Sembiam Rengarajan.

California State University, Northridge electrical and computer engineering professor Sembiam R. Rengarajan has been named chair of the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Radio Science (USNC-URSI) for the triennium 2018-20. He has taken over the position after serving as secretary, and chair-elect of USNC-URSI from 2015-17.

URSI, under the International Council for Science, is responsible for encouragement and coordination of research activities in the field of radio science. The U.S. participation in URSI is conducted through the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. The USNC-URSI manages this relationship.

“Since January 2018, I have been serving as chair, although I received the formal letter of appointment in March,” Rengarajan said. “I am honored to serve this scholarly organization.”

The USNC-URSI sponsors national meetings, disseminates information about national and international radio science activities, and advises the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in all matters pertaining to the URSI, a member union of the International Council for Science. The USNC-URSI also represents the community of American radio scientists in the union.

As part of international activities at the NAS, the USNC-URSI will look at issues not only relevant to radio science, but also relevant across several disciplines. New activities and initiatives may focus on, for example, fostering research collaborations and communications, improving the public’s understanding of science, supporting opportunities for young scientists, developing outreach to other countries and promoting equitable access to research resources.

The USNC-URSI will meet from Jan. 8-12, 2019, at the North American Radio Science Meeting in Boulder, Colo.

Electrical and Computer Engineering, U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Radio Science (USNC-URSI)