UC San Diego IEEE Named Best in the West

UC San Diego’s IEEE has been named No. 1 among its peers in Region 6, which includes 90 student chapters across the Western states of Alaska, Utah, Idaho, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, and Montana. The “Outstanding Student Branch Award” will be presented in San Francisco on Aug. 19 at a regional meeting of IEEE. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is the world’s largest professional association advancing innovation and technological excellence for the benefit of humanity, a role the UC San Diego Student Branch takes very seriously. Incoming UC San Diego IEEE President Vikram Bhasker says the organization hosts regular outreach events with middle and high school students and will be extending their outreach around the world in the 2011-2012 academic year. Bhasker, an electrical engineering student, said the branch will be transforming its YouTube Channel, providing a resource to students around the globe seeking guidance on their classes or fun tutorials on engineering projects.

UC San Diego IEEE offers its student members hands-on projects and workshops that offer a unique learning experience and the opportunity to build connections through professional and social events. Just last month, IEEE’s quarterly magazine, The Institute, recognized UC San Diego IEEE for its leadership in reinventing the micromouse competition in which tiny autonomous robotic mice race around a maze. Traditionally an IEEE competition held at regional meetings, the contest has struggled with poor attendance. Last year, under the leadership of then President Minji Kim, the UC San Diego IEEE decided to host the first ever California Micromouse Competition and secured a grant from Qualcomm to cover the costs. The event was a huge success, bringing in 13 teams from 8 universities.Check out our news release for more on the big competition and congratulations to UC San Diego IEEE for this well deserved recognition!