IEEE Metro Los Angeles Communications Chapter

Peter Teahen will be our presenter. The scope of a mass fatalities response extends well beyond the return of remains to surviving family members. Addressing the complex needs of such an incident includes several critical tasks: protecting potential crime scenes; managing resources and personnel effectively; conducting comprehensive searches and recovering remains; understanding relevant legal and regulatory issues; identifying and returning remains accurately; and ensuring that the families of the deceased are treated with compassion, dignity, and respect for their cultural and religious beliefs. It is essential that responders are equipped with the necessary tools to fulfill their duties and are prepared to manage the substantial physical and emotional stress they will encounter during the response. Co-sponsored by: IEEE-USA MOVE Program Speaker(s): Peter Teahen Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/462333

“Sequence-based interrogation of soil microbiomes and their ecosystem benefits” with Susannah Green Tringe, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Date/Time: Tuesday, January 28, 2025; 6:00-7:00 pm PST, 9-10 pm EST Abstract: Plants roots and the soil they grow in are heavily colonized with microbes that play critical roles in nutrient cycling and transport as well as influencing plant growth and health. Molecular methods including DNA sequencing have begun to elucidate the forces governing the assembly and maintenance of plant and soil microbial communities, offering the opportunity for these microbial communities to be nurtured and manipulated to promote plant growth and health as well as soil health and ecosystem functions. We have combined omics methods, biogeochemical assays, and gas flux measurements to investigate the factors influencing greenhouse gas emissions from natural and managed wetland systems. By integrating these datasets we find that gas fluxes represent a complex interplay of biological, chemical, and physical factors that vary across habitats. Our results suggest considerable heterogeneity in fluxes even in physically proximate locations that have implications for the success of wetland preservation and restoration as a carbon storage strategy, particularly in the context of sea level rise. In agricultural systems, we find that different plant compartments (e.g. rhizosphere and root endosphere) harbor unique and dynamic microbial communities heavily influenced by the soil, surrounding environment and host genotype. Abiotic stress, such as drought and low nitrogen, can alter both the composition of these communities and their interactions with each other and the plant. Our sequence-based characterizations of plant-associated communities, leveraging a variety of bioinformatic tools, have identified key populations that structure the community and respond dynamically to environmental changes, representing potential targets for improvement of plant resilience. Speaker(s): Susannah Green Tinge, Agenda: 6:00 pm Introduction 7:00 pm Adjourn Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/452888

A Consultants Committee Virtual Meeting A few years ago the (https://ieeeusa.org/committees/aicncc/) polled local consultants network chairs to find out the status of their local consultants network. What the Consultants Committee learned is that many local consultants networks are having trouble organizing in-person meetings. We also learned that many chairs have questions about activities of the IEEE-USA Consultants Committee. On January 30 at 12:00pm-1:00pm EST, the IEEE-USA Consultants Committee is again sponsoring a virtual workshop for local consultant network chairs. We have asked senior committee members William Kassebaum and Larry Nelson to give a presentation on key activities and services of IEEE-USA Consultants Committee. In addition, these committee members will add their commentary about what independent consultants should expect in 2025. After the presentation, there will be a Q/A with members of the IEEE-USA Consultants Committee. IEEE-USA Consultants Committee members want to address any questions about the committee's activities that local chairs may have. The speakers will address any additional questions chairs may have regarding the presentation. So, we invite all Chairs, Vice Chairs and other network officers, as well as potential future Board members, to register and attend this online event. This meeting will be recorded to be used as an on Demand resource. Speaker(s): William R. Kassebaum, Larry Nelson Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/460103