IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - September 2017 - 7

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

On the Ethics ofDiversity:
Researchthe
andIEEE
Practice
Robotics
in and
Robotics and Automation
Automation Society Culture
By Raja Chatila

he IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) is one
of the top leaders in the
technical field of robotics and
automation in the world. This organization is supported by the highestclass members who meet and collaborate
in this community. All of the valuable
activities in RAS, including conferences
and publications, are developed and performed by our members.
What are the essential conditions for
maintaining this high quality and our
motivation? I believe diversity is the
most important factor among the various elements in this community. Consequently, RAS has always placed a value
on diversity.
For example, it is well known that
our flagship conferences, the IEEE
International Conference on Robotics
and Automation and the IEEE/Robotics Society of Japan International Conference on Intelligent Robots and
Systems, are held all over the world by
rotating in three geographic areas: 1)
the Americas; 2) Europe and Africa;
and 3) Asia and Oceania, since the
1990s. It is also a convention of RAS

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MRA.2017.2732098
Date of publication: 13 September 2017

By Satoshi Tadokoro

that the president is elected
from one of the three geographic areas by rotation.
RAS administrative committee members are elected
from these three areas as
defined in RAS's policies and procedures. It is recommended that vice
presidents, committee chairs, and
members are selected with consideration of diversity of gender, geographic
area, and age, with good implementation thus far. Technical committee
cochairs must consist of researchers
from the three areas. Young Professionals are always welcome to various
activities in RAS.
Why is diversity important? Diversity
is a necessary condition for democracy.
As an international organization, RAS
must consider the different opinions of
all its members. Every member must
have an equal chance and opportunity
to benefit from this worldwide community. RAS must consider a wide variety
of situations and values for leading the
world. We enjoy working together with
the wonderful members with different
perspectives because different opinions
always stimulate us to develop ideas and
activities into a wider perspective.
Robotics and automation is everywhere

in the world in various places
for various situations. The
services are always created
and nurtured by the users.
Good system solutions are
invented from chaotic situations
after thorough discussion among all
involved in many cases. Therefore,
diversity is one of the lifelines of RAS
in various aspects.
We need more diversity. Many of our
members are researchers and academics.
But the stakeholders in robotics and
automation in- Every member must
clude industry,
users, distribut- have an equal chance
ers, lawyers, and and opportunity
investors. Without their contri- to benefit from
bution, no robot this worldwide
can survive in the
market. The final community.
goal of our research is not to
write well-refereed papers, but to lead
big innovation.
We shall continue to promote diversity for our future leadership in the
world with activities and collaboration
among our 14,000 members.

SEPTEMBER 2017

IEEE ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION MAGAZINE

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