“The network continues to be a great social equalizer and economic driver.  Advancements that make networks operate together more efficiently and cost effectively will be critical to ensuring that everyone has access to the opportunities of our connected world,” said Vint Cerf, Chair of the Marconi Society. “Our Paul Baran Young Scholars represent the future of information and communications technology and we are honored to welcome Gregory and Rui to the Marconi Society family.”

The Marconi Society’s 2022 Paul Baran Young Scholars are Gregory Tanyi and Rui Zhang. 

Gregory Tanyi is completing his PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Melbourne. He is recognized for his innovations in an on-chip receiver platform that enables direct conversion of wireless signals to optical signals. Tanyi’s breakthrough uses silicon photonics to create an energy  efficient and low cost chip-based solution to interfaces at  very high frequencies without any additional electronics.

Early uses of Tanyi’s innovations include smart cars, which need sensor data to be processed in the optical domain, requiring the merger of communication and sensor functions to minimize processing time delay. His work also supports aerospace applications, which need on-chip solutions to reduce size, weight and power consumption of payloads, and next generation wireless communications which must access millimeter wave frequencies and have full convergence between the optical fiber and wireless segments.

A native of Cameroon, Tanyi’s passion for networking is driven by his belief that a better infrastructure and faster Internet is a game changer for social equity. “The Internet has the power to change cultures by letting people solve their own problems,” says Tanyi. “I am honored to be a Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar to contribute to these positive changes.”

Rui Zhang,  who recently graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Ph.D. degree, is currently a Staff Engineer at MediaTek USA. She is recognized for her innovations of communication systems and ultra-capacity networking techniques to address flexibility, efficiency, and reliability issues. She has been working on these research challenges since 2017 in the NSF-sponsored Center of Fiber-Wireless Integration and Networking (FiWIN) at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of Georgia Tech.

Zhang’s research areas include the design and performance of data center communications, long-haul optical fiber transmission, 6G and beyond radio access networks, and fixed access using fiber wireless integration technologies. Her research will facilitate and support massively connected IoT devices, emerging machine learning applications  and ubiquitous computing in a cost-effective and reliable way.

Zhang’s research focuses on solving complex industry challenges that impact future network products and new service offerings. She is excited to explore the frontier of integrating optical transport systems and heterogeneous high-frequency wireless technologies to enable high-capacity operations. “It is my great honor to receive this award,” Zhang states. “I look forward to being part of the Marconi Society and to working with other Young Scholars to contribute to communications research that makes the world a better-connected community for all the people.”

The Marconi Society will celebrate Tanyi and Zhang, as well as wireless innovator and 2022 Marconi Fellow, Siavash Alamouti, during its annual Gala on November 3 at the University of California at Berkeley. Tickets for the Gala, as well as the accompanying complimentary, virtual Symposium, The Decade of Digital Inclusion, are available here.

About the Marconi Society

The Marconi Society envisions a world in which everyone can create opportunity through the benefits of connectivity. The organization celebrates, inspires, and connects individuals building tomorrow’s technologies in service of a digitally inclusive world.

About the Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Award

The Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Award honors the world’s most innovative young engineers in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Presented to researchers who are 27 years old or younger to commemorate Guglielmo Marconi’s age when he made his first successful wireless transmission, this award recognizes scientists and engineers who have shown extraordinary technical acumen, creativity and promise for using ICT in service of digital inclusion.

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paula.reinman@marconisociety.org

September 7, 2022—The Marconi Society is pleased to announce The Decade of Digital Inclusion 2022, a complimentary virtual symposium to be held on November 2 and 3 and in-person gala that will take place at the University of California, Berkeley’s Pauley Ballroom on November 3. The annual forum convenes leading visionaries in technology, business, policy, and digital inclusion to help build pathways to digital equity by 2030.  The event will honor the 2022 Marconi Fellow Siavash Alamouti, inventor of the Alamouti Code, which has democratized the Internet by improving mobile communications for billions of people. Alamouti is also the co-founder and executive chairman of mimik, a hybrid edge cloud technology company.

