Monday, November 4, 2013

News form Nashville!

District 12 VP Brian Curtis has been elected Chairman of the ISA District Board for 2014, he is the fourth Chairman from the Ireland Section  in fourteen years years which is a great record.
Dept VP Chair 2013 Billy Walsh, President
Peggie Koon 2014 & Dist VP  Chair 2014 Brian Curtis

He will sit on the Executive Committee in 2014, possibly the last year of this committee.

Previous District 12 VPs who have held this position are Declan Lordan, Billy Walsh, and Kevin Dignam. Both Declan Lordan and Billy Walsh have also held the position of Department VP Chairman a position which also holds a seat on the Executive Committee!


Friday, September 20, 2013

Major conference on Functional Safety for Portugal

ISA Portugal is organising a technical conference on the subjects of functional safety, safety integrity levels and safety instrumented systems, taking place next 17th and 18th October, 2013, in the Hotel Vila Galé Ópera, in Lisbon.

Functional safety was chosen based on the responses obtained from surveys conducted on previous events organized by ISA Portugal, where attendees gave their opinion about their preferred subjects.

With this in mind we invited some of most reputed international experts on the subject of functional safety and we had positive reply from Paul Gruhn (Rockwell Automation), Pasquale Fanelli (Invensys), Bert Knegtering (Honeywell), Edward Marszal (Kenexis), Russell Cockman (Emerson), Heiko Schween (HIMA) and Immaculada Fernández (Técnicas Reunidas). José Gomes Ferreira, a portuguese CFSE and ISA member is also participating.

We are also publicising on this event the first book launched by ISA Sección Española, which is dedicated to the subject of functional safety, and we intend to offer one copy of the book to each conference attendee.

Every ISA District 12 member will benefit of the same conditions and discounts as portuguese ones. We also have ISA Spain support on this event.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Educational awards announced

The winners of the 2013 ISA Educational Foundation Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to college and university students who demonstrate outstanding potential to make lasting contributions in the fields of automation, instrumentation and control. The scholarship awards support tuition, related expenses, research activities and initiatives.

The scholorships awarded in District 12 were all to students of St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation. The awardees were.

Mikhail Vaganov — $524
Rusian Khansuvarov — $524
Vadim Nenashev — $524

Congratulations to all on this achievement.

ISA awarded a total of $67,267, which was distributed among undergraduate students in two-year and four-year colleges and universities, and to graduate students. 

The other awardees from throughout the world are as follows:

Paul McVay
Colorado School of Mines
Total Scholarship — $4,400
(Student Activities Endowment Fund — $4,000; District 9 — $440)

Adam Lennartz
University of Cincinnati
Total Scholarship — $5,000
(Student Activities Endowment Fund — $3,316; Executive Board — $879; Daris & Gerald Willbanks Endowment — $805)

Elisabeth Spires
University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Total Scholarship — $4,000
(General Education Endowment Fund — $3,350; Huston Endowment — $398; FPID Endowment — $252)

Neel Shah
Northeastern University
Total Scholarship — $3,000
(Student Activities Endowment Fund — $2,491; General Education Endowment Fund — $405; Bob & Mary Ives Endowment — $104)

Jake Schmidt
University of Toledo
Total Scholarship — $5,000
(Student Activities Endowment Fund — $4,127; ChemPID Endowment Fund — $873)

Jayant Bhatia
Sarvajanik College of Engineering and Technology (SCET)
Total Scholarship — $3,000
(Para-Digiquartz Endowment — $2,000; Life Members Endowment Fund — $1,000)

Lawrence Norris
Lee College
Total Scholarship — $3,405
(Student Activities Endowment Fund — $3,405)

Troy Riddle
Lee College
Total Scholarship — $4,000
(Student Activities Endowment Fund — $4,000)

Sandie Gilliland
Kenai Peninsula College
Total Scholarship — $4,000
(Student Activities Endowment Fund — $3,960; Life Members Endowment Fund — $40)

