IPC Supporting Newcomers in the Industry: Notes from IPC APEX EXPO 2021
With the wrap-up of IPC APEX EXPO 2021, it was extremely gratifying to note the emphasis placed on getting young people involved to combat the “graying out” knowledge losses facing our industry. A part of that emphasis was reflected in the award ceremony on Tuesday, March 9, which featured some people you may have seen mentioned in my “Better to Light a Candle” columns.
In no particular order:
Dr. Christopher Middlebrook of Michigan Technological University received the Michael Carano Teacher Excellence Award for his work spearheading the formation of an undergraduate class in electronics manufacturing combining in-house, hands-on student design, fabrication, assembly, and test of multilayer circuit board assemblies with 30 to 40 industry subject matter guest lectures per semester. Now in its third year, this class serves as the prototype and template for the “Electronic Manufacturing Technical Education Project,” establishing local industry/academia collaborative education opportunities across the United States. Dr. Middlebrook provides exemplary leadership of one of the first IPC student chapters, and an SMTA student chapter, as well as military and industrial developments in optoelectronics.