“The Decade of Digital Inclusion is a rare opportunity to create collaborative solutions to bridging the digital divide.  The Marconi Society, through our deep expertise in information and communications technology and connections in policy and digital equity,  is uniquely positioned to create this convening,” said Vint Cerf, Board Chair of the Marconi Society. “We are thrilled to celebrate Siavash,  a champion of open wireless standards and technology, and the embodiment of our vision of enabling everyone to fully participate in and benefit from digital connectivity.”

The symposium, now in its second year, is designed to generate concrete solutions to address digital inequity in communities around the world. The event will highlight diverse voices that lend different perspectives to the quest for digital equity, including keynote presentations by Shamina Singh, Founder & President of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Angela Thi Bennett, Digital Equity Director at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and Nick McKeown, Senior Vice President and GM of the Network and Edge Group at Intel.

Critical interdisciplinary topics including business models for affordable and accessible internet, long-term funding streams for digital equity, and the need for inclusion and fairness in the digital revolution are part of the agenda.

The Marconi Society’s flagship event and gala fundraiser, The Decade of Digital Inclusion is hosted this year in partnership with the Institute for Business and Social Impact (IBSI) and Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) at the University of California, Berkeley.  The two research centers have led valuable cross-disciplinary research on the intersections of financial technology, policy, and digital inclusion.

“The data economy, automation, and globalization have sparked dramatic changes in societies’ paradigms and in their economies. The opportunities are boundless, but the divides are stark and challenges persist. IBSI and CEGA’s research efforts are committed to studying the impacts, effects on equity, and unintended consequences of these unprecedented shifts,” says Paul Gertler, IBSI ‘s Faculty Director. “This knowledge is paramount to guiding evidence-based policy and shaping industry debates, as well as to ensuring that the digital revolution can truly foster a more resilient and inclusive future and ultimately improve the lives of marginalized communities or those living in poverty around the world.

Tickets for The Decade of Digital Inclusion’s virtual Symposium and in-person Gala  are now available.

About the Marconi Society

The Marconi Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing digitally equitable communities by empowering change agents across sectors. The Marconi Society celebrates and supports visionaries building tomorrow’s technologies upon the foundation of the connected world we helped create.

About the Marconi Prize

The Marconi Prize is the flagship award of the Marconi Society, given annually since 1975 to innovators who have made significant contributions to increasing digital inclusivity through the advancement of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

The post Building Digital Equity through Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Marconi Society Announces 2022 Symposium and Gala appeared first on The Marconi Society.

taia@marconisociety.org

February 15, 2021—The Marconi Society today opened nomination periods for its 2023 Marconi Prize and 2022 Paul Baran Young Scholar Award. These prestigious awards, which recognize established and emerging scientists in advanced communications technology from around the globe, showcase the leaders in the field and celebrate their contributions to building a digitally equitable world.

The Marconi Prize, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for Communications,” recognizes established Information and Communications Technology (ICT) luminaries whose contributions to the field have had a significant impact on widely used technology, and whose careers demonstrate significant leadership, entrepreneurship, and humanitarian impact. Nominations are accepted February 15–June 1, 2022, EST. The recipient will be announced in early 2023 and recognized at the Marconi Society’s 2023 symposium and gala.

Previous awardees include Siavash Alamouti, a visionary wireless leader and Executive Chairman of mimik,  Andrea Goldsmith, leader in the theory and practice of adaptive wireless communications and Dean of Engineering at Princeton University, Vint Cerf, one of the creators of the Internet and Chief Internet Evangelist at Google, and Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web and Professor at MIT. Alamouti will be celebrated at the organization’s 2022 symposium and gala, The Decade of Digital Inclusion. More details will be announced in the coming months.

The Young Scholar Award recognizes emerging scientists whose innovative scientific achievements, leadership and entrepreneurial characteristics, and dedication to improving society through their work stand out among their peers. 
Prospective Young Scholars must be 27 years or younger during the award year to be considered, and up to four candidates—usually graduate students or early career professionals—are awarded each year. Nominations are accepted February 15–June 1, 2022, EST. Recipients will be announced in early fall 2022 and recognized at the Marconi Society’s 2022 symposium and gala.

About the Marconi Prize

The Marconi Prize is the flagship award of the Marconi Society, given annually since 1975 to innovators who have made significant contributions to increasing digital inclusivity through the advancement of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). 

