Standards Coordination


Mars Colony Game

Τhe Mars Space Colony: A Game of Standardization is developed by IEEE Standards University, a joint program of the IEEE Standards Association and IEEE Educational Activities. This is the first standards development simulation game crafted by experts with 20 + years’ experience in high-stakes, real-world technical standards development.

 

In the game’s simulation, aerospace companies and space agencies from around the world will be sending 100 of their employees to colonize Mars in 2022. Groups of 10 to 12 participants are tasked with making four main technical standards decisions.

 

Players participate as members of standards working groups, incorporating roles that reflect the economic, political and technical realities of standards development. (A technical background is NOT required for participation.). Along the way, the players will encounter not only technical challenges but also economic and political realities. They’ll also learn how different stakeholders can influence their choices.

 

ZOOM was the platform to participate in the Mars Game event, which was organized on 11 January 2022.

 

PROGRAM (times in CET)

11:00 Welcome and intros

11:15 Intro to standards (David Law)

11:45 Case study

12:15 Intro to group exercise

12:30 Group exercise begins

13:00 Break for lunch

14:00 Group exercise resumes

15:30 Report back and feedback

16:00 Close

 

 


Standards Coordination

Current Team

 


Mona Ghassemian (UK&Ireland), Chair

Tuncer Baykas (Turkey), Past Chair

Shmuel Auster (Israel)

David Law (UK&Ireland)

Region 8 Coordination for Standards

Overview

The IEEE R8 Standards Coordination committee arranges standards speakers as a service to support IEEE R8 Sections, Chapters, Student Branches and Conferences with high qualified industry professionals and standards development experts on various aspects of standardization. Standards speakers are organised not only to benefit the IEEE R8 Sections, Chapters, Student Branches and Conferences, they can also be effective in generating interest in membership.

Topic areas can include Aerospace Electronics, Antennas and Propagation, Batteries, Communications, Computer Technology, Electromagnetic Compatibility, Green and Clean Technology, Healthcare IT, Industry Applications, Instrumentation and Measurement, Nuclear Power, Power and Energy, Smart Grid, Software and Systems Engineering, Transportation, Wired and Wireless Communications as well standard development in general. If you are interested in an area not listed, it is possible that a standards speaker can be identified.

Standards speakers for events and conferences

A standards speaker may be arranged to provide a keynote address in relation to a particular standard, technical area of standardization or standardization in general. Alternatively, a standards speaker can provide a presentation(s) or tutorial(s) on a particular standard, area of standardization, or standardization in general. Finally, multiple speakers may be arranged to provide an entire standards track, again in relation to a particular standard, area of standardization, or standardization in general. In some cases, it may be possible that the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) will have an interest in providing a standard at the event or conference.

Standards Section, Chapter and student branch events

A speaker may be arranged for a Section, Chapter and student branch events to speak about a particular standard, technical area of standardization or standardization in general.

Alternatively, a standard workshop may be arranged for a Section, Chapter or student branch on ‘Demystifying Standards’. Such a workshop covers the value of standards in general, as well as specific technical topics geared to audience interest and is presented by standards speaker(s). Such a workshop can be customised to be as short as a couple of presentations, to an all-day immersion into particular standards series or topic. Such events are suitable for undergraduate and graduate students and can be customised for educators or industry professionals in engineering, computing, technology and business fields.

In addition there is the potential that an IEEE Section, Chapter and student branch may be able to host the Standards Game. While the Standards Game is being sold as a product, there is the opportunity to run it for sections and student branches at no cost with a qualified volunteer(s) serving as facilitators. The Standards Game does not require technical knowledge and is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students, and industry professionals in engineering, computing, and technology and business fields. To run the Standards Game successfully there is a requirement for a minimum number of committed attendees in excess of 25.

Standards events

A Section may partner with the IEEE R8 Standards Coordination committee, and potentially with the IEEE-SA, to stage a public standards event such as a Standards Workshop or Standards Summit to engage with industry or government. An important component in making such an event feasible is having local section members that can help facilitate outreach to local industry or government.

Financial support

To support the activities of the IEEE R8 Sections, Chapters, Student Branches and Conferences, the IEEE R8 Standards Coordinator committee can reimburse the travel costs of each standards speaker up to a normal limit of $250 per speaker per engagement. In exceptional circumstances, for example, the need for intercontinental travel, a high amount may be available. In all circumstances, any financial support is subject to agreement and program budget constraints. Before making any travel arrangements a standards speaker shall first obtain approval for his or her travel budget from the IEEE R8 Standards Coordinator.

Sharing of expenses between the benefiting Section, Chapter Student Branch or Conference is expected. For example, a benefiting Section, Chapter Student Branch or Conference can arrange the meeting space as well as audio-visual equipment such as a projector and screen. In addition, they could provide refreshment at the event, local transportation for the standards speaker and meals and accommodation if necessary. In addition, a benefiting Conference is expected to waive any registration fee for the standards speaker(s) if the standards speaker(s) only attends the portion of the conference necessary to provide the standards event.

It is recommended that on an expensive trip, the inviting entity works with the standards speaker(s) to arrange for multiple opportunities. As an example, when an event will involve a standards speaker travelling intercontinentally, addition events in the same city, country, or nearby countries, should be arranged to occur at the same time.

Requesting a standards speaker

In order to evaluate a request for a standards speaker please send a request to IEEE R8 Standards Coordinator. Please include as much information about the request as possible, but at a minimum please provide the following. Please request a speaker with as much advanced notice as possible, all request will receive an initial response within ten working days.