Chin Gian Hooi
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU)
Total Scholarship — $5,011
(FPID Endowment — $3,000; District 11 — $1,011; Student Activities Endowment Fund — $1,000)

John Pritchard
Iowa State University
Total Scholarship — $3,000
(Bob & Mary Ives Endowment — $2,000; Life Members Endowment Fund — $1,000)

Matthew Sheen
Cornell University
Total Scholarship — $5,000
(General Education Endowment Fund — $2,000; Student Activities Endowment Fund — $2,000; Huston Endowment — $1,000)

Jiabiao Ruan
University of Houston
Total Scholarship — $2,705
(District 7 — $2,705)

Anand Govindarajan
Oklahoma State University
Total Scholarship — $3,000
(ChemPID Endowment Fund — $3,000)

Upasana Manimegalai
Oklahoma State University
Total Scholarship — $5,000
(Student Activities Endowment Fund — $5,000)

Aditya Tulsyan
University of Alberta
Total Scholarship — $4,000
(Huston Endowment — $4,000)

• Awards by District

District 3 scholarship
Raymond Perez — $630
Palm Beach State University

District 5 scholarships
Emanuel Jones — $431
Lawrence Technological University
Stephen Maloney — $431
University of Dayton

District 7 scholarship
Jiabiao Ruan — $2,705 (included above)
University of Houston

District 8 scholarship
Suresh Jayaraman — $642
Oklahoma State University

District 9 scholarship
Paul McVay — $440 (included above)
Colorado School of Mines

District 11 scholarship
Chin Gian Hooi — $1,011 (included above)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU)

District 12 scholarships
Mikhail Vaganov — $524
Rusian Khansuvarov — $524
Vadim Nenashev — $524
St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation

Friday, June 14, 2013

Honoured by society!

The annual honours and awards for 2013 have been announced. These include two from District 12. Dr. Malcolm Philip “Sam” Langridge, (Ametek Process Instruments, Buxted, Sussex, UK), is to receive the Excellence in Analytical Technical Innovation award. The Spain Section's Francisco Diaz-Andreu (Repsol YPF, Madrid, Spain) Spain Section for his "dedicated volunteer service to the Society at the grassroots level." We acknowledge these achievements and extend the congratulations of the District membership to all.
Awards are presented at the annual Gala held in conjunction with Automation Week (Nashville, TN USA, Nov '13)
The full list of awardees is given below.

2013 ISA Fellows
Elevation to the distinguished grade of ISA Fellow is granted to ISA Senior Members in recognition of outstanding achievements in scientific or engineering fields as recognized by ISA peers.

James T. Dykes, P. Eng., Toronto Section
Dykes and Associates, Inc., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
For innovative and pioneering application of cutting-edge automation and control improvements in the pulp and paper industry.

Peter G. Martin, Ph.D., P., Eng., Boston Section
Invensys, Foxboro, Massachusetts, USA
For development of real-time, sensor-based Dynamic Performance Measures for process tuning and profitability control of industrial operations.

Bharat Ratilal Mehta, Maharashtra Section
Reliance Industries Limited, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
For innovative design and implementation of Foundation Fieldbus technology in major refinery and petrochemical complexes.

William L. Mostia, Jr., Texas City Section
SIS-Tech Solutions, League City, Texas, USA
For contributions to the training, design, engineering, and maintenance for safety instrumented systems.

Arunachalam Ramanathan, Maharashtra Section
Reliance Industries Limited, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
For continuous innovative excellence in the engineering leadership of instrumentation, systems and automation as applied to petrochemical complex projects.

Dr. Maurice J. Wilkins, North Texas Section
Yokogawa IA Global Marketing USMK, Carrollton, Texas, USA
For innovation and leadership in the fields of procedural automation, batch automation, operator safety, and human factors as related to process automation.

Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, Bluebonnet Section
Emerson Process Management, Round Rock, Texas, USA
For revolutionary development of a range of innovative algorithms, prototypes and
designs for advanced control embedded into distributed control systems.

2013 Celebrating Excellence Honours & Awards Program

Excellence in Leadership
Recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the industry and/or profession to advance automation.

Eric J. Byres (Tofino Security Products, Lantzville, BC, Canada)
For recognition as one of the world’s leading experts and thought leaders in cybersecurity protection of industrial control systems and for driving the issue as one of the foremost challenges to the automation profession.


Excellence in Analytical Technical Innovation, Endowed by the ISA Analysis Division
Recognizes an individual who has played a critical role in the conception, design, and/or implementation of an innovative product, process, and/or service in the analytical technology field.

Malcolm Philip “Sam” Langridge, Ph.D. (Ametek Process Instruments, Buxted, Sussex, UK)
For development and application of Novel Zirconia based sensor, CO equivalent sensors, extractive Zirconia analyzers for combustion analysis and control.


Excellence in Technical Innovation, Endowed by UOP
Recognizes individuals who have played a critical role in the conception, design, and/or implementation of an innovative product, process and/or service. May be presented to multiple (up to four) honorees.

Richard D. Braatz (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA )
For contributions to the development of process automation and control systems used for industrial pharmaceutical crystallization.


Excellence in Corporate Technical Innovation
Recognizes the company whose contributions and innovations have enhanced social value.

Oklahoma Gas & Electric, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
For addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges through development of the POSITIVE ENERGY™ SMART GRID Program.


Excellence in Technical Presentation
Recognizes the author(s) of the most outstanding paper, article, presentation, or document published and/or presented on behalf of ISA that introduces a new technology or explains an existing automation process.

Robert L. Farmer (Siemens Industry Inc., Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA) Tulsa Section
Udo Gellert (Siemens Industry Inc., Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA) Non Member
Ty Campbell (Siemens Industry Inc., Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA) Non Member
For the paper “Ambient Temperature Testing Issues for Process Analyzers,” presented at the 2012 Analysis Division Symposium, Anaheim, California.


Excellence in Education
Recognizes an individual who has developed and/or enhanced established educational programs to advance the automation profession in educational institutions.

Matthew D. Maynard (Francis Tuttle Advanced Tech Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA)
For advancing the automation profession through education.


Excellence in Enduring Service
Recognizes dedicated volunteer service to the Society at the grassroots level. May be presented to multiple (up to five) honorees.

Lawrence M. “Dutch” Keen, P.E. (Keen CSE Inc., Pearland, Texas, USA) Houston Section
Bill W. Johnson (ABB Inc. Analytical, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA) Analysis Division
Michael W. Chaney (LyondellBasell, Morris, Illinois) Analysis Division
Francisco Diaz-Andreu (Repsol YPF, Madrid, Spain) Spain Section

For dedicated and enduring service to the Society.


Excellence in Society Service
Recognizes distinguished and dedicated volunteer service to the Society.

Brian M. Cleary (Emerson Process Management, Houston, Texas, USA) Texas Channel Section
For distinguished leadership and dedicated service to the Society.


Division Excellence
Recognizes an ISA Division for development and/or execution of programs and/or services to advance the mission of the Society.

ISA Water and Wastewater Division
For outstanding performance in promoting the ideals and goals of ISA Divisions through technical content and member service.

Section Excellence
Recognizes an ISA Section for development and/or execution of programs and/or services to advance the mission of the Society.

OSU Stillwater Student Section
For initiatives to bring exceptional value to the Section and its Members and for advancement of the Society.


Standards Excellence
Recognizes an ISA standards committee member for exceptional efforts in organization, development and/or administration to further the development of ISA standards and for services to advance the mission of the Society.

Cyrus W. Taft (Taft Engineering Inc., Harriman, Tennessee, USA) ISA77 Standards Committee
For leadership in the development of standards, recommended practices, and technical reports related to automation in fossil power generating stations.


Member’s Choice Award Honorees
(Member’s Choice candidates are nominated by the Member’s and honorees are selected by vote of the members. Names are included here for information only. Approval by the Executive Board is not required.)

