Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/929192
JANUARY 2018 I DESIGN007 MAGAZINE 57 Committee discussions, "Should we just open up a buzz session to universities or students who have an area of interest?" Maybe they're doing a six-month project or MS project and could come to the buzz session and present on this area. We're asking around for students who do work in electronics manufacturing if they might be willing to come and present. We would look to get an IPC emerging engi- neer to chair that session because we're trying to encourage students to participate in these kinds of events. That's the idea. We haven't got it dialed in, in terms of speakers yet, but we're looking. And because it's a presentation, it doesn't need to have a paper with it. In terms of getting this session done, it wouldn't be that hard. We've asked around a little bit and we're just waiting. As of now, it's just a place holder we have for student presentations. Goldman: I hope that works out, because that could be very interesting. Bath: It would be nice to have but if doesn't happen in 2018, we'll revisit that session for 2019. We're trying to encourage the students who wouldn't get the opportunity to present in a technical session to use this session, and get them involved a little bit more. That would be good for them and for the industry. For other buzz sessions, you've got the typical ones: the pulse of the industry, China/environ- mental issues, and new areas such as e-textiles. This is a developing standards group; this is what we're doing and some of the questions/ areas around that. Where are we in terms of standards development? Buzz sessions can be kickoffs to discussions on where the industry should go. Buzz session seven is on the the PCQR squared database. What are the updates? Then, the pulse of the electronics and the busi- ness outlook with roadmaps and things, and where we're going. Buzz session 11 is some- thing that we got from Brooke Sandy-Smith at Indium Corp. on IPC J-STD 001 standard and the ROSE testing requirements in the stan- dard being discontinued. What are we going to do? Let's have a panel discussion on this. This was from a user. Someone out there say- ing, "We would like to have this." Then we checked within IPC and there were people in the industry who were willing to be on the panel for this. We don't have to go out and pull people. They want to be involved. We just ask them and they say, "Yes, sign me up." This is an ongoing issue. This is something they've got to deal with, so you'll get feedback in the industry on where we are and the status of the emerging methods to reach the level of indus- try standardization. What should we be doing? We're trying to get these types of discussions moving in the industry. Goldman: Let's talk about the professional development courses, the PDs, of which I see there are 30 being offered. They're usually about half a day, right? Bath: Yes, there are 30 half-day sessions, with classes on things like non-contact/jet dispens- ing and other focused technologies. They can encompass what we currently know about a subject, and things on the horizon. As we get into more and more miniaturization, we learn about new technologies and people need to know where the state-of-the-art is. This is going to cater to that, which we hope will be of use. We believe it will be. There are the regular courses too, like the design analysis courses. I think quite a lot of them have been around before, but there are updates from each of the authors on those. We're trying to make sure we cover all the IPC APEX EXPO 2018 PRE-SHOW SPECIAL COVERAGE