Call for Nominations: Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame 2024

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Call for Nominations: Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame 2024

Nominations Page: www.svec.org/nominations/

The Silicon Valley Engineering Council (SVEC) is now accepting nominations for the prestigious 2024 Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame (HoF) Award. This honor is given annually to exceptional engineers, technology leaders, and scientists within Silicon Valley who have made significant contributions both professionally and to the greater community.

Selection Criteria Inductees will be chosen based on:

  • Professional Achievement (50%): Demonstrating significant engineering or technical accomplishments, guidance in new and developing fields, and noteworthy contributions in design, manufacturing, production, or service through the use of engineering principles and applications.
  • Service To The Profession (30%): Significant contributions to one or more technical societies.
  • Service To The Community (20%): Significant community service activities or noteworthy advice to governmental committees.

Applications Nomination applications must adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Typed, organized, and professional presentation.
  • Clearly labeled information using the requested headings.
  • Limit of 10 pages for responses and one page each for the three required reference letters (13-page total).
  • Submit the original and 10 copies of the application.
  • Applications should be reproducible on a standard black & white copier.
  • Do not include journal or magazine articles, company brochures, or similar materials.
  • Silicon Valley Engineering Council letterhead is not to be used.
  • Applications cannot be submitted by fax or email.
  • All applications must be signed and dated by the nominator(s).
  • Include all requested information (as listed on the website).

Deadline The deadline for submitting HoF applications is 5:00 pm, Friday, October 13, 2023.

Application Process For instructions on how to mail your applications, please email “HoF @ svec.org”. Faxes and emails will not be accepted.

Selection Process The Awards Committee will review only those applications that conform to the Application Standards and Requested Information. After reviewing the nominations, the Committee may select one or more nominees for induction into the Hall of Fame. Recipients are required to attend the Induction Ceremony during the Engineers Week Banquet in February 2024.

Each nomination application, if not selected, will be retained and reviewed for two additional years.

For more information on the nomination criteria and to download the application forms, visit the Silicon Valley Engineering Council website.

We look forward to your nominations and recognizing the exceptional contributions of our community’s engineering leaders. Celebrate these achievements and inspire future innovation by nominating a deserving individual for the Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame 2024.

 

 

Engineering Week Banquet 2023

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Highlights Video

32nd SVEC Annual Engineers Week Banquet &

Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony

The 32nd SVEC Annual Engineers Week Banquet and Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony took place on February 24, 2023, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. President Sharif Zadeh expressed gratitude to attendees and acknowledged the challenges faced due to the pandemic. The SVEC successfully organized the event, highlighting the impact of the pandemic and the organization’s initiatives to expand outreach to engineers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The program’s theme was “Artificial Intelligence: From Science to Engineering,” featuring keynote speaker Dr. Kang Shen from Stanford Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Bill Dally, Chief Scientist of NVIDIA, was honored as the 2023 Hall of Fame inductee. Past Hall of Famers and distinguished guests were recognized for their contributions.

President Zadeh discussed the future directions of the SVEC, proposing new programs like the Silicon Valley Hall of Fame Club and an Annual Corporate Membership program. He emphasized the importance of sponsorships and support from corporations and Hall of Fame members.

Dr. Kang Shen’s keynote speech focused on the frontiers and challenges of neuroscience, discussing topics such as genetic contributions to intelligence, neural mechanisms of spatial navigation, and advancements in artificial retinas.

Dr. Fred Barez introduced Dr. Bill Dally as the 2023 Hall of Fame inductee, recognizing his exceptional contributions to engineering. A tribute video celebrated Dr. Dally’s achievements and highlighted his impact in the field.

During his acceptance speech, Dr. Dally expressed gratitude for the Hall of Fame induction and credited the teamwork behind his accomplishments. He highlighted the evolution of stream processing into GPU Computing, the revolution of deep learning, and the importance of efficiency in GPU Computing.

Overall, the event celebrated the achievements of engineers, highlighted the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and neuroscience, and emphasized the importance of continued support and collaboration in engineering endeavors.

Keynote Speech: Dr. Kang Shen Director, The WuTsai Neuroscience Institute

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Keynote Speech

Inherited Intelligence: Genetic Contributions to IQ

Dr. Kang Shen began his keynote speech by discussing the widely debated topic of whether IQ is inherited or shaped by the environment. Drawing from genetic studies, he explained that approximately half of an individual’s IQ score can be attributed to genetics, while the other half is influenced by non-genetic factors. He emphasized the interplay between genetic information as the hardware and environmental experiences as the software in shaping our cognitive abilities.

Neural Mechanisms of Spatial Navigation: Unveiling the Cognitive Map

Dr. Shen highlighted the work of Professor Lisa Giocomo, whose research explores the neural components responsible for spatial navigation. Using electrodes implanted in the medial entorhinal cortex of mice, Giocomo’s lab discovered a network of neurons called grid cells. These grid cells exhibit remarkable firing patterns that form a grid-like representation of space in the brain. The density of grid cells changes across different regions, providing animals with rich information to navigate their environment.

Digital Twin Brain: Adapting Maps Based on Reward

Building upon the understanding of grid cells, Dr. Shen described Giocomo’s experiment where mice were exposed to two different environments—one with a food reward and one without. The study revealed that when animals received a reward in a specific location, the allocation of grid cells to that location increased. This suggests that the brain’s representation of space is flexible and can be modified based on rewarding experiences, enabling animals to optimize their behaviors in response to environmental stimuli.

Artificial Retina: Advancements in Restoring Vision

Dr. Shen touched upon ongoing research in Stanford’s Neuroscience Institute regarding artificial retinas. While not discussing his own research, he mentioned the work of colleagues who are exploring innovative approaches to restore vision using retinal prosthetics. By leveraging advancements in neural engineering, these efforts aim to develop technologies that can interface with the visual system, potentially offering solutions for individuals with visual impairments.

Challenges in Neuroscience: Complexity and Unanswered Questions

Throughout the speech, Dr. Shen emphasized the immense challenges faced in the field of neuroscience. He underscored that the brain remains the last frontier of biology due to its unique nature and complexity. Understanding fundamental questions such as the generation of consciousness, the mechanisms of learning and memory, and the storage of memories still elude researchers. Dr. Shen acknowledged that despite significant progress, many aspects of brain science remain elusive.

Conclusion

Dr. Kang Shen’s keynote speech shed light on the frontiers and challenges of neuroscience. He highlighted the role of genetics in shaping intelligence while emphasizing the intricate neural mechanisms underlying spatial navigation. The concept of a digital twin brain and the adaptability of neural maps based on rewarding experiences showcased the brain’s remarkable plasticity. Furthermore, Dr. Shen briefly mentioned ongoing research on artificial retinas, providing a glimpse into potential breakthroughs in vision restoration. Overall, his speech invited reflection on the complex nature of the brain and the ongoing pursuit of understanding its mysteries.