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IEEE Vehicular Technology Society (VTS) is a technical community with 4,600 members worldwide. Our mission is to support the professional development and growth of all members via a wide range of services and activities: conferences, publications, workshops, online resources, chapters, and distinguished lecturer seminars.
Most of these services and activities are achieved by bringing together VTS members from around the world and from numerous different groups, either as volunteers working on the same project or as participants at the same event or activity.
The value of having VTS members from all these diverse groups involved on the same project, with each contributing their own experiences and perspectives, is quite significant. All members gain new knowledge and insights across various areas of vehicular technology. In short, diversity and inclusion are important elements of the VTS community.
In support of diversity and inclusion across our VTS community, it is vitally important that we all maintain a safe and respectful environment; one that is conducive to the collaborative and open exchange of ideas and discussions.
To achieve this goal, VTS is entirely committed to the prevention and elimination of harassment and discrimination within our community, such as sexual harassment and gender-based abuses. At the January 2018 VTS Board of Governors (BoG) meeting, the following IEEE Code of Conduct statement was approved:
"IEEE members are committed to the highest standards of integrity, responsible behavior, and ethical and professional conduct. The IEEE Technical Activities Board reaffirms its commitment to an environment free of discrimination and harassment as stated in the IEEE Code of Conduct, IEEE Code of Ethics, and IEEE Nondiscrimination Policy."
At their January 2019 meeting, the VTS BoG approved the formation of the VTS Ad Hoc Committee on Women and Diversity. The mission of this new committee is to enhance diversity within VTS, organize and support activities oriented towards the inclusion of women in all aspects of the VTS community, and create opportunities for professional growth and increased visibility of women in VTS.
Chairing this committee is the VTS liaison to the IEEE Women in Engineering, Carmela Cozzo, with the committee membership consisting of the following VTS members:
- Elected VTS BoG member and VTS VP—Publications, Weihua Zhuang
- Elected VTS BoG member Neeli Prasad
- Elected VTS BoG member, Lin Cai
- VTS Education Committee chair, Marina Aguado
- VTS Ad Hoc Committee on Autonomous Vehicles chair, Yue Wang
- Elected VTS BoG member and VTS VP—Membership, Richard Yu
Members of VTS Ad Hoc Committee on Women and Diversity: (from L to R) Cozzo, Zhuang, Prasad, Cai, Aguado, Wang, Yu
I would like to sincerely thank Carmela, Weihua, Neeli, Lin, Marina, Yue, and Richard for their time and commitment with respect to this committee and this important mission. VTS exists because of its members from around the world, and the ability for everyone to work together, collaborate, and openly exchange ideas with one another is what makes our community very special. |
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