Keynote Speakers

Goutam Chattopadhyay

Biography: Goutam Chattopadhyay is the 2025 President of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S). He is a Senior Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and a Visiting Professor at Caltech in Pasadena, USA. Dr. Chattopadhyay earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Caltech in 2000. He is a Fellow of both IEEE (USA) and IETE (India), serves as a Track Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, and is an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer. His research interests include microwave, millimeter-wave, and terahertz receiver systems and radars, as well as the development of space instruments for the search for life beyond Earth.

Dr. Chattopadhyay has published over 400 papers in international journals and conferences and holds more than 20 patents. He has received over 35 NASA Technical Achievement and New Technology Invention Awards. In 2024, he was honored with the Armstrong Medal from the Radio Club of America (RCA) for his outstanding contributions for radio science. He also received the NASA-JPL People Leadership Award in 2023. He was named IEEE Region-6 Engineer of the Year in 2018 and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), India, in 2017. Additionally, he has won the Best Journal Paper Award from IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology in both 2020 and 2013, the Best Paper Award for Antenna Design and Applications at the European Antennas and Propagation Conference (EuCAP) in 2017, the IETE Prof. S. N. Mitra Memorial Award in 2014, and the IETE Biman Bihari Sen Memorial Award in 2022.

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-waterhouse-64724143/

MHz to THz Technologies and Our Place in the Universe

Abstract: Space exploration captivates us because it speaks to one of humanity’s deepest instincts—the desire to understand our origins and our place in the cosmos. By venturing beyond Earth, we uncover the mysteries of distant planets, stars, and galaxies, gaining profound insights into our own world. Whether searching for signs of life, studying the birth of stars, or tracing the evolution of galaxies, each discovery reshapes our understanding of the universe—and ourselves. Space exploration inspires innovation, demands global collaboration, and pushes us to dream beyond the limits of the possible. Ultimately, it reminds us that while we occupy a tiny corner of the cosmos, we are a curious and resilient species capable of reaching for the stars.

The rapid advancement of technologies championed by the MHz-to-THz community of the IEEE MTT-S has revolutionized space exploration, opening new frontiers for scientific discovery. These technologies enable more efficient communication systems, high-resolution imaging, and enhanced remote sensing—tools that are critical for probing distant worlds and cosmic phenomena. As space agencies and private ventures continue to harness these capabilities, they deepen our understanding of planetary environments, astrophysical processes, and the very fabric of space-time. In doing so, MTT-S technologies not only transform how we explore the cosmos but also challenge our perspective on humanity’s place within it, inviting us to revisit fundamental questions about our existence, the possibility of life beyond Earth, and our role in the universe.

This lecture will explore these questions and the ways we, as a global community, strive to answer them.

Christophe Fumeaux

Biography:Christophe Fumeaux received his Ph.D. degree from ETH Zurich, Switzerland, in 1997. From 1998 to 2008, he held various positions at the University of Central Florida, the Swiss Federal Office of Metrology, and ETH Zurich. From 2008 to 2023, he was a Professor with The University of Adelaide. In 2023, he joined the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Queensland, as Chair Professor in Optical and Microwave Engineering. His main research interests concern applied electromagnetics, antenna engineering, and the application of RF design principles across the electromagnetic spectrum.

Prof. Fumeaux was the recipient of the ETH Medal for his doctoral dissertation. He was the recipient of the 2018 Edward E. Altshuler Prize, the 2014 IEEE Sensors Journal and the 2004 ACES Journal best paper awards. He was the recipient of the University of Adelaide 2018 Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in PhD Supervision. From 2017 to early 2023, he served as the Editor-in-Chief for the IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and the 2025 President of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society.

Website:https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/41313

The Art of Mode Packing: Fitting Independent Modes into a Shared Volume for Multi-Functional Antennas

Abstract: The growing requirements of wireless communications technologies place unique challenges on antenna design. Antenna systems with increasing complexity and multiple dynamically accessible functionalities are required to enhance capacity and/or serve various purposes, such as simultaneous communications and sensing.

This presentation will focus on the concept of multi-port multi-mode antennas, where several independent radiating modes operating in the same frequency band are generated in a shared aperture (or a shared volume). Such uncorrelated modes packed in a compact form factor can be exploited to enhance the agility and capacity of a communications link, either through pattern diversity or Multiple-Input Multiple-Output operation (MIMO).

In this context, this presentation will demonstrate various techniques for packing multiple independent modes in a limited volume. Applications of the presented design principles will be highlighted through examples involving various types of antennas, including dielectric resonators, planar cavities and series fed arrangements. The final part of the talk will discuss how a large number of largely independent collocated radiating modes in a given volume can enable beam-steering and nulling in a full hemisphere, with high consistency and in any polarization. Experimental results of beamforming with an 18-port antenna fitting in a ~l 3 volume will validate the approach. The presented concept opens new perspectives for future distributed sensing and communications systems.

Manos M. Tentzeris

Biography: Manos M. Tentzeris (S’89–M’92–SM’03–F’10) received the Diploma degree (magna cum laude) in electrical and computer engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. He is currently Ed and Pat Joy Chair Professor with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech, where he heads ATHENA Research Group He has served as the Head of the GT ECE Electromagnetics Technical Interest Group, as the Georgia Electronic Design Center Associate Director of RFID/Sensors research, as the Georgia Institute of Technology NSF-Packaging Research Center Associate Director of RF Research, and as the RF Alliance Leader. He has helped develop academic programs in 3-D/inkjet-printed RF electronics and modules, ﬂexible electronics, origami and morphing electromagnetics, highly integrated/multilayer packaging for RF, millimeter-wave, sub-THz and wireless applications using ceramic and organic ﬂexible materials, 5G/6G/sub-THz interconnects, packaging and modules, 4D RF electronics and phased arrays, paper-based RFID’s and sensors, wireless sensors and biosensors, wearable electronics, “Green” and transient electronics, energy harvesting and wireless power transfer, nanotechnology applications in RF, microwave MEMs, and SOP-integrated (UWB, multiband, mmW, and conformal) antennas. He has authored more than 850 papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings, 7 books, and 26 book chapters. He was a Visiting Professor with the Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany, in 2002, with GTRI-Ireland, Athlone, Ireland, in 2009 and with LAAS-CNRS, Toulouse, France, in 2010 and a Humboldt Guest Professor with FAU, Nuremberg, Germany in 2019.

Dr. Tentzeris was a recipient/co-recipient of many awards, including the 2024 Georgia Tech Outstanding Achievement in Research Innovation Award, the 2024 IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS) Best Student Paper Award, the 2023 Proceedings of IEEE Best Paper Award, the 2022 Georgia Tech Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Advisor Award, the 2021 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Symposium (APS) Best Student Paper Award, the 2019 Humboldt Research Prize, the 2017 Georgia Institute of Technology Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award, the 2016 Bell Labs Award Competition 3rd Prize, the 2015 IET Microwaves, Antennas, and Propagation Premium Award, the 2014 Georgia Institute of Technology ECE Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award.

He is the Vice-Chair of the RF Technical Committee (TC16) of the IEEE CPMT Society. He is the Founder and Chair of the RFID Technical Committee (TC24) of the IEEE MTT-S and the Secretary/Treasurer of the IEEE C-RFID. He has served as an Associate Editor of the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES, the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ADVANCED PACKAGING, and the International Journal on Antennas and Propagation. He has given more than 150 invited talks to various universities and companies all over the world. He was the General Co-Chair of the 2023 IEEE Wireless Power Technology Conference and Expo (WPTCE) in San Diego and of the 2019 IEEE APS Symposium in Atlanta and the Chairman for the 2005 IEEE CEM-TD Workshop and he will be the General Chair of the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Additively Manufactured Electronics Systems (AMES). He is a member of the URSI-Commission D and the MTT-15 Committee, an Associate Member of EuMA, a Fellow of the Electromagnetic Academy, and a member of the Technical Chamber of Greece. He is currently one IEEE EPS Distinguished Lecturer and he has served as one of the IEEE MTT-S Distinguished Microwave Lecturers and as one of the IEEE CRFID Distinguished Lecturers.

Webpage: https://tentzeris.ece.gatech.edu/

Zero-Power Additively Manufactured FHE-Enabled Wireless/5G+ Ultrabroadband Modules for IoT, SmartAg, Industry 4.0 and Smart Cities Applications: from dream to reality

Abstract: In this talk, inkjet-/3D-printed antennas, interconnects, “smart” encapsulation and packages, RF electronics, RFIDs microfluidics and sensors fabricated on glass, PET, paper and other flexible substrates are introduced as a system-level solution for ultra-low-cost mass production of Millimeter-Wave Modules and Metasurfaces for Communication, Energy Harvesting and Sensing applications. Prof. Tentzeris will touch up the state- of-the-art area of fully-integrated printable FHE-Enabled broadband wireless modules covering characterization of 3D printed materials up to E-band, novel fully 3D printable interconnects up to 300 GHz and cavities for IC embedding as well as fully printable structures for self-monitoring and anti-counterfeiting packages. The presented approach could potentially set the foundation for the truly convergent flexible wireless sensor ad-hoc networks of the future with enhanced cognitive intelligence and “rugged” packaging. He will discuss issues concerning the power sources of “near-perpetual” RF modules, including SG-enabled wireless power grids as well as energy harvesting approaches involving thermal, EM, vibration and solar energy forms. The final step of the presentation will involve examples from shape-changing 4D-printed (origami) packages, reflectarrays and mmW wearable (e.g. biomonitoring) antennas and RF modules. Special attention will be paid on the integration of ultrabroadband (Gb/sec) inkjet-printed nanotechnology-based backscattering communication modules, opto-RF modules as well as miniaturized printable wireless (e.g.CNT) sensors for Internet of Things (IoT), SG and smart agriculture/biomonitoring applications. It has to be noted that the talk will review and present solutions for “5S Challenges” (Scalability, Sustainability, Speed, Security and Smartness) as well as future directions in the area of environmentally-friendly transient (“green”) RF electronics and “smart-skin’ conformal sensors as well as massively scalable “tile-by-tile” RFID-enabled autonomous reconfigurable intelligent surfaces.

Anding Zhu

Anding Zhu received the Ph.D. degree in electronic engineering from University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland, in 2004. He is currently a Full Professor with the School of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering at UCD. His research interests include high-frequency nonlinear system modelling and device characterization techniques, high-efficiency power amplifier design, and nonlinear system identification algorithms. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal and conference articles.

Prof. Zhu is an IEEE Fellow. He served as the Secretary of the Administrative Committee (AdCom) of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S) in 2018 and has been an Elected Member of MTT-S AdCom since 2019. Prof. Zhu is currently the IEEE MTT-S President-Elect and will serve as President in 2026. He also served as a Track Editor of IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques (T-MTT) from 2020 to 2022 and was a recipient of the 2021 IEEE MTT-S Microwave Prize.

Website: https://people.ucd.ie/anding.zhu

Next Generation RF Power Amplifiers: Efficiency and Linearity Challenges

Abstract: Radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers (PAs) are fundamental components in almost all wireless transmitters, from tiny sensors and mobile phones to high-power cellular base stations. Their primary function is to boost RF signals by converting DC power into amplified radio waves, ensuring reliable transmission over distances. As 6G aims to enable transformative applications such as ultra-high-speed communications, massive IoT, and immersive experiences, PAs must address challenges in energy efficiency, broadband operation, and linearity under high peak-to-average power ratios and dynamic traffic. This talk explores the critical obstacles and emerging solutions in 6G PA development, including advanced architectures, emerging device technologies (such as GaN MMIC), new frequency bands (e.g., FR3), and AI-driven optimization techniques. It also highlights innovations in linearity enhancement, system integration, and system-level co-design. By bridging theoretical insights and practical applications, this talk provides some insights for researchers and engineers to pioneer RF PA technologies that meet the stringent requirements of 6G, paving the way for a more connected and efficient wireless future.

Joseph Bardin

Biography: Joseph Bardin received the PhD degree in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2009. In 2010, he joined the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is currently a Full Professor. His research group currently focuses on low temperature integrated circuits with applications in radio astronomy and the quantum information sciences. In 2017, he joined the Google AI Quantum team and, in addition to his university appointment, he currently leads Google’s efforts to develop electronics for their current and future quantum computers. Professor Bardin is a Fellow of the IEEE and was a recipient of a 2011 DARPA Young Faculty Award, a 2014 NSF CAREER Award, a 2015 Office of Naval Research YIP Award, a 2016 UMass Amherst College of Engineering Barbara H. and Joseph I. Goldstein Outstanding Junior Faculty Award, a 2016 UMass Amherst Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Research and Creative Activity, a 2020 IEEE MTT-S Outstanding Young Engineer Award, and the 2022 IEEE MTT-S Microwave Magazine Best Paper Award.

Webpage: https://www.umass.edu/engineering/about/directory/joseph-bardin

Building a quantum computer using microwave technology

Abstract: Quantum computing offers the potential for an exponential speed-up of certain classes of computational problems, and, as such, the development of a practical quantum computer has been a field of intense research over the past two decades. Yet, it is still early in the development of these systems, as we have just reached the point at which laboratory experiments have shown that quantum computers can outperform classical computers at certain computational tasks. As such, it is an exciting time in the field, analogous to the early days of classical computer development. As microwave engineers there is a tremendous opportunity to contribute to quantum computing, as the control and measurement of most quantum processors is carried-out using microwave techniques. In this talk, I will describe the use of microwaves in quantum computing, with a focus on the superconducting qubit technology which was used to show that a quantum computer is capable of post-classical computation. The talk will be geared toward microwave engineers with no background in quantum computing and will provide a glimpse into the fundamentals, contemporary system architectures, recent experiments, and, finally, major microwave challenges that must be overcome if fault tolerant quantum computing is to become a reality.

Stefano Maci

Biography: Stefano Maci is a Professor at the University of Siena (UNISI). Since 2000, he has been P.I. of 10 research projects funded by the European Union (EU) and by the European Space Agency (ESA). He is a Fellow of IEEE since 2004. In 2004 he founded the European School of Antennas (ESoA), a PhD school that presently comprises 35 courses on Antennas, Propagation, and Electromagnetic Theory, and 200 teachers, among them 20 IEEE Fellow. He has been advisor of 40 PhD students. He has been former member of IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) AdCom, the Chair of the Award Committee of the IEEE AP-S, member of the AP Executive Board of IET (UK), Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE and of EurAAP. He was recipient of several prizes and awards, among which the EurAAP Award 2014, the Chen-To Tai Distinguished Educator award 2016, of the Shelkunoff Transaction Prize in 2015, and of the URSI Dellinger Gold Medal in 2020. He is presently Director of ESoA. He has been TPC Chair of the METAMATERIAL 2020 and and General Chair of EuCAP 2023. He was the president of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society 2023. In the last ten years he has been invited 60 times as key-note speaker in international conferences. His research activity is documented in 200 papers published in international journals, (among which 100 on IEEE journals), 10 book chapters, and about 450 papers in proceedings of international conferences.

Degrees of Freedom of the Field and Maximum MIMO Channels as a new strategy for BTS Antenna Design

Abstract: Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (M-MIMO) technoology has significantly advanced base station antenna design by integrating many transceivers with antenna arrays, improving network capacity and managing complex interference dynamically. Advanced antenna modeling and theory are therefore essential today for the accurate prediction and assessment of system performance of next generation of communication systems. In this paper we propose a theoretical framework that emphasizes the joint design of system algorithms and antennas using exact electromagnetic (EM) field representations. This approach defines novel parameters for the quantification of antenna array performances, and defines design strategies to maximize the number of independent channels, the average efficiency, and the maximum average gain within a specific cell. By exploring the degrees of freedom (DoF) of the EM field, we establish the physical upper bounds for system performance, providing a comprehensive understanding of antenna potential.

The paper detail the Embedded Element Patterns (EEPs), their associate Efficiency Correlation Matrix (ECM), Cell Correlation Matrix (CCM), and orthogonal field modes, discussing the practical implications of these concepts for MIMO systems. The findings underscore the significance of sophisticated antenna models in enhancing network capacity, efficiency, and reliability. This research contributes to the optimization of antenna arrays in next-generation mobile networks.

Maurizio Bozzi

Biography: Maurizio Bozzi received the Ph.D. degree in electronics and computer science from the University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, in 2000. He held research positions with various universities worldwide, including the Technische Universitaet Darmstadt, Germany; the Universitat de Valencia, Spain; and the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Canada. In 2002, he joined the Department of Electronics, University of Pavia, where he is currently a full professor of electromagnetic fields. He was also a Guest Professor at Tianjin University, China (2015-2017) and a Visiting Professor at Gdansk University of Technology, Poland (2017-2018). His main research interests concern computational electromagnetics, substrate integrated waveguide technology, and microwave passive components and sensors. He has authored or co-authored more than 190 journal papers and 370 conference papers. He co-edited the book Periodic Structures (Research Signpost, 2006) and co-authored the book Microstrip Lines and Slotlines (Artech House, 2013).

Prof. Bozzi was the 2024 President of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTT-S) and he had several roles in the MTT-S Administrative Committee. He was also a member of the General Assembly of the European Microwave Association (EuMA) from 2014 to 2016. He was a Track Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, and an Associate Editor of the IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters, the IET Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation, and the IET Electronics Letters. He was the General Chair of the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series-Advanced Materials and Processes (IMWS-AMP 2017), in Pavia, Italy, 2017, of the inaugural edition of the IEEE International Conference on Numerical Electromagnetic Modeling and Optimization (NEMO2014), in Pavia, Italy, 2014, and of the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on Millimeter Wave Integration Technologies, in Sitges, Spain, 2011.

Maurizio Bozzi is a Fellow of the IEEE. He received several awards, including the 2015 Premium Award for Best Paper in IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation, the 2014 Premium Award for the Best Paper in Electronics Letters, the Best Student Paper Award at the 2016 IEEE Topical Conference on Wireless Sensors and Sensor Networks (WiSNet2016), the Best Paper Award at the 15th Mediterranean Microwave Symposium (MMS2015), the Best Student Award at the 4th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP 2010), the Best Young Scientist Paper Award of the XXVII General Assembly of URSI in 2002, and the MECSA Prize of the Italian Conference on Electromagnetics (XIII RiNEm) in 2000.

Emerging Trends in Technologies and Materials for Microwave Communication and Sensing

The emerging applications of RF and microwave technology, in conjunction with the Internet of Things (IoT), the new generation of mobile communication (5G and 6G), and the driving of autonomous vehicles and drones, pose new challenges and requirements to the development of modern systems for microwave communication and sensing.

These systems require higher operation frequency (30-100+ GHz), complete system integration (including active components, passive components, antennas), the availability of fast and simple design (to guarantee short time-to-market), as well as low-cost manufacturing technology (even for mm-wave devices).

Different solutions have been investigated and demonstrated for meeting the requirements of these new systems, including planar structures, substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology, 3D printed components, and hybrid solutions.

This talk will present a variety of examples of components, antennas, and systems, ranging from miniaturized SIW components to 3D printed structures and wearable devices and antennas. In all cases, design, manufacturing, and experimental results will be shown and discussed.

Nuno Borges Carvalho

Biography: Nuno Borges Carvalho was born in Luanda, Angola, in 1972. He received his Diploma and Doctoral degrees in electronics and telecommunications engineering from the University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal, in 1995 and 2000, respectively.

He is currently a Full Professor and a Senior Research Scientist with the Institute of Telecommunications, University of Aveiro, the director of the Department of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics at UA, and an IEEE Fellow. He coauthored Intermodulation in Microwave and Wireless Circuits (Artech House, 2003), Microwave and Wireless Measurement Techniques (Cambridge University Press, 2013), White Space Communication Technologies (Cambridge University Press, 2014), Wireless Power Transmission for Sustainable Electronics (Wiley, 2020), Theory and Technology of Wireless Power Transfer Inductive, Radio, Optical, and Supersonic Power Transfer, (CRC-Taylor & Francis 2024) and Radio Frequency Identification Engineering How to Engineer an RFID Reader, Cambridge University Press, 2025). He has been a reviewer and author of over 400 papers in magazines and conferences. He is the Editor in Chief of the Cambridge Wireless Power Transfer Journal, an associate editor of the IEEE Microwave Magazine, and former associate editor of the IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques and IET Microwaves Antennas and Propagation Journal.

He is the co-inventor of six patents. His main research interests include software-defined radio front-ends, backscatter communications, wireless power transmission, nonlinear distortion analysis, and measurements in microwave/wireless circuits and systems. He has been involved in the design of dedicated radios and systems for newly emerging wireless technologies.

Dr. Borges Carvalho is a member of the IEEE MTT ADCOM, the past chair of the IEEE Portuguese Section, TC-20 and TC-11, and also belongs to the technical committees, TC-25 and TC-26. He is also the Chair of the URSI Commission A (Metrology Group). He was the recipient of the 1995 University of Aveiro and the Portuguese Engineering Association Prize for the best 1995 student at the University of Aveiro, the 1998 Student Paper Competition (Third Place) of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (IEEE MTT-S) International Microwave Symposium (IMS), and the 2000 IEE Measurement Prize.

Since 2024 he is a member of the IEEE Future Directions Committee, a member of IEEE TCOES, and in 2025 the IEEE Tab representative for MGA.

He is a Distinguished Lecturer for the RFID Council and was a previous Distinguished Microwave Lecturer for the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society. In 2023 he was the IEEE-MTT President.

Energy-Sustainable IoT: SWIPT and LEO Satellite Integration

Abstract: Integration of Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks is a way to enhance the energy sustainability of Internet of Things (IoT) systems. This presentation explores the potential of SWIPT-enabled IoT systems that leverage LEO satellite connectivity to extend operational lifetimes and improve network resilience in remote and energy-constrained environments. The proposed integration framework aims to enable ubiquitous, energy-efficient IoT deployments with global coverage, supporting applications in smart agriculture, environmental monitoring, and remote sensing.

Rod Waterhouse

Biography:Dr. Rod Waterhouse (Fellow IEEE) is a co-founder and the Chief Technology Officer at Pharad/Octane Wireless. He is world-renowned for his innovative approaches to creating optimally performing antennas as well as highly efficient radio over fiber communication links. During his career, Dr. Waterhouse has undertaken pioneering endeavors in both academia and venture backed industry, focusing on breakthrough technologies in antennas, electromagnetics and microwave photonics engineering. Dr. Waterhouse received his BEng, MS, and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Queensland, Australia, in 1987, 1989 and 1994, respectively, and has over 300 publications to his credit, including two books.

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-waterhouse-64724143/

Low Cost, Electrically Small UHF/GPS Integrated Antenna for Tracking Module

Abstract:Most tracking systems use cellular communications and/or satellite communications for extracting positional data from a small sensing unit. For more secure data extraction which does not go through a non-secure communication network, the UHF spectrum (approximately 430 MHz) is often used. However, this improvement in security and terrestrial range comes at the expense of antenna complexity, especially if the size of the tracking module is not appropriately scaled. Importantly the antenna needs to be as efficient as possible to preserve battery life.

In this presentation we provide the details on how to design and develop an electrically small UHF/GPS integrated antenna module for a tracking sensor in a constrained volume. Theoretical and experimental evaluation of the antenna module insitu will be provided as well as how to lower the cost of the integrated module using flex circuit technology.

Karu Esselle

Biography: A large collection of awards Karu recently received include Academic Research Team of the Year (Team Leader) at 2025 Australian Space Awards, 2024 Premier’s Prize for Leadership in Innovation in New South Wales, Australia’s national 2023 Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia (Team Leader), Australia’s national 2022 Professional Engineer of the Year, both the most prestigious space award in Australia – the “Winner of Winners” Excellence Award – as well as the Academic of Year Award at the 2022 Australian Space Awards, 2022 UTS Chancellor’s Medal, both the Excellence Award and the Academic of the Year Award at 2021 Australian Defence Industry Awards, and 2019 Motohisa Kanda Award (from IEEE USA) for the most cited paper in IEEE Transactions on EMC in the past five years.

Karu is a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales, IEEE and Engineers Australia. His other recent accolades include 2024 Professional Achievement Award from IESL NSW Chapter, Engineers Australia 2022 Sydney Professional Engineer of the Year title and Bradfield Awards, Finalist for 2021 Australian national Eureka Prize for Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers, Runner-up to the same prize in 2020, Finalist for Academic Research Team of the Year at 2024 Australian Space Awards, 2021 IEEE Region 10 (Asia-Pacific) Outstanding Volunteer Award, and 2020 IEEE NSW Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Karu has authored over 750 research publications, and his papers have been cited over 17,000 times. His h-index is 64. Since 2002, his research income is over 35 million dollars. Karu has provided expert assistance to more than a dozen companies in USA, Europe and Australia. Previously an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer himself, from 2018 to 2020 Karu chaired the Distinguished Lecturer Program Committee of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation (AP) Society and has served in 8 global committees of this IEEE society. In addition, Karu has been a Senior Editor of IEEE Access and an Associate Editor of many international journals including IEEE Transactions on Antennas Propagation, IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, IEEE Access and IET MAP. He was Director of WiMed Research Centre and Associate Dean – Higher Degree Research (HDR) at Macquarie University. He has also served as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council and the Division Executive. Karu is a Director of Innovations for Humanity Pty Ltd. Karu’s research activities are posted in the web at https://www.uts.edu.au/staff/karu.esselle and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karu_Esselle .

Near-Field Meta-Steering or Risley Prism– A Low-Profile Method to Steer the Beam of Any Antenna

Abstract: In the history of Antenna Engineering, there has been only one universal method to steer the beam of any fixed-beam antenna. That’s physically tilting the antenna, so it’s not electromagnetic; rather mechanical. This method has been implemented in many commercial antenna systems using motorised mechanical tilting and rotating systems. Now there is another way: Near-Field Meta-Steering, in which two flat phase-gradient metasurfaces (MS) are placed very close to the fixed-beam “base” antenna, in its near field, and are rotated independently. This way, the beam of the antenna can be steered over a large range of zenith angles and the complete azimuth range of 3600, without tilting or rotating the antenna. In fact, no part of the system is tilted. The science behind this method is totally electromagnetic, although current implementations involve mechanical rotations.

A Meta-Steering antenna system is only slightly taller than the base antenna itself. Lack of tilting means it is much shorter than conventional tilting antennas. In the future, one electronically reconfigurable near-field metasurface may provide 2D beam steering without any mechanical rotation.

Since this method was introduced in the seminal paper in 2017, together with the concept of Near-Field Phase Transformation, it has been applied by many industry and academic researchers across the globe (e.g. Thales in France, WaveUp in Italy, TICRA in Denmark, UCLA in USA) to develop novel antenna systems, and to steer the beam of nearly all types of fixed-beam antennas, e.g. Fabry-Perot/resonant cavity antennas, reflector (dish) antennas, metasurface antennas, slot arrays, holographic antennas, and even some end-fire antennas, to name a few.

The method is also known in several names including Risley Method and Near-Field Phase Transformation. The surfaces are also known in different names, e.g. meta lenses, transmitarrays, deflectors.

Several different types of metasurfaces have been developed, e.g. standard printed-circuit-board type, all dielectric, all metal, hybrid and 3D-printed, and some research outcomes have led to national prizes and awards. This keynote speech will review the research conducted by the speaker’s team as well as others in this modern and growing area of research.

Debatosh Guha

Abstract: Debatosh Guha is a Professor in Radio Physics and Electronics, University of Calcutta and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology in the same University. He is a Fellow of IEEE and also a fellow of all four Indian National Academies for Sciences and Engineering. He is former Abdul Kalam Technology Innovation National Fellow, Govt. of India. He served IEEE AP Society as a Distinguished Lecturer, Associate Editor for AP Transactions and AWPL, Chair of several Standing Committees. His research interests include low-profile antenna techniques. A couple of authored and edited books on antenna engineering published by IEEE Press and Wiley are to his credit.

Fascinating Story of an Amazing Antenna Technique

Abstract: This talk will address a story of developing a new antenna technique which has been explored over the last two decades ensuring enormous possibility of advancement in planar antenna and arrays. This, indeed, was conceived in a humble way in 2004, and was first explored for antenna design in 2025-2026, with special applications to mitigating cross-polarization along with mutual coupling in planar antennas. That indeed grew very fast revealing many fascinating features and opportunities. The talk intends to share that amazing experience gathered over the last two decades.

Branislav M. Notaros

Biography: Branislav M. Notaros is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director of Electromagnetics Laboratory, and University Distinguished Teaching Scholar at Colorado State University. Previously, he held assistant/associate-professor positions at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and University of Belgrade. His research contributions are in computational and applied electromagnetics, antennas, and propagation. He was the recipient of the 1999 IEE Marconi Premium, 2005 IEEE MTT-S Microwave Prize, 2022 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Edward E. Altshuler Prize Paper Award, 2019 ACES Technical Achievement Award, 2014 Carnegie Foundation Colorado Professor of the Year Award, 2015 ASEE ECE Distinguished Educator Award, 2015 IEEE Undergraduate Teaching Award, and many other research and teaching awards. He is Fellow of IEEE and Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES). Prof. Notaros serves as Immediate Past President of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) and ACES, Immediate Past Chair of the USNC-URSI Commission B, and Track Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. He served as General Chair of the IEEE APS/URSI 2022 Denver Conference and several other conferences.

Website: https://www.engr.colostate.edu/ece/people/branislav-notaros/

Emerging Applications of EM and AP in Medical Imaging, Clinical Diagnostics, and Radar Meteorology: Collaboration Between Academia, Industry, and Government

Abstract: This keynote talk presents emerging mission-critical antennas and propagation (AP) applications combining concepts, techniques, and technologies of theoretical, computational, experimental, and applied electromagnetics (EM) with emerging interdisciplinary topics, with impacts on medical imaging, clinical diagnostics, and radar meteorology, and in collaboration between academia, industry, and government. In addition, we present recent advancements in the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in EM and AP, for a broad range of state-of-the-art topics and applications. We present design of RF coils/antennas for next-generation high-field, high-frequency magnetic resonance imaging scanners, which provide higher spatial resolution of images and thus better diagnostics, as well as higher parallel imaging performances allowing faster scanning. We also present direct electromagnetic coupling (DEC) system for orthopaedic fracture-healing diagnostics with telemedicine framework, with specially designed noninvasive external radio antenna sensors measuring bone/hardware deflections under loading and providing reliable and affordable predictions and diagnostics of bone healing in a matter of several weeks rather than several months using radiographic methods (X rays). Finally, we present a synergistic systematic approach to analysis, characterization, and quantification of a large variety of snowflakes and snowfall using advanced dedicated methodologies, tools, and in-situ and remote-sensing instrumentation. The approach advances and integrates emerging AI and deep ML techniques, sophisticated image and data processing and computer vision methods, multicamera optical instruments, scattering computation, and dual-polarization radar observations.

Chen Zhi Ning

Biography: Zhi Ning Chen received his two Ph.D. degrees in 1993 and 2003 from institutions in China and Japan, respectively. He currently serves as a Provost’s Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and as Director of the Advanced Research and Technology Innovation Centre at the National University of Singapore.

Professor Chen has authored or co-authored 722 journal and conference papers, along with seven books. His current research interests include electromagnetic materials and metasurfaces, antenna engineering and its applications, and algorithms for generative antenna design.

He was elevated to IEEE Fellow in 2007, elected Fellow of the Academy of Engineering, Singapore in 2019, and is a Fellow and Vice President of the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (2021). Among numerous academic and technical honors, he received the IEEE AP-S John Kraus Antenna Award in 2021 and the EurAAP Antenna Award in 2025.

In addition to his research achievements, Professor Chen has played leading roles in international conferences. He served as the General Chair of the 2021 IEEE AP-S Symposium (Singapore) and is the Founding General Chair of several key conferences, including the IEEE International Workshop on Antenna Technology (2005), the Asia-Pacific Conference on Antennas and Propagation (2012), and the Marina Forum on Metantennas+X (2021).

Website: https://cde.nus.edu.sg/ece/staff/chen-zhining/

Advancement of Metamaterials-Based Antennas (Metantennas): From Hype to Reality

Abstract:Since the late 1990s, metamaterials have sparked significant theoretical research, fundamentally transforming our understanding of electