MayJune 2008

The ESD Association newsletter, published for everyone with an interest in the understanding and control of electrostatic discharge. Volume 24, No. 3 May/June 2008 The ESDA is... From President David E. Swenson page 2 2008 June Meeting Schedule page 3 ESD on Campus: Thammasat University page 4 ESDA Spotlight: Lou Patterson page 4 2009 Board of Directors Ballots pages 5 - 7 Educational Opportunities Details are provided on page 8 and at www.esda.org . ESD Certified Professionals Comments from Professionals, page 9 Q&A: Humidity and Static Control page 10 ESDA Announces Research Grant page 10 Suggestion Box page 7 Calendar page 11 In this issue www.esda.org Be sure to check the next issue of Threshold for complete schedules and information on this year’s 30th Annual EOS/ESD Symposium and Exhibits being held in Tucson, AZ September 7-12 or check the web site www.esda.org/symposia.html The ESD Association’s annual Symposium will take place at the Westin La Paloma, Tucson, Arizona, on September 7-12, 2008. This year will mark the 30th anniversary of the Symposium, which is the world’s premier event dedicated to electrical overstress (EOS) and electrostatic discharge (ESD). The Symposium week is filled with tutorials,technicalsessions,workshops, exhibits, and networking opportunities. The EOS/ESD Symposium activities will “kick-off” on Sunday, September 7 with tutorials. Our Tutorial Program Chairman,CarlNewberg, hasorganized a very comprehensive set of tutorials, presented by the most knowledgeable experts in the field, covering a broad range of topics. New tutorials have also been added on top of last year’s already excellent program. On Tuesday, the EOS/ESD Symposium will officially open with the Awards Breakfast where last year’s Symposium Outstanding Paper, Best Paper, Best Student Paper, and Friendship Awards will be presented. After the Awards Breakfast, the tech- nical program will start. The Technical Program Chairman, Vesselin Vassilev, and his committee have organized an excellent program. Multiple technical tracks will offer the latest findings in On-Chip ESD Failure Case Studies, On-Chip Physics, On-Chip Protection for Bipolar, SmartPower, RF, High Voltage and Advanced CMOS technologies, ESD Qualification and Test Methods, Factory / Materials, Sub-Class 0 Devices, MR-Heads, and MEMS. The Workshop Chairman, Michael Khazhinsky, has coordinated ten stimulating Workshops to be moderated by experts in their respective fields. The Workshops will be held on two days, beginning on Tuesday evening and continue on Wednesday in two segments, with four parallel sessions in each segment. Running in parallel with the Symposium activities is the Supplier’s Exhibition. Beginning with Monday night’s Reception to the closing time on Wednesday afternoon, there will be ample time to visit the more than 50 exhibitors with the very latest equipment and services for the ESD industry. With a broad program of tutorials, workshops, and technical sessions during the 2008 EOS/ESD Symposium, every attendee will have an opportunity to gain the necessary knowledge to keep up with the ever changing and demanding ESD world. Gearing up for the 30th Annual eos/esd Symposium September 7-12, 2008 Westin La Paloma Tucson, AZ, USA