About the Paul Baran Young Scholar Award

Named for 1991 Marconi Fellow Paul Baran, the Young Scholar Award launched in 2008 and recognizes emerging leaders in advanced communications technology who demonstrate scientific excellence, leadership, entrepreneurship, and a socially engaged approach to their work. 

About the Marconi Society

The Marconi Society envisions a world in which everyone can create opportunity through the benefits of connectivity. The organization celebrates, inspires, and connects individuals building tomorrow’s technologies in service of a digitally inclusive world.

The post Honoring Transformative Leaders in Information and Communications Technology: Nominations Open for Marconi Prize, Paul Baran Young Scholar Award appeared first on The Marconi Society.

Contact: Taia Pandolfi, Marketing & Communications Manager

taia@marconisociety.org

February 9, 2022—The Marconi Society is proud to award the 2022 Marconi Prize, the top honor in communications technology, to Siavash Alamouti in recognition of his impact on the accessibility of wireless devices. The serial innovator, whose famous Alamouti Code can be found in billions of devices around the world, has devoted his career to developing wireless technology that improves people’s lives.

“Siavash has brought connectivity to billions of people by making wireless devices more efficient and affordable without reducing reception quality,” says Vint Cerf, Chair of the Marconi Society and 1998 Marconi Fellow. “Throughout his career, he has been a vital advocate for technology as a democratizing force in the world.”

Alamouti designed his eponymous Code in 1996, refining past efforts to improve mobile signal reception without significantly increasing device costs. His elegant solution, mathematically proven to optimize reception, adds transmitters to cell base stations or access points rather than adding them to each device. This code is now part of the foundation of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, which is an essential component of contemporary wireless standards.

Throughout his career at major technology companies, including AT&T, Intel, and Vodafone, Alamouti remained passionate about open wireless standards and technology that prioritizes the end user’s needs and interests. His leadership on open wireless standards can be seen in current standards adopted by the IEEE that continue to govern Internet usage and protocols.

More recently, Alamouti has become an outspoken advocate for the decentralization of the cloud and data sovereignty. As co-founder, former CEO, and executive chairman of mimik, he has helped create and commercially deploy the industry’s first hybrid edge cloud platform that allows consumers to control how their data is stored, shared, and monetized. He worked for Wells Fargo bank as Executive Vice President of Research & Development, focusing on the development of a data custodian platform for consumers and enterprises, and recently left the bank to start his own company to accelerate this mission.

“We have made great strides towards digital inclusion globally by connecting people through the Internet, but we have a long way to go before we can claim success,” says Alamouti. “We need to create a sustainable business model to make Internet access affordable to every citizen of the world, but more importantly provide them control of their data, and create disruptive new business models that disincentivize the spread of misinformation, ignorance, and superstitions.

“This will bring people together, provide opportunities to close the growing wealth gap, and ensure a sustainable future for all. I’m incredibly honored to become a Marconi Fellow and work with an organization that has dedicated itself to digital inclusion. I could never have imagined that one day I would share this honor with other Marconi Fellows, world-renowned luminaries whom I have looked up to and admired throughout my career.”

Born in Iran, Alamouti began his undergraduate studies at the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran but left the country following the Islamic Cultural Revolution of 1979. The new government had expelled him from the University and labeled him an apostate due to his progressive secular views. Alamouti escaped to Spain and eventually became a political refugee in Canada in 1984, where he studied electrical engineering at the University of British Columbia during the early days of wireless technology. Now a citizen of Canada and the United States, he credits his challenging young adulthood with the philosophy that continues to shape his career: do the right thing, all the time.

“It’s an honor to celebrate Siavash’s astounding career with the 2022 Marconi Prize,” says Samantha Schartman-Cycyk, the organization’s Executive Director. “His integrity, vision for the role of technology in society, and leadership at the forefront of communications earn him a place among the founders of our connected world.”

