Mike McShane, professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University, has been elected president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Sensors Council.
As president, McShane will serve a two-year term followed by a four-year past-president service commitment. He will help direct a council that comprises 26 IEEE member societies working together to form a community aimed at promoting the development and use of sensors in a variety of scientific fields.
“Sensors are relevant to a wide variety of applications and are ubiquitous in today’s high-tech world,” McShane said. “Most of us are using and depending upon sensors almost continuously, whether we realize it or not. While my personal interest is in biological and chemical sensors for use in medicine, those represent only a small part of the field of sensors.
“The Sensors Council field of interest covers every type of sensor, relying upon all forms of energy and physical phenomena, and therefore our reach is very broad. Research, development and uses of sensors involve individuals with expertise spanning all hard science and engineering disciplines, and we have strong participation from academic, industry and government groups.”
The council, McShane says, engages in a number of activities to accomplish the goal of promoting the development and use of sensors, including publications, conferences, educational products, awards and standards. The council also collaborates with member societies and other entities to sponsor other sensors-related projects such as cosponsoring journals and conferences. In addition, the council participates in various IEEE initiatives of direct relevance to its constituents, such as the “Internet of Things” initiative, where sensors represent one of the critical components of the initiative, he says.
McShane joined the Department of Biomedical Engineering in 2006. His research and educational activities cover many areas of biomedical engineering, including biomaterials, molecular biology, biomedical optics, biotransport, bioinstrumentation, signal processing and medical device design. His laboratory produces and tests sensor systems using microscale and nanoscale fabrication approaches of self-assembly and photolithography as well as develops strategies for deploying these in vitro and in vivo.
IEEE is the world’s leading professional association for advancing technology for humanity. Through its 400,000 members in 160 countries, IEEE is a leading authority on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. For more information about IEEE, visit www.ieee.org, and for more information on the IEEE Sensors Council, visit www.ieee-sensors.org.
About the Department of Biomedical Engineering
Committed to solving the world’s greatest health problems through the exploration of new ideas, integrated research and innovation, the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M is producing the next generation of biomedical engineers, developing new technologies and new jobs, and achieving revolutionary advancements for the future of health care. The department has unique strengths in regenerative engineering, medical augmentation, molecular diagnostics/theranostics, tele-health, and precision medicine, and its faculty members are internationally recognized with collaborative relationships that span engineering, physical and natural sciences, medicine and veterinary sciences.