EMBS Virtual Event Case Study

We're exploring the cutting-edge realm of holographic technology with our special guest Terry Davis, SVP at ARHT Media. As David delves into the fascinating world of holograms and their application in modern conferences and events, Terry gives us an insider's view of ARHT Media, a Toronto-based company at the forefront of this innovative field. Terry shares his journey and the mission of the company, and how this technology is revolutionizing how we interact with digital content by bringing lifelike holographic experiences to audiences worldwide. Watch the hologram in action at this LINK. 

Join David as he dives into the transformative impact of AI on research paper publication with Laura Harvey, Chief Customer Officer, Ex Ordo – exploring how AI reshapes authorship, enhances peer review, and makes research more accessible. They discuss ChatGPT's influence on writing, the shift towards Open Access, and Ex Ordo's innovative solutions to support IEEE conference organizers. From leveraging AI for integrity to navigating Open Access's economic models, they cover the future of research publishing amidst industry disruptions and emerging technology.

The IEEE Boston Section made the pivot to online, as did the entire world, when the pandemic hit. However, even after coming out of COVID in 2023, this group kept several of their key conferences as completely virtual – HPEC being one of them. Why did they decide to keep this format, will it stay this way, and how can an event that was in-person from 1997-2019 survive (and thrive) as an online-only experience? Jeremy Kepner, Head of the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Supercomputing Center, chats with David to explain.

In this episode, David is joined by Marie Hunter, Senior Director and Head of IEEE Global Meetings, Conferences & Events to discuss the podcast and what’s in store for listeners this season. As an event evangelist, Marie talks about her optimism for the future of convening. No matter how people get together, irrespective of the format, live and in-person gatherings are where the magic happens. The types of 'forums' for our conference community to share ideas may change, but at the heart of IEEE events is the passion to advance technology for the benefit of humanity.

David speaks with IEEE Power & Energy Society Executive Director, Tim Licitra, about the 2023 IEEE PES Grid Edge Technologies Conference and Exposition (Grid Edge). Tim educates the IEEE conference organizer community on how his group successfully stood up this first-time conference, from inception, to strategy, to implementation, and their plans for its future. 

In this episode, David interviews Ramakrishna Mukkamala about the Cardiovascular Health Tech Virtual Conference. Coming out of the pandemic in 2022, this Professor in the Departments of Bioengineering and Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh (and IEEE EMBS member) decided that online conferences still had a valuable place in the events space. He decided to hold an important online meeting for his Technical Committee on CSPE with some of the best names and brightest minds in the wearable industry, like Google, Apple and Fitbit. The results were very impressive.

Tucker Miller is an executive coach, leadership consultant, attorney, and Certified Master Facilitator for ELI, a training company that helps organizations improve their workplace culture. Listen to her as she shares her insights on leadership and collaboration, particularly as they pertain to conferences. She also explains the progress she has seen with regards to diversity and inclusion as they relate to events. Organizers of IEEE should heed the advice of this engaging storyteller before they go off and plan their next conference.

Tim Trefzer (VP, Honeycomb Strategies) has led the sustainability and ESG efforts of some of the most iconic and recognizable sports teams, venues, events, and brands in the world, including Mercedes-Benz Stadium, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, the Super Bowl, the College Football Playoff, and the NCAA Men’s Final Four. David interviews Tim and gets his advice for organizers and meeting planners booking locations, while also keeping sustainability front of mind. And, the listeners of this episode will learn the numerous facets to consider when it comes to sustainability, which include not just environmental factors, but also social elements, global economics, the conservation of natural resources, and creating more inclusive experiences for all.

Dalma Novak is the Chair of the IEEE Technical Activities Board Committee on Diversity & Inclusion (TAB CDI). Her perspective on embracing our differences, and how to ensure the broad representation of people who make up our communities and contribute to technology development within IEEE, needs to be heard. DE&I is ever important when running a conference, creating your agenda, considering your speaker pool, and building a heterogeneous organizing committee. Tune in for this timely conversation on a very important topic.

The IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2023 was held in London, UK from 29 May – 2 June. General Chair, Professor Kaspar Althoefer - a systems engineer on robotics at Queen Mary University of London - sat down with MCE’s very own David Stankiewicz to discuss the conference's highlights of the day sessions, publicity and news coverage, sustainability, satellite conference centers, AI’s impact on the events industry, and of course…robots!