About Siavash Alamouti

Siavash Alamouti’s foundational contribution to wireless technology is the Alamouti Code, which has inspired tens of thousands of researchers to expand on his findings. This breakthrough solution was adopted in 3GPP standards only two years after its invention and is included in all the wireless standards since 3G (LTE, LTE-Advanced, and 5G), and all WiFi standards since 802.11n (802.11ad, 802.11ay, etc.).

 Billions of devices in use today rely on the Alamouti code to ensure better quality of communication at lower cost and reduced energy usage. His innovation has improved communications for billions of people and millions of companies and enterprises without any detrimental effect on the carbon footprint. 

Leadership on Wireless Standards 

Alamouti was one of the key contributors to changes in spectrum policy in the U.S. and globally to open the doors for the use of MIMO technology, a major enabler for modern wireless systems. He was and continues to be a vocal advocate of open wireless standards, founding the Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig Alliance) to bring together leaders from competing technology giants like Apple, Broadcom, Huawei, Intel, Microsoft, Samsung, and Sony. His leadership can be seen in the development of 5G and LTE standards, which ensure lower costs and better service by enabling interoperability and a robust market of suppliers.

 “Beyond the technology leadership and personal charisma, the great passion that drives Siavash is the benefit that technology can bring to people, especially in developing countries, and his desire to democratize broadband access anywhere,” writes Izik Kirshenbaum, founder and chairman of Siklu Inc. and former Intel colleague.

Decentralizing the Cloud

Throughout his career, Alamouti has championed technologies that have expanded the possibilities and benefits of technology on humankind. Since 2014, he has dedicated himself to cloud decentralization, a core requirement for an open Internet. At mimik, he led the development of the first hybrid edge cloud platform, which promises to help consumers and enterprises take control of their data while making the cloud more open and efficient.

 Alamouti’s interest in decentralization is two-fold: he wants consumers to be the stewards of their own data, and he wants to fix what he sees as a broken business model. He warns of the serious socioeconomic consequences of Internet-based companies prioritizing advertising over user interests. 

“Siavash’s invention of the first space-time code, his championing of an open standard for worldwide broadband access, and his work to decentralize the cloud have profoundly impacted the wireless networks and devices ubiquitous today,” says Andrea Goldsmith, Chair of the Marconi Prize Selection Advisory Committee. “As a role model to future generations of communication technologists, he is profoundly deserving of the Marconi Award.”

About the Marconi Prize

The Marconi Prize is the flagship award of the Marconi Society, given annually to innovators who have made significant contributions to increasing digital inclusivity through the advancement of information and communications technology. Marconi Prize recipients are recommended by an independent selection committee and approved by the Marconi Society Board, which is chaired by Vint Cerf and includes communications pioneers such as Federico Faggin, Sir David Payne and Andrea Goldsmith.

About the Marconi Society

The Marconi Society envisions a world in which everyone can create opportunity through the benefits of connectivity. The organization celebrates, inspires, and connects individuals building tomorrow’s technologies in service of a digitally inclusive world.

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taia@marconisociety.org

October 20, 2021—The Marconi Society today announced its 2021 Paul Baran Young Scholar, Dr. Shuowen Zhang, recognized for her work in intelligent reflecting surface-aided communications, MIMO, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communications. The Young Scholar Award recognizes emerging technologists whose innovative scientific achievements, leadership and entrepreneurial characteristics, and dedication to improving society through their work stand out among their peers. 

“Shuowen’s impressive technical research, which focuses on areas that are essential to the continued development and practical implementation of communications technology, and her passion for digital inclusion exemplify the spirit of the Young Scholar Award,” says Samantha Schartman-Cycyk, Executive Director of the Marconi Society. “We are thrilled to welcome her to the Marconi Society.”

Zhang serves as a Research Assistant Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her research focuses on applying advanced signal processing and optimization techniques to solve practical design problems within connected technologies. 

Zhang’s algorithm to address safety concerns of UAVs (commonly referred to as drones), published in IEEE Transactions on Communications, is expected to open new research avenues for UAV technology and its applications. Her research into intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS), a technology that can reconfigure wireless environments to improve the efficiency and breadth of signal coverage, may shape the future of connectivity by increasing access to reliable, affordable Internet services in hard-to-reach areas.

