IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine - December 2017 - 119

NARIMAN FIROOZY AND DARIO SCHOR

GRSS Winnipeg Chapter Overview

epresenting the only stronghold of the
IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Society (GRSS) within a 1,000-km radius
(Figure 1), the Winnipeg Chapter (founded
by Dr. Nariman Firoozy in March 2015) is
the newest of the five Chapters in IEEE Region 7. Thus, the University of Manitoba,
Canada, as its host organization, is becoming a regional center for many GRSS activities, as described in the sections that follow.
ACTIVITIES
(a)

(b)

CHAPTER DETAILS
Currently, Firoozy and Dario Schor are FIGURE 1. (a) The GRSS Winnipeg Chapter's physical location (in relation to other North
the Chapter chair and vice chair, respec- American Chapter locations) is highlighted by a white circle. (b) The GRSS Winnipeg
tively. This arrangement has allowed Chapter logo. [Map data courtesy of Google Maps (maps.google.com).]
the establishment of a unique relationship between academia and industry, as
Firoozy holds a position at the Center for Earth Observation
A chronological listing of our technical events (spon-Science, University of Manitoba, while Schor is with Magelsored both individually and jointly) is as follows:
lan Aerospace, Winnipeg.
◗◗ a lecture by Dr. Tony Ponsford [Figure 2(a)], "Maritime
All decisions regarding Chapter affairs are passed unaniDomain Awareness and Canada's Next Generation
mously by Chapter members during regular meetings, and acHigh-Frequency-Surface Wave Radar" (September 2015)
tivities are advertised to various faculties through departmental
◗◗ a lecture by Dr. Elena Pettinelli, "Planetary Geophysics:
e-mail lists. The Chapter's finances are organized through the
Looking Inside the Icy Crusts of Solar System Bodies UsIEEE Concentration Banking Program. The Chapter has ining Radio Waves" (February 2016)
creased its web presence by creating an online platform via IEEE
◗◗ a lecture by Dr. Valery Zavorotny, "Measurements of
vTools. Finally, members have widely published in GRSS pubSoil Moisture, Snow, and Vegetation with Global
lications and participated in the IEEE International Geoscience
Positioning System Interferometric Reflectometry"
and Remote Sensing Symposium and its associated events.
(March 2016)
◗◗ a lecture by Dr. Pablo de Leon, "Journey to Mars: New
INVITED SPEAKERS
Opportunities for Human Kind" (April 2016)
Despite its young age, the GRSS Winnipeg Chapter has
◗◗ a lecture by Dr. Lorenzo Bruzzone [Figure 2(b)], "Curalready demonstrated its strength by holding a good numrent Scenarios and Challenges in the Analysis of Multiber of technical meetings and seminars, particularly with
temporal Remote Sensing Images" (June 2016)
the participation of IEEE Distinguished Lecturers. This
◗◗ a lecture by Dr. Alejandro C. Frery, "Statistics for Synthetic
has been made possible thanks to the support of the UniAperture Radar titled Image Analysis" (July 2017).
versity of Manitoba, the Chapter's joint affiliation with the
Winnipeg Chapter of the IEEE Aerospace and Electronics
BEST PRACTICES
Systems -Society, and national collaboration with industries
The GRSS Winnipeg Chapter is involved not only in the orand other Canadian Chapters.
ganization of highly technical events but also in advocating for outreach programs aimed at high school students.
The impact of such activities is felt at many levels, as many
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MGRS.2017.2731681
Date of publication: 27 December 2017
student participants in such programs have gone on to
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