Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1083315
REAL TIME WITH... IPC APEX EXPO 2019 SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE I I-CONNECT007 15 ees had access to new research on materials and processes and opportunities to learn more about trending materials, applications, and processes such as printed electronics, Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, product miniatur- ization, and e-textiles. IPC APEX EXPO's full- and half-day profes- sional development courses blended traditional electronics industry topics with new develop- ments delivered by corporate technologists, consultants, training center staff, and univer- sity faculty. Attendees chose from an array of leading topics such as PCB fabrication, SMT and through-hole defect analysis, electronics reliability, DFM best practices, soldering chal- lenges, and more. During IPC's annual STEM Student Outreach program, IPC introduced the new IPC Educa- tion Foundation—a 501(c)3 organization that will help students and the emerging workforce acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the electronics industry. The IPC Education Foundation focuses on strengthen- ing and shaping the next generation of workers by preparing the talent pipeline, engaging the emerging workforce, improving the perception of the industry, and offering scholarships to deserving students. Our mission is to introduce students to careers in our industry and prepare them with skills that will give them a boost as they enter the job market. We have begun our fundrais- ing efforts and are actively seeking IPC mem- bers to take a lead role. Our goal is to award tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships in 2019 and provide students with an under- standing of the sophistication of today's smart manufacturing environments and opportuni- ties available for an emerging workforce with the proper skills. On Thursday, January 31, the IPC Education Foundation hosted approximately 100 students for a day-long event including a panel session of industry leaders who provided detailed information on the electronics industry as well as a tour of the show floor, focusing on the high-tech aspects of the IPC CFX showcase and working production lines. For the first time, students were able to experience hands- on soldering at world championship solder sta- tions with the support of IPC trainers teaching them the purpose, design, and fundamentals of a PCB. Local San Diego area schools attend- ing the event included Morse, Mission Hills, Otay Ranch, San Marcos, e3 Civic, and North County Trade Tech High Schools. The goal of the program was to provide an opportunity for students to see, feel, touch, and experience what this industry has to offer. There was no better way to do that than put-