Spain – Dr. Gabriel Oliver Codina
Members of the Spanish chapter of the IEEE OES participated in the meeting of Automar, the Spanish research network for the automation in the marine environment, held in Santander on June 24–25. Some of the participants presented technical communications related to their research activity. Design of new AUVs for intervention tasks, renewable energies and underwater generators or inspection of marine ecosystems in deep waters were some of the topics presented.
     Finally, a delegation of the chapter joined the Local Organizing Committee and visited some of the facilities where Oceans 2011 will take place.

San Diego – Kevin J. Delaney
On July 21, Dr. Dick Seymour of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography briefed the San Diego chapter on current efforts to develop ocean renewable energy. Over 35 members and guests filled the conference room of our host, BMT Scientific Marine Services of Escondido, to hear Dr. Seymour discuss the environmental and engineering constraints shaping the recovery of energy from wind, wave, current and salinity. Of particular interest was his emphasis on the need – and the potential – for storage of large amounts of renewable energy in the ocean in order to match supply and demand.

India – Dr. P.R.S. Pillai
The Department of Electronics of the Cochin University of Science & Technology jointly with the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (IEEE OES) organized a Seminar on Recent Advancements in Technology with a Focus to Green Technologies on 3rd June 2010.
     The Seminar was formally inaugurated by Prof. B.S. Sonde, Former Vice-Chancellor, Goa University, and the Chairman, All India Board of UG Studies in Engineering and Technology of AICTE, in a function presided over by Prof. Godfrey Louis, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Cochin University of Science & Technology. In his inaugural address Prof. Sonde indicated the importance of Green Technologies and suggested that Greentech has been recognized world over as an important topic and this needs to be appropriately taken care for the well-being of the future of mankind. In his presidential address Prof. Godfrey Louis, also indicated the need for preserving the echo system of the Earth as a whole and stated that the disposal of e-waste is the most important concern of the Modern Scientific community.
     The following invited talks on areas which have direct relevance to Green Technologies were delivered by the eminent speakers/experts, who led the sessions organized in connection with the seminar.

• Prof. Avudainayagam, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Green technologies – An Overview
  
• Prof. B.S. Sonde, Former Vice Chancellor, Goa University, Green Technology Challenges in the 21st Century
  
• Dr. R.V.G. Menon, Former Principal, Kannur Engineering College, Some Thoughts on Green Technologies
  
• Dr. M.D. Radhakrishnan, NonoRel Consultant, Strategic Approach in Harnessing Natural Resources an Responsibilities of Electronics Industries

     Prof. Avudainayagam presented an overview of Green Technologies for sustainable environmental quality. Prof. Avudainayagam suggested in his overview that the Green Technology is a broad term for more environmental friendly solutions. It is believed that Green Technologies promise to augment high net economic return while reducing environmental degradation and conserving the natural resources. He further elaborated the various feasible green technologies such as solar photovoltaic technology, wind power technology, geothermal power technology, hydrogen fuel technology, tidal power technology, etc.
     Prof. B.S. Sonde, in his invited talk on ‘Green Technology Challenges in the 21st Century’ indicated that human society has been enjoying the benefits of electrical energy, since its exploitation for economic activities for over 120 years. This has resulted in a growing and healthy lifestyle in the society as well as increased comfort levels and satisfaction, which many countries have been enjoying for several decades. As electrical energy has been based on the conversion of fossil fuels, the world has been witnessing a rapid increase of carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere, which is now becoming a major source of pollution responsible for worsening the climatic changes and threat to human health and well being. Moreover the 20th Century has brought about yet another form of pollution, viz., Electromagnetic. It is, in this context that the Green Technologies are being developed and put to use for the benefit of mankind. Green Technology is concerned with the design, development, production, commercialization and use of processes, products and services, having the main objectives of efficient use of raw materials, energy, pollution reduction etc.
     In the invited talk on Some Thoughts on Green Technologies, Dr. R.V.G. Menon, presented an account of the energy Senario, and highlighted the fact that the present energy regime is based heavily on fossil fuels, on which the entire edifice of modern industrial society rests, is not only unsustainable but also positively dangerous to our survival. It has to be replaced by a sustainable and environmental friendly energy regime. He also indicated that Solar thermal energy has been the energy source and survival means of human beings since the very beginning. It is also one of the earliest energy technologies used in war. He opined that more sophisticated technological inventions are to be strengthened in areas like plastic recycling and its alternative uses. One very promising area is the use of waste plastics in road tarring, of which some results have been reported from many experimental projects. A far more daunting challenge is to convert the waste plastics into petroleum, for which certain success stories have been reported in the press, but yet to be proven commercially.
     In his invited talk on Strategic Approach in Harnessing Natural Resources and Responsibilities of Electronics Industries, Dr. M.K. Radhakrishnan indicated that the resultant comfort due to the technological progress was spread throughout the human community worldwide and many of the detrimental effects were ignored till late 1990’s. Many attempts to reduce the use of hazardous materials in electronics had partial success only. Recycling of electronics waste is being practiced rarely and the reduction in e-waste production is not at all felt in the society. An approach depicting the effects of these hazards was presented in the talk with suggestions to make them more environmental friendly.
     A brief valedictory function was organized at 2.45 pm. On 3rd June 2010. During the valedictory function, the participants and Resource Persons opined that the Department of Electronics and the IEEE-OES has given full justice in organizing a Seminar on Recent Advancements in Technology with a Focus to Green Technologies, supported by the Kerala Science, Technology and Environment Committee and Department of Science and Technology in a befitting manner. The participants and Resource Persons of the Seminar also opined that all the four talks delivered on this occasion fits well with the general theme of the Seminar. A panel discussion was also held at 3 p.m. on 3rd June 2010.

Canada – Dr. Ferial El-Hawary
The IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society Chapter of the Canadian Atlantic Section hosted a technical presentation on ODIM Brooke Ocean Activities by Geoff Lebans, Senior Engineer and Director, and Jamie Townsend, Jr., Electrical Engineer, both of ODIM Brooke Ocean. This Event was held on Thursday, April 15, 2010 on the Sexton Campus, Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and it was well attended.
     Highlights of the Presentation: ODIM Brooke Ocean is a world leader in the supply of automated handling equipment (hardware to allow payloads and sensors to be safely deployed, recovered and stowed from a ship at sea). The presentation described a number of applications, with an emphasis on how automation and robotics are utilized to improve safety and efficiency. This included technologies developed for oceanography, sea floor surveying, mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, seismic surveying, and offshore oil & gas.
     Up-coming Event: A presentation well be held during a workshop on Marine Energy Research Directions for Canada at the Marriott Hotel, Water Front, Halifax, N.S. on Wednesday, August 25, 2010. The workshop will focus on the exploitation of tidal and in-stream turbine-based renewable energy as part of meeting the guide-lines for an electric energy strategy that relies more on green energy options.