  • Name of requesting IEEE R8 Sections, Chapters, Student Branches and Conferences

— [           ]

  • Type of request (please select from below)

— [ ] Track for event or conference

— [ ] Speaker(s) for event or conference

— [ ] Section, Chapter, Student Branch event

— [ ] Speaker(s) for webinar

— [ ] Standards Game

— [ ] Other, please explain

  • The topic speaker will present

— [           ]

  • Date, time, and location of the engagement.

— Date: [  /  /    ]

— Time: From [  :  ] to [  :  ]

— Location [    ]

  • Audience

— Estimated audience size: [  ]

— Expect audience type (engineers? students?)


About the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA)

The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) is a globally recognized standards-setting body which develops consensus standards through an open process that brings diverse parts of an industry together. These standards set specifications and procedures to ensure that products and services are fit for their purpose and perform as intended. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of more than 870 completed standards and more than 400 standards in development. Over 15,000 IEEE members worldwide belong to IEEE-SA and voluntarily participate in standards activities. For further information on IEEE-SA, see the Standards Association website.

If you wish to learn more about the development of IEEE Standards, visit the IEEE Standards Development website. Here you can find out about the standards process, how to join IEEE-Standards Association, training material, a standards companion, standards and operation manuals, and FAQs. Even if you are unable to attend IEEE standards development meetings in person many Working Groups operate website and email reflectors where their activities can be followed. Please see the list of Working Group Areas.


IEEE Standards University

Designed for educators, students, engineers, or anyone interested in standards, IEEE Standards University brings a better understanding of the value and impact of standards in business and manufacturing. Participants can draw from a variety of materials that build a practical understanding of standards and the innovation derived from standards development. The varied resources may help improve team working and collaborative skills invaluable to career success, while enhancing understanding of standards in fields such as electrical and electronics engineering, computing, and many others.

The IEEE Standards University offers Standards courses including a MOOC and eLearning modules, numerous Standards video , an extensive library as well as student grants, an e-zine and a game.

IEEE Standards University Student Grants

The purpose of the IEEE Standards University Student Grants is to facilitate students studying and implementing industry technical standard in projects. IEEE Standards University Student Grants offer US $500 per project for students, and US $300 for faculty mentors for design, development or research projects in which one of more industry technical standard was studied or implemented to complete the project.

Examples of such projects include designing and creating hardware and/or software to implement an existing industry technical standard, analysing the performance of an industry technical standard in a particular situation, testing compliance with, or alternatively adapting or extending an industry technical standard to fit a new scenario. Projects are expected in include a significant component working on the industry technical standard, projects which simply make use of industry technical standards through modules or libraries without significant design input will not be eligible for an award.

IEEE Standards University e-zine

The IEEE Standards University offers a freely available e-Magazine, with a worldwide audience of educators, students, and practicing professionals interested in technical standards and standards development. Feature topics in 2017 included Robotics, Conformity Assessment and Compliance, Consumer electronics, and Ethically Aligned Standards.

IEEE Standards University Game

Educators, students, young professionals looking for a fun and effective way to learn more about working in teams, negotiating and, consensus building need look no further. Mars Space Colony: A Game of Standardization is designed to teach about technical standards and standards development while developing team and negotiation skills. Topics include the importance of standards to industry, fundamentals of standards development, and a case study on standards. Players participate as members of standards working groups, incorporating roles that reflect the economic, political and technical realities of standards development.


Accessing Standards

IEEE Standards can be purchased electronically through the IEEE Standards Store. With the support from the IEEE-SA, industry sponsors, and government, there are however a number of standards that are made available at no cost through the IEEE Get Program™. Some examples are provided below, for a full list please see the IEEE Get Program web site.

GET 802® Standards: IEEE Local and Metropolitan Area Network (IEEE 802®) standards are made available at no charge in PDF format after they have been published for a period of six months.

GET Design Automation Standards: IEEE Design Automation standards are made available at no charge in PDF format.

GET 1622 Standard: IEEE Standard for Electronic Distribution of Blank Ballots for Voting Systems is made available at no charge in PDF format.

GET 1680 Environmental Assessment: IEEE 1680 Environmental Assessment standards are made available at no charge in PDF format.

GET C95 Standards: IEEE standards for Safety Levels with Respect To Human Exposure To Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields are made available at no charge in PDF format.

GET 2600 Standards: IEEE standards for Hardcopy Device and System Security are made available at no charge in PDF format.


News

This message is being posted on behalf of Paul Nikolich, TAB Committee on Standards (CoS) Chair.

Society/Council Standards Volunteers:

This is the second call for 2021 to provide seed funding for projects initiating innovative standards efforts. As before, we are looking for proposals from Societies and Councils (S/Cs) that currently have little or no standards activities. However, we will consider proposals from other S/Cs that describe innovative approaches. (See Q. 1 of the FAQ in the attachment for more explanation.)

Because of continued uncertainties and IEEE travel restrictions, this call requests proposals for projects that can be initiated immediately and performed without travel.

To submit a proposal, please complete the attached Funding Request Form and send to Patrick McCarren ([email protected] ) and Paul Nikolich ([email protected] ) by 11:59 pm in your time zone, July 1, 2021.

In preparing the proposal for submission, please pay careful attention to the guidance embedded in the Form and to the FAQ appended to the Form. Please note the requirement that the proposed objectives must have particular characteristics, i.e., that they be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Oriented. (See Section 1 of the Form and Q8 of the FAQ).

Thank you in advance.

Paul Nikolich
Chair, TAB CoS