In addition to her technical contributions, Zhang is a mentor and thoughtful collaborator with her peers. During her PhD program, she mentored junior students on how to break down complex communications theory problems and prepare research for publication. As a Research Assistant Professor with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, she worked closely with students whose home Internet access made attending virtual classes during the pandemic very challenging. This experience, she says, solidified the importance of addressing the digital divide, even in cities that have high rates of connectivity. She currently serves as the mentorship co-chair for the IEEE’s N2Women, a networking group for women in communications technology.

The Marconi Society will celebrate Zhang, as well as 2020 Young Scholars Yasaman Ghasempour, Vikram Iyer, and Piotr Roztocki, and 2020 Marconi Fellow Andrea Goldsmith, during its annual Symposium and Gala on October 22. Tickets for this virtual event are available on the organization’s website.

About the Paul Baran Young Scholar Award

Named for 1991 Marconi Fellow Paul Baran, the Young Scholar Award launched in 2008 and recognizes emerging leaders in advanced communications technology who demonstrate scientific excellence, leadership, entrepreneurship, and a socially engaged approach to their work. 

About the Marconi Society

The Marconi Society envisions a world in which everyone can create opportunity through the benefits of connectivity. The organization celebrates, inspires, and connects individuals building tomorrow’s technologies in service of a digitally inclusive world.

The post Dr. Shuowen Zhang Recognized with Marconi Society 2021 Paul Baran Young Scholar Award appeared first on The Marconi Society.

Contact: Taia Pandolfi, Marketing & Communications Manager

taia@marconisociety.org

March 11, 2021—The Marconi Society today announced the committee for its upcoming symposium and gala, which celebrates 2020 Marconi Fellow Andrea Goldsmith and sets the agenda for the upcoming ten years of digital inclusion advocacy. The program committee includes leading technologists, policy advocates, and digital inclusion experts whose experience in the field and visionary leadership will shape this exceptional event.

“The Decade of Digital Inclusion will bring together a cross-section of leaders from critical disciplines  in a collaborative, generative program to discuss the major barriers to delivering the opportunities of connectivity to everyone on the planet and solutions for the next decade,” said Vint Cerf, Chair of the Marconi Society and 1998 Marconi Fellow. “We are honored to work with this distinguished program committee, which represents the communal effort required to connect the next billion people.”

The gala and symposium takes place on Friday, October 22, 2021, at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., and will include a significant online presence for those unable to travel. The program committee is co-chaired by Cerf and Samantha Schartman-Cycyk, the Marconi Society’s Executive Director. The committee will focus on creating an engaging, impactful event that draws on the strengths of the technology, policy, and advocacy communities and presents new opportunities for collaboration.

The Decade of Digital Inclusion Program Committee

Mohamed-Slim Alouini
Distinguished Professor, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Mohamed-Slim Alouini is a Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at  King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). He is a Fellow of the IEEE and OSA and he is currently actively working on addressing the uneven global distribution, access to, and use of information and communication technologies in far-flung, low-density populations, low-income, and/or hard-to-reach areas.

Ana Garcia Armada
Professor, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Ana Garcia Armada is a professor of the Signal Theory and Communications Department at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, where she has served as Head of Signal Theory and Communications Department, Vice-dean of Electrical Engineering, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of International Relations. She has received awards from University Carlos III of Madrid, third place Bell Labs Prize 2014 and outstanding service award from the IEEE ComSoc Signal Processing and Communications Electronics technical committee and the IEEE ComSoc Women in Communications Engineering standing committee.

Jane Coffin
Senior Vice President, Internet Growth, Internet Society

Jane Coffin is responsible for the Internet Society’s Internet Growth project teams, which are focused on Community Networks, Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) & interconnection, peering, community development, and a new critical project on measuring the health of the Internet. Coffin is a longtime leader in Internet and telecommunications policy issues, with experience at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, USAID projects, FCC, and AT&T.

Elza Erkip
Institute Professor, NYU Tandon School

Elza Erkip is an Institute Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at New York University Tandon School of Engineering. Her research interests are in information theory, communication theory, and wireless communications. Dr. Erkip is a member of the Science Academy of Turkey and is a Fellow of the IEEE. She was a member of the Board of Governors of the IEEE Information Theory Society 2012–2020, where she was the President in 2018.

