In an age when 5G is already reshaping industries and everyday life, continuous innovation is essential to unlock its full potential. The IEEE testbed provides a dynamic environment where academia, industry, and government collaborate to experiment with emerging technologies, validate pioneering ideas, and set the stage for future 6G standards. By bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical application, this platform is critical for developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges. The testbed is equipped with a comprehensive suite of tools and resources, and cutting-edge edge computing capabilities. These components enable rigorous testing of new architectures and protocols, ensuring that breakthroughs in technology can be swiftly translated into viable applications and use cases. By fostering strong partnerships across diverse sectors, the testbed promotes the exchange of ideas and joint research efforts. This synergy not only accelerates technological progress but also opens doors to collaborative projects and shared funding opportunities. Researchers and industry professionals alike are empowered to work together towards common goals—developing robust 5G solutions while laying the groundwork for the innovations of 6G. Moreover, the testbed supports a range of courses and training programs that equip the next generation of engineers and researchers with up-to-date, practical skills. This lecture will delve into the testbed’s core components, discuss its role in driving technological innovation, and outline ways for new participants to become an integral part of this evolving ecosystem. Audience will be able to explore how the IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed is shaping the future of wireless connectivity, establishing new industry standards, and fueling collaborative progress across academia and industry.

Mark Underwood, Senior InfoSec & AI Consultant at Krypton Brothers

Software’s near ubiquity in most systems would suggest that its practitioners are in the lead when it comes to sustainability initiatives. No doubt there are courageous exceptions, but generally speaking software engineers follow, not lead where sustainability and climate are concerned. 

Generative AI has added a heavy hammer to the toolbox, but the leadership of sustainability teams remains unchanged. This discussion surveys several mostly disjunct initiatives to meet the challenge of a dangerously warming planet. The survey includes a brief overview of these initiatives and their potential promise. They include:  (1)  current and proposed efforts by professional associations to tackle the problem as a cross functional initiative leveraging competencies within a profession; (2) value stream analysis and supply chain management; (3) DevOps; (4) metadata and observability; (5) agile methodologies; (6) model based systems engineering and complexity; (7) human factors; (8) AI; and (9) the role of standardization. The survey concludes with a short inventory of missed opportunities, but identifies several inflection points on the horizon that could result in software engineers moving up the stack – perhaps gaining the privilege of bending the curve on the way to the control room.

with Alok Prasad Das, Department of Life Sciences, Rama Devi Women’s University, Odisha, India

Date/Time: Tuesday, February 25, 2025; 6:00-7:00 pm PST, 9-10 pm EST, 7:30-8:30 am IST

Abstract:

The Earth’s biosphere represents a natural ecosystem characterized by intrinsic self-remediation mechanisms; nonetheless, the contemporary tempo of resource extraction and the associated depletion of natural resources underscore alarming detrimental ecological trends.

The life cycle of plastic materials presently poses a significant threat to planetary boundaries, suggesting that pollution resulting from plastics may surpass a critical threshold, thereby engendering enduring global ramifications for climate, ecosystems, and levels of biodiversity. The majority of the compounds that confer distinctive properties to plastics, including hardness, durability, malleability, color, and plasticity, are emitted into the atmosphere during incineration practices. This process releases a plethora of hazardous substances into the air, adversely affecting human skin and visual health, increasing the likelihood of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, provoking headaches and nausea, and potentially inflicting damage to neurological and reproductive systems.

The pervasive environmental challenges necessitate the adoption of greener technologies that uphold the integrity of global environmental issues, irrespective of their complexity and the solutions required for implementation. The integration of waste management with environmental sustainability and economic development constitutes a fundamental milestone within the framework of a circular economy. There exists an urgent imperative for developing nations to advance towards a circular economy in order to fulfil their sustainable development objectives. To genuinely progress towards a circular economy, structural enhancements and the innovation of novel materials recovery methodologies are essential. Greener technologies are regarded as an innovative paradigm that facilitates economic advancement while simultaneously ensuring the preservation of environmental sustainability.