IEEE and its members inspire a global community to innovate for a better tomorrow through highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. IEEE is the trusted “voice” for engineering, computing, and technology information around the globe.
IEEE membership offers access to technical innovation, cutting-edge information, networking opportunities, and exclusive member benefits. Members support IEEE's mission to advance technology for humanity and the profession, while memberships build a platform to introduce careers in technology to students around the world.
As the world's largest technical professional organization, IEEE offers a number of ways to get involved with technical and local communities. These communities are active participants in research and authorship, conferences, and important conversations about today's most relevant technical topics locally and globally.
IEEE sponsors more than 1,800 annual conferences and events worldwide, curating cutting-edge content for all of the technical fields of interest within IEEE. Use the IEEE conference search to find the right conference for you to share and discuss innovation and interact with your community.
With an active portfolio of nearly 1,300 standards and projects under development, IEEE is a leading developer of industry standards in a broad range of technologies that drive the functionality, capabilities, and interoperability of a wide range of products and services, transforming how people live, work, and communicate.
IEEE provides a wide range of quality publications that make the exchange of technical knowledge and information possible among technology professionals. This essential content, categorized below, is delivered through the IEEE Xplore® Digital Library.
IEEE offers a wide range of learning and career enhancement opportunities within the engineering sciences, research, and other technology areas. The goal of these programs is to ensure the growth of skill and knowledge among professionals and to foster individual commitment to continuing education among IEEE members, the engineering and scientific community, and the general public.
Review the sections on this page and under the “Related Information” tab to learn about the history of the IEEE Life grade, the establishment of the Life Members Fund, the origin of the Life Committee, formation of Life Affinity Groups, and how the program evolved through the years to become the program it is today.
The grade of Life first appeared in the AIEE constitution of 1884. In that year, the AIEE allowed any member to become a Life member and be exempt from paying annual dues by making a one-time payment. The payment amount rose over the years and, in 1925, it was based on the member’s age. That same year, the AIEE also established the membership category of “members for Life,” which bestowed dues exemption on those who had paid dues for 35 years. The IRE also had Life members but only since 1947, when the organization voted to waive the dues of every member who had reached the age of 65 and had paid dues for 35 years.
When AIEE and IRE merged with IEEE in 1964, the IEEE Life membership required that an individual be age 65 and a member of AIEE or IRE for at least 35 years, or be age 70 and a member of AIEE or IRE for 30 years. As it stands today, IEEE Life members are members who are at least 65 years old and whose collective age and years of membership equal 100 or more.