Edward Frank
CEO, Brilliant Lime; Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, Carnegie Mellon University

Dr. Edward H. Frank is presently co-founder and CEO of Brilliant Lime, Inc., a very early-stage technology development startup. In 2018, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to the development and commercialization of wireless systems. Frank has been a Trustee of Carnegie Mellon University since 2000 and is currently a Vice Chair of its Board of Trustees. He presently is an advisor to several Bay Area Venture capital firms and startups.

Chris Lewis
President and CEO, Public Knowledge

Chris Lewis is the President and CEO at Public Knowledge (PK), where he previously served as Vice President for Government Affairs. Before joining Public Knowledge, Lewis worked in the Federal Communications Commission Office of Legislative Affairs, including as its Deputy Director. He is a former U.S. Senate staffer and an experienced political organizer and advocate in both the nonprofit world and political campaigns from local to the presidential level.

Beth Noveck
Director, The Governance Lab; Chief Innovation Officer, The State of New Jersey; Professor, NYU Tandon School

Beth Simone Noveck directs the Governance Lab (The GovLab) at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering where she is also a Professor in Technology, Culture, and Society and affiliated faculty at the Center for Urban Science and Progress. She is also a Fellow at NYU’s Institute for Public Knowledge. Noveck served in the White House as the first United States Deputy Chief Technology Officer and director of the White House Open Government Initiative under President Obama.

Milo Medin
Vice President of Access Services, Google

Milo Medin has been part of the Internet development community for more than 25 years. He is currently the vice president of access services at Google, where he oversees a number of projects to improve access to the Internet, primarily focused on expanding the speed, robustness and pervasiveness of wireless networks. Medin sits on the FCC’s Technical Advisory Committee and Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. Since 2016, he has served on the Defense Innovation Board.

Angela Siefer
Executive Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA)

Angela Siefer has been working in digital inclusion since 1997. From physically setting up computer labs in underserved areas and managing local digital inclusion programs to consulting for the U.S. Department of Commerce and testifying before Congress, Siefer develops national strategies and solutions from the ground up. In 2015, she helped found the National Digital Inclusion Alliance,  a unified voice for home broadband access, public broadband access, personal devices and local technology training and support programs.

Theresa Swinehart
Senior Vice President, Global Domains and Strategy, ICANN

As Senior Vice President of Global Domains and Strategy at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Swinehart oversees a global team responsible for a range of work relating to ICANN’s stakeholders and contracted parties, including policy implementation, review recommendations, and strategic initiatives. Swinehart also serves as co-deputy to ICANN’s President and CEO. She is a leading advocate for an open and secure Internet and an expert in global Internet governance and cooperation.

John Windhausen
Executive Director, Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB)

John Windhausen, Jr., is the founder and Executive Director of the Schools, Health, & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, a non-profit, public interest group based in Washington DC. SHLB has over 230 members and promotes open, affordable, high-quality broadband services for anchor institutions and their communities. Windhausen previously was President of a telecommunications trade association and from 1987 to 1996, he served as staff counsel for the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee.

About the Marconi Society

The Marconi Society envisions a world in which everyone can create opportunity through the benefits of connectivity. The organization celebrates, inspires, and connects individuals building tomorrow’s technologies in service of a digitally inclusive world.

The post Marconi Society Announces Distinguished Program Committee for 2021 Symposium & Gala: The Decade of Digital Inclusion appeared first on The Marconi Society.

We believe Internet access is a basic human right. In order to connect the next billion people, leaders in policy, technology, and digital inclusion advocacy must collaborate to identify the most critical problems and develop innovative, practical solutions.

The Decade of Digital Inclusion brings these communities together in service of a digitally inclusive future. This timely conversation can only be hosted by the Marconi Society, a nonprofit that bridges the communities of advanced technology and digital inclusion.

In addition to the symposium, we will make history by recognizing and honoring one of the wireless industry’s leading stars, Andrea Goldsmith, as our newest Marconi Fellow.

Who Should Attend:

• Technologists from academic and corporate environments
• Digital inclusion stakeholders, including practitioners and advocates
• Policy makers from all levels of government and GovTech
• Philanthropists in the digital inclusion and technology for good spaces

BUY AN EARLY BIRD TICKET

October 22 Schedule

We are honored to welcome some of the world’s leading voices to present during the Decade of Digital Inclusion, including 2020 Marconi Fellow Andrea Goldsmith, Doreen Bogden of the International Communication. Union, and Internet Hall-of-Famer Larry Irving.

See the Event Schedule

Program Committee & Speakers

We have assembled some of the world’s leading voices on technology, public policy and advocacy for digital inclusion.  Meet the speakers that you will hear from and interact with during her symposium and master class on connecting the next billion.

See the Program Committee & Speakers

Sponsorship

In order to realize our vision of a connected future, the Decade of Digital Inclusion requires support. As a sponsor, your brand will be featured alongside exciting content from a dream team of leaders from the technology, policy, and digital inclusion practitioner communities. This is your opportunity to join industry leaders like Crown Castle, Medtronic, Qualcomm, and others and show your organization’s commitment to connecting the next billion by supporting this agenda-setting program.

Sponsorship Pamphlet

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taia@marconisociety.org

February 1, 2021—The Marconi Society today announced nomination periods for its 2022 Marconi Prize and 2021 Paul Baran Young Scholar Award. These prestigious awards, which recognize established and emerging scientists in advanced communications technology from around the globe, showcase the leaders in the field and celebrate their contributions to building a digitally equitable world.

“As an organization dedicated to digital inclusion in STEM, we are reaching out to  a broader and more geographically diverse pool of candidates than ever before,” said Vint Cerf, Chair of the Marconi Society and 1998 Marconi Fellow. “Each new Marconi Fellow and Young Scholar joins a dynamic, socially conscious community of technologists whose innovation and creative approach to advanced communications technology have shaped our connected world.”

The Marconi Prize, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for Communications,” recognizes established Information and Communications Technology (ICT) luminaries whose contributions to the field have had a significant impact on widely-used technology, and whose careers demonstrate significant leadership, entrepreneurship, and humanitarian impact. Nominations are accepted February 1–June 1, 2021, EST. The recipient will be announced in early 2022 and recognized at the Marconi Society’s 2022 symposium and gala.

Previous awardees include 2021 Marconi Fellow Andrea Goldsmith, Dean of Engineering at Princeton University and groundbreaking leader in the theory and practice of adaptive wireless communications. She will be recognized at the organization’s upcoming symposium and gala, The Decade of Digital Inclusion, on October 22, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

The Young Scholar Award recognizes emerging scientists whose innovative scientific achievements, leadership and entrepreneurial characteristics, and dedication to improving society through their work stand out among their peers. 

Prospective Young Scholars must be 27 years or younger to be considered, and up to four candidates—usually graduate students or early career professionals—are awarded each year. Nominations are accepted February 15–May 15, 2021, EST. Recipients will be announced in early fall 2021 and recognized at the Marconi Society’s 2021 symposium and gala.

“Communications technology has never been more critical to the functioning of our society and economy,” said Samantha Schartman-Cycyk, Executive Director of the Marconi Society. “Through these awards, we celebrate the contributions of technologists who are creating the applications, products, and protocols that connect us, and highlight the leaders who will inspire the next generation of innovators.”

About the Marconi Prize

The Marconi Prize is the flagship award of the Marconi Society, given annually since 1975 to innovators who have made significant contributions to increasing digital inclusivity through the advancement of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). 

About the Paul Baran Young Scholar Award

Named for 1991 Marconi Fellow Paul Baran, the Young Scholar Award launched in 2008 and recognizes emerging leaders in advanced communications technology who demonstrate scientific excellence, leadership, entrepreneurship, and a socially engaged approach to their work. 

About the Marconi Society

The Marconi Society envisions a world in which everyone can create opportunity through the benefits of connectivity. The organization celebrates, inspires, and connects individuals building tomorrow’s technologies in service of a digitally inclusive world.

The post Celebrating the Scientists Who Connect Our World: Marconi Society Announces Nomination Periods for 2022 Marconi Prize, 2021 Paul Baran Young Scholar Award appeared first on The Marconi Society.