October 2, 2007 IEEE Expert Now courses are available for IEEE Regions, Sections, and Chapters interested in participating in IEEE Expert Now Section-Chapter Program. Started in 2006, program helps local IEEE volunteers organize event where attendees can view one or more IEEE Expert Now courses and discuss materials with local expert on that topic. IEEE Regions, Sections, and Chapters who participate will have ability to award Continuing Education Units to event participants free of charge.

October 2, 2007 The IEEE Educational Activities Board, in cooperation with the IEEE Standards Association, is presenting an education workshop about the role IEEE 802 Wireless Standards play in manufacturing and production processes. Scheduled for November 30 to December 1, 2007, the workshop will feature a panel discussion and cover topics such as wireless LAN Standards for Wi-Fi Solutions, the development of WPAN ecosystem standards, and the basis of WiMAX mobile broadband networks.

October 2, 2007 IEEE is announcing the launch of IEEE.tv with targeted programming on technology and engineering produced by IEEE members. Programming options including hot topics in technology, conference highlights, and interviews with industry experts. Launched as a beta site in August, 2006, it now features a flash video format, a list of most viewed and recently added videos, as well as options for RSS feeds. Currently 30 programs are available which are categorized into 6 different series.

October 1, 2007 NEMA welcomes the European Commission's proposal to indefinitely postpone implementation of EU 1980, which would have banned usage of non-metric units on products sold in the EU. According to NEMA President and CEO Evan Gaddis, differences between European and North American electrical infrastructures would make required usage of metric-only labeling unworkable. The proposed suspension must still be ratified by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers.

October 1, 2007 The FAA and NATCA signed an employment agreement covering approximately 1,200 Engineers and Architects who are responsible for the planning, design, and installation of facilities, systems, and equipment to ensure the safety of the National Airspace System. It was overwhelmingly ratified by the union membership after 9 months of negotiations. As a result, the FAA will increase the percentage of employees in its pay-for-performance plan to 84%.

October 1, 2007 The BSA Educational Services Committee, chaired by Howard Gainey, Vice President/General Manager, Bearings & Drives, Inc., completed a revision of the Lubrication Guide and also decided to make it available separately. It will also continue to be included with the In-House Training Guide, which provides bearing-specific employee training.

October 1, 2007 NEMA and the ESFI announce the death of industry leader Harold Leviton, who served on ESFI's Board of Directors for 30 yr and was a driving force behind establishing NEMA as a leader in standards development. In addition to his seat on NEMA's board, he served as chairman of the Wiring Devices section and chairman of the Building Equipment Division from 1976 to 1979. Leviton is the only person to have been named as a NEMA director emeritus.

October 1, 2007 NEMA has announced that Cerro Wire & Cable Co., Inc., DaPict, Howard Industries, Inc., Radian Research, Inc., Bioptics, Inc., Champlain Cable Corporation, HSI Fire & Safety Group LLC, and TransCore, ITS, LLC have joined the organization. In addition, AIP Solutions, ALFA International, and Budde Marketing Systems, Inc. have joined as associate members.

September 28, 2007 Joining AEM staff to boost public policy outreach, Anne Forristall Luke will work closely with Vice President of Global Public Policy and association committees to expand relationships with Congressional offices, executive branch, federal agencies, and the public. Anne Forristall Luke has more than 25 years of Washington government relations and public affairs experience in both public and private sectors.

September 28, 2007 Named codes and industry affairs manager for AAMA, Chuck Anderson will serve as technical liaison between AAMA and affiliated industry organizations including standards-setting associations, building products coalitions and government agencies, as well as state, local, and international code groups. He has 22 years of engineering-related experience and is registered as a professional engineer in North Carolina.

September 26, 2007 On Sept 28, 2007, Fieldbus Center at Lee College will be offering Fieldbus For Sales Professionals one-day training course intended for controls and instrumentation sales professionals needing general understanding of FOUNDATION fieldbus(TM) technology. Attendees will study basic fieldbus-related facts and terminology, learn how to resolve common technology issues, and learn how fieldbus can be integrated into project bid packages.

September 26, 2007 Designed for Plastics Machinery section of OSHA's Machine Guarding eTool, Thermoforming Module goes into detail about various stages of thermoforming process, including loading roll of plastic onto roll-fed thermoformer machine and threading plastic into it through end-feed rollers. It also examines forming, trimming, and stacking process and how employers and employees can avoid hazards associated with these processes.

September 26, 2007 Available on Google Moon Website, NASA provides multimedia content including Apollo missions, embedded panoramic images, links to audio clips and videos, and descriptions of astronauts' activities during missions. Content is overlaid on high-resolution lunar maps. Providing detailed charts of different regions of moon, website encourages exchange of data and ideas among scientists and amateur astronomers, and is suitable for anyone simulating lunar missions.

September 25, 2007 Applicants chosen for 2009 Astronaut Candidate Class could fly to space for long-duration stays on International Space Station and missions to the moon. To be considered, bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or math and 3 years of relevant professional experience are required. Teaching experience, including work at K-12 grade levels, is considered qualifying. After 6-month period of evaluation and interviews, NASA will announce final selections in early 2009.

September 25, 2007 To advance scientific discovery, NASA and National Institutes of Health signed memorandum of understanding that will help American scientists use International Space Station to answer questions about human health and diseases. Station provides virtually gravity-free environment where cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie human diseases can be explored. As part of agreement, NIH and NASA will exchange information and share each other's research and development efforts.

September 25, 2007 Commemorating the space program's 50th anniversary, NASA and Discovery Communications announced a partnership in which the Discovery Channel will air the film, In the Shadow of the Moon, during the summer of 2008. The partnership will encompass on-air and online components as well as grassroots activities throughout 2008, including educational workshops and local screenings. Discovery will also feature podcasts and interactive features on its website.

September 25, 2007 ASHRAE has published Guia de Bolsillo, the Spanish version of the ASHRAE Pocket Guide. The translation of the Guide is part of an effort to better serve the international HVAC&R community by implementing various global strategies. This plan includes the translation of ASHRAE literature into various languages to increase the value of membership worldwide and provide access to ASHRAE technology outside the U.S.

September 25, 2007 Marking the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, ASHRAE celebrates the efforts of the HVAC&R industries that have played a role in reducing ozone depletion. ASHRAE has continuously developed ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2004 and ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34-2007, and also funded research projects concerning ozone destruction, properties of refrigerants, and evaluation of CFC-alternative refrigerants. It has also written and updated its position document on ozone-depleting substances.

September 25, 2007 The OSHA and Lamar Outdoor Advertising alliance will provide employees in the outdoor advertising industry with information, guidance, and access to training resources to promote and protect safety and health. It will focus on issues regarding falls, electrical, struck-by, trenching, and aerial lifts hazards. Efforts will include developing information to identify/prevent workplace hazards as well as tools to assist employers with communicating safety and protection guidelines.

September 25, 2007 OSHA announced in the Aug. 31 Federal Register that it will hold an informal public hearing, scheduled for 9 am on December 4, regarding a plan to update its personal protective equipment (PPE) design standards. It is proposing to revise the PPE sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring, and marine terminals standards regarding the use of eye and face protective devices as well as head and foot protection.