ISA Divisions & Symposia
One of the best kept secrets in ISA is our Division Symposia. Last month I attended the ISA International Instrumentation Symposium—a joint event held by the ISA Aerospace Industries, Test and Measurement, and Process Measurement & Control Divisions. Last week I participated in the ISA POWID/EPRI Symposium. Unfortunately, I missed the ISA Analysis Division Symposium, but reports are that it too, was fantastic.
In my opinion, ISA’s Division Symposia are where the proverbial rubber meets the road of our organization. Professionals dedicated to an Industry or Science within the automation profession develop a program that is geared toward a specific interest. The papers are usually timely, involving the latest technologies and techniques in use. Does it get any better than that?
ISA Divisions (and their Symposia) are great places to network with kindred spirits. We all have our own acronyms and language specific to our respective industries…Just think, you can meet and talk with people that understand your lingo without a raised eyebrow or that deer-in-the-headlights look we all get when we start talking technical on the outside!
My company sent a new employee to the Power Division Symposium (POWID/ERPI) to soak up some of the technical expertise. I was somewhat humored when he leaned over at one point and asked, “How much of this should I understand?”…My reply, “All of it in about 20 years!”
There is a proposal afoot within our organization to make ISA Division membership automatic—included in your dues, instead of a price-adder option. Since we are a technical society, it should be safe to assume that we all have our own technical bent and SHOULD belong to at least one ISA Division. Most of us should probably participate in more than one. So check out the existing ISA Divisions on the ISA website: www.isa.org/divisions.
If you don’t see one that meets your needs, consider starting a new one. Since automation is in a constant state of flux with shifting technologies and applications, ISA Divisions will need to evolve constantly to meet changing market needs. The one requirement is ISA Member involvement. Without participation, the network fails and the information sharing becomes meaningless. For those considering joining or creating an ISA Division, remember that this is an excellent opportunity to build relationships with ISA Members and potential members, find out how other companies in your technical industry are dealing with industry challenges, play an active role in planning Division events, and provide a hub for your industry’s technical audience.
So which ISA Divisions do you participate in?
In my opinion, ISA’s Division Symposia are where the proverbial rubber meets the road of our organization. Professionals dedicated to an Industry or Science within the automation profession develop a program that is geared toward a specific interest. The papers are usually timely, involving the latest technologies and techniques in use. Does it get any better than that?
ISA Divisions (and their Symposia) are great places to network with kindred spirits. We all have our own acronyms and language specific to our respective industries…Just think, you can meet and talk with people that understand your lingo without a raised eyebrow or that deer-in-the-headlights look we all get when we start talking technical on the outside!
My company sent a new employee to the Power Division Symposium (POWID/ERPI) to soak up some of the technical expertise. I was somewhat humored when he leaned over at one point and asked, “How much of this should I understand?”…My reply, “All of it in about 20 years!”
There is a proposal afoot within our organization to make ISA Division membership automatic—included in your dues, instead of a price-adder option. Since we are a technical society, it should be safe to assume that we all have our own technical bent and SHOULD belong to at least one ISA Division. Most of us should probably participate in more than one. So check out the existing ISA Divisions on the ISA website: www.isa.org/divisions.
If you don’t see one that meets your needs, consider starting a new one. Since automation is in a constant state of flux with shifting technologies and applications, ISA Divisions will need to evolve constantly to meet changing market needs. The one requirement is ISA Member involvement. Without participation, the network fails and the information sharing becomes meaningless. For those considering joining or creating an ISA Division, remember that this is an excellent opportunity to build relationships with ISA Members and potential members, find out how other companies in your technical industry are dealing with industry challenges, play an active role in planning Division events, and provide a hub for your industry’s technical audience.
So which ISA Divisions do you participate in?
posted by ISA at
8:47 AM
1 Comments:
Certainly appreciate both the points viz.
1) Start the New division if existing divisions don't meet your needs. That's simply great freedom level - &
2) Automatic inclusion in one of the Tech divisions within the membership dues-each one of us belong to Atleast One division,anyway.
pl clarify about second point - as after referring to www.isa.org/divisions it did not provide such free inclusion- is it at a proposal stage or already effective ? by any chance it is proposal afoot in Emerson !
APART from this small little clarificatio- let me wholeheartedly say 'Connections' makes wonderful reading and shows zeal to bring people together - especially under 30 automation engrs-excellent move.Although not under 30, I wish this spreads globally- who knows tomorrows Bill Gates,Bela Liptak ...is within them- it's appealing,at one stroke it makes healthy contributions to the Emotional Bank Accounts of whole mass ! All the best.
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