Division Leader of the Year
Recognizes a Division leader whose activities in the previous year, in an innovative way, have provided exceptional value to a Division, or enhanced an existing conference and/or symposia, or contributed to the development of a new conference and/or symposia.

Graham Nasby (Eramosa Engineering Inc., Guelph, ON, Canada) Water and Wastewater Division

Section Leader of the Year
Recognizes a Section leader whose activities in the previous year, in an innovate way, provided exceptional value to a local Section.

Rob D. Dickson (Spec Sarnia Ltd., Sarnia, ON, Canada) Sarnia Section

Student Mentor of the Year
Recognizes a member whose activities in the previous year have promoted and encouraged student involvement in automation programs.

Quyen L. Huynh (University of Houston, Houston, Texas) Houston Section


Volunteer Leader of the Year
Recognizes a member who in the previous year has demonstrated exceptional leadership of a task force, committee, or board at any level within the Society (Section, Division, District, Department, Executive) resulting in a specific positive outcome.

Graham Nasby (Eramosa Engineering Inc., Guelph, ON, Canada) Water and Wastewater Division

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Message from Portugal

ISA Portugal is the organiser of 2013 District 12 Leaders Conference, which will take place at Cascais, a historic and tourist town 20 miles west of Lisbon.

Click for Guide! (pdf)
In order to help our guests upon arrival in Lisbon we have prepared a small guide here (pdf). ISA President, Terry Ives, and Brian Curtis, District 12 Vice-President will be in attendance, as many other ISA Leaders. The attached Registration Form (pdf interactive) should be filled out and sent to direcao@isa-portugal.com.

The conference will be held at Pousada Cascais, a recently refurbished hotel built inside the town fortress walls, over the sea. A limited block of rooms is available at ISA special rate until April, 10th. Reservations have to be made directly with the hotel, see reservation form (pdf). Ask for Mr. Nelson Nunes, by phone +351 21 0417063 or by email nelson.nunes@pestana.com.

I’m looking forward to meet everyone in Portugal and contributing to this important conference in which we can further our knowledge of ISA to help our sections grow, network with other ISA members and most importantly have some fun.

See you all in Lisbon.
José Alexandre Pereira
ISA Portugal - President

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Paper call for automation event in Saudi

The ISA Saudi Arabia Section of ISA has issued the formal Call-for-Papers for their ISA Automation Conference and Exhibition. This is scheduled to be held from December 7th to 11th, 2013 at the Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Towers, Saudi Arabia.

Under the theme “Experience the Future”, the event promises to be the only full-scale conference and tradeshow in the Middle East that will be dedicated for process automation.

It will focus on measurement and control latest technologies through a 3-day technical conference, product exhibition, workshops and training courses.

The event is primarily sponsored by Saudi Aramco.

Friday, March 22, 2013

DLC Portugal 10-11 May 2013

This is an invitation for all Section Presidents and other members from their section to attend the District 12 Leaders Conference which is being held in Lisbon Portugal on Friday 10 May and Saturday 11 May.

1. Registration Form
The application form to register for the DLC this is to be filled out and emailed to direcao@isa-portugal.org

2. Hotel reservations
Reservations at Hotel Pousada de Cascais have to be made directly with the hotel. A limited block of rooms are available at ISA special rate until April, 10th.
Ask for Mr. Nelson Nunes: +351 21 0417063 nelson.nunes@pestana.com.

3. Program for DLC
The program for the two days is also attached. This is the Draft issue and may be updated before the event in Lisbon.

I would like to thanks Jose Alexandre Pereira and the Portugal Section committee for hosting this event and for their work in putting this program together. Jose will be sending out a map of Lisbon to show where the hotel is located and details on how to get from the airport to the hotel shortly. (see subsequent message 3/4/2013)

The ISA President Mr. Terry Ives will be in attendance and I look forward to meeting everyone in Lisbon.

All of us should look forward to contributing to an important conference,in which we can further our knowledge of ISA to help our sections grow, network with other ISA members and most importantly have some fun.

See you in Lisbon.

Brian Curtis
DVP District 12