IEEE REGION 9 HISTORY COMMITTEE NEWS

August 2025

2025 IEEE HISTELCON – History of Electrotechnology Conference

Knowing the Past for Preparing the Future

History of Technology for Meaningful Goals in the Age of AI

Bonn, Germany | Event format: In-person | 30 September – 2 October 2025

Conference  Website: https://2025.ieee-histelcon.org/

HISTELCON, HISTory of ELectrotechnology CONference, is a flagship conference series of IEEE Region 8 held every two years and is dedicated to all aspects of the history of electrical engineering, electronics, and computing, and their impact on social and economic development.

HISTELCON 2025 will be the ninth HISTELCON conference, being the first to be held in Germany. The conference’s official language is English, and all presentations will be oral. The conference will be hosted in the charming city of Bonn, Germany, in the Uniclub right next to the Rhine River in the center of the city.

We cordially invite you to attend the Conference.

Please find the full information at http://2025.ieee-histelcon.org or contact histelcon2025@fkie.fraunhofer.de

HISTELCON is the only Conference in the IEEE that addresses the history of technology and its implications, and our IEEE Region 9 patronizes it.

 

IEEE Region 9 Best Contribution to the IEEE Latin America History Award

The IEEE Region 9 Best Contribution to the IEEE Latin America History Award is given annually to promote, recognize, and support contributions to the History of IEEE from members within IEEE Region 9. This award recognizes the value of up to three written contributions to the History of the IEEE in Region 9. Each awardee receives a plaque in an appropriate ceremony, usually at the Regional Meeting immediately following the yearly call for nominations.

To date, the Award has had two editions, and the winners were:

  • In 2024, Juan Carlos Miguez (Uruguay), for his contributions to historical memory and for promoting IEEE Milestones in Region 9; and Jorge Him Casanova (Panama) and Marco Chen (Panama), for compiling and producing two volumes of the CAPANA Council’s historical memory (1982-2017).
  • In 2025, María Pérez (Puebla), in recognition of the value of written contributions of IEEE volunteers to the history of the Puebla section.

The coming call for nominations will open during the final quarter of 2025, along with the other regional awards. The winners will be announced and recognized at the 2026 Regional Meeting.

Stay tuned for the Call for Nominations!

We cordially invite you to submit your nominations!

For more information about the Region 9 Awards, please visit: https://r9.ieee.org/resources/awards-and-recognition/

 

IEEE Milestones Program in R9

The IEEE Milestones Program honors significant achievements in all technical areas associated with IEEE.  It is a program of the IEEE History Committee, administered through the IEEE History Center. Milestones recognize the technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity found in unique products, services, seminal papers, and patents.  Milestones honor the achievement, rather than a place or a person.

Among the more than 250 IEEE Milestones worldwide designated to date, the following six are located in our Region 9:

  • Chivilingo Hydroelectric Plant, Chile, 1897 (dedicated in 2001)
  • NAIC/Arecibo Radiotelescope, Puerto Rico & Caribbean, 1963 (2001)
  • Panamá Canal Electrical and Control Installations, Panamá, 1914 (2003)
  • Rincón del Bonete Hydroelectric Plant, Uruguay, 1945 (2012)
  • Itaipú Hydroelectric Power Plant, Paraguay, 1975 (2025)
  • URUCIB Sistema de Información Presidencial, Uruguay, 1988. (Dedication ceremony pending).

To increase the visibility and recognition of electrotechnology landmarks in Latin America, we invite you to identify new Milestone candidates and contact the Region 9 History Committee, which is available to provide you with guidance and support.

The proposed Milestones must meet the criteria of longevity, technological and social impact, at least one of the Milestone proposers must be a current IEEE member, and the Milestone must be sponsored by one or more IEEE Organizational Units (section, society, chapter…).

Additional Information:

To contact the R9 History Committee, please write to r9-history@ieee.org