Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/798021
8 The PCB Design Magazine • March 2017 Each year, I enjoy checking out the Design Forum during IPC APEX EXPO. You never know what to expect, and the event gives you a good feel for what's on designers' minds. Every few years, attendees are, ahem, critical of IPC and the Designers Council and their outreach pro- grams, or lack thereof. This was one of those years. Speaker Stephen V. Chavez, lead electri- cal designer with UTC Aerospace Systems and a CID+ instructor, discussed efforts to grow the Designers Council, add new chapters, and draw more young people into PCB design ca- reers. This is where the conversation went off the rails. It wasn't exactly argumentative, but everyone in the room seemed to have a differ- ent opinion about what IPC and the Designers Council were doing right and wrong, especial- ly when it comes to attracting talented young people. And as designers, they're not shy about sharing these opinions. (PCB designers remind me of the old joke about French politics: How do you get five different French political opin- ions? Ask four Frenchmen.) One attendee asked why IPC was still virtu- ally unknown on some college campuses, even those with solid electronics curricula. Another asked why IPC didn't have a rep for each col- lege. I think the sheer numbers of colleges would make that a tough way to go, but it was a good question. What is the answer? How can we reach the next generation of PCB designers? What can be done to get smart high school and college stu- dents interested in designing, fabricating, or as- sembling circuit boards? How can we get guidance counselors to start recommending a career in PCB design or manu- by Andy Shaughnessy I-CONNECT007 We Have to be Marketers for our Industry THE SHAUGHNESSY REPORT