual Prestige Lecture
ENTREPRENEURSHIP - THE KEY TO
HIGH TECHNOLOGY GROWTH
by
Dr Hermann Hauser
Amadeus Capital Partners
Dr Hermann Hauser was born in Vienna and gained an MA in Physics from
Vienna University and a doctorate in Physics at Cambridge. He has founded or
co-founded a large number of high-tech start-up companies, including Acorn Computers,
Active Book Company, Cambridge Network Ltd and Amadeus Capital Partners.
His lecture on Entrepreneurship will draw on the experiences of these
start-ups as part of the Cambridge Phenomenon and will examine possibilities for
the start of the next millennium.
More details and poster on the Web
Please note the time and venue which are
incorrectly given in the programme card |
Host – Mike Kemp 7th Lecture |
18 February 1999
18.30 |
Valuing Intellectual Capital The speaker
will highlight the difficulties encountered and suggest some possible solutions.
Speaker – Bill Blake, Really UK Ltd. |
Host – CS 8th Lecture |
23 February 1999
10.30 a.m.
2.00 p.m.
7.00 p.m.
|
1999 IEE Faraday Lecture
presented by the University of Kent
For details from the IEE website, click on the image
The Corn Exchange, Cambridge
All welcome
Schools especially encouraged to apply
For free tickets send a large SAE to
Malcolm Dee, 62 Lyles Road, Cottenham,
Cambridge CB4 8QR |
. |
4 March 1999
|
Air Traffic Control We
regret this lecture has had to be cancelled unexpectedly |
Host – JF 9th Lecture
4th Committee Mtg |
18 March 1999
18.30
|
How safe is your motor car?
Crashing with Confidence - Surviving the Big Bang!The talk will cover some of
the work at MIRA with particular reference to the electronic systems in today's
automobiles. Click here for further details.
Speaker: Jim Hopton, Motor Industries Research Association |
Host – JF 10th Lecture
|
22
April 1999
18.30
|
Defensive Information Warfare The nature
of the beast and the extension of the threat to commerce and industry. Click here for further details. Refreshments at 18.00
Speaker – Group Captain David Love, RAF |
Host – WGP 11th Lecture
5th Committee Mtg |
6 May 1999
18.30
|
Difficulty for Foreigners caused by English Speakers The
talk will be relevant to those who do business with and work with those to whom English is
at best a second language.
Speaker – Marilyn Benzine, ABC Language Training |
Host – CS 12th Lecture |
Lecture Synopsis
How safe is your motor car?
Crashing with Confidence - Surviving the Big Bang!
18.30, Thursday 18 March 1999
Lecture Theatre 0
Cambridge University Engineering Department
Trumpington Street, Cambridge.
Speaker: Jim Hopton, Motor Industries Research Association
In the past it was considered that motor vehicle accidents just happened and in many
cases it was the fault of the driver. Over recent years there has been a shift in
expectation to say that whatever the cause of a crash, it is the responsibility of the
vehicle manufacturer to protect the occupants of the vehicle. Great strides have been made
in avoiding impacts through, for example; better vehicle handling, improved tyre
performance and features like ABS. Developments have also been made in the passive safety
of the vehicle. Improved understanding of structures has enabled us to absorb much of the
energy of the impact. The compulsory usage of seatbelts, and features like airbags has
improved occupant protection. As a result of all of these activities, the death rate for
UK roads has reduced considerably. But where are the opportunities for further
improvements? Technologies and legislative pressures are being introduced that look not
only at the crash survival rate, but also at the quality of that survival through reducing
the long term disability from a crash.
The presentation will open with a review of recent history, followed by a study of what
happens in a typical frontal impact. This description will focus on what we are trying to
achieve as restraint engineers and where the opportunities exist for new technologies
(particularly sensing electronics). The presentation will incorporate examples of full
vehicle crash tests and studies of airbag performance, which will be presented through the
MIRA data viewer system.
Presenter
Jim Hopton
Manager of Safety Engineering and Research
MIRA (The Motor Industry Research Association)
Jim graduated with an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of
Birmingham, and started his career in the vehicle evaluation department at Rover
Gaydon. The role of this group was to be the first customer for the vehicle hence the
group's efforts were focused on the overall performance of the vehicle and in particular,
ensuring that the various systems in the vehicle worked together. Jim moved to MIRA in
1986, and has undertaken a number of activities that started with vehicle durability ran
through design and culminated in the acquisition of a full vehicle programme from Korea.
At this point an opportunity arose within the safety group and four years ago Jim took
over the running of the HyGe sled test facility, which is where the restraint systems are
developed. With his background knowledge of vehicle integration activites, he has moved
the Safety group from being predominately test based, into a group that now undertakes a
number of safety engineering studies for customers in the USA and Europe.
Lecture Synopsis
Defensive information warfare
The nature of the beast and the threat to commerce and industry
18.30, Thursday 22 April 1999
Lecture Theatre 0
Cambridge University Engineering Department
Trumpington Street, Cambridge.
Speaker: Group Captain David Love RAF
The lecture will address issues associated with securing computer networks against
‘hackers’ and other malicious attackers from a military viewpoint. The major
headings for the lecture are:
- What is the Ministry of Defence (MOD)
- The MOD does not have unique problems
- Lessons from America
- Nature and components of Information ‘fechnology (II) Security
- How hackers work.
- The Threat
- The Solutions
- Defensive Information Warfare
Members are warmly invited to attend this important lecture that is being presented by
a leading expert in the field of information warfare.
Presenter
Group Captain David Love RAF
Following a law degree at Sheffield University, Group Captain David Love was
commissioned into the Royal Air Force in January 1972 as part of the then new Graduate
Training Scheme at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell. A security and police expert, he
has been involved in most of the military campaigns mounted by Her Majesty’s
Governments in the subsequent years. He has served in diverse overseas tours in Cyprus,
Germany, Hong Kong and Belgium, was actively involved in the evacuation of Cyprus in 1974
and was the RAF Head of Counter Intelligence in Hong Kong during the period of the student
demonstrations in Tiananemen Square. In the reverberations which followed the end of the
Cold War, he served at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as the Chief of
Security for all the NATO installations in Europe and was heavily involved with the
Supreme Allied Commander in bringing a new order to the NATO and former Warsaw Pact
nations.
Since 1984, when he was first introduced to computer security, he has been involved with
most areas of technical security both in NATO and within the RAF. Currently responsible
for all aspects of security of information in the Royal Air Force, his multi-disciplinary
department has led, amongst other matters, in technical security, IT security and
Defensive Information Warfare. He sits on the top-level MOD security of information
Working Groups and is involved in the Cabinet Office initiative in the Critical National
IT Infrastructure. In his own right, he is the Command Provost and Security Officer of the
RAF Logistics Command that has an annual expenditure of £1.4bn.
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Page prepared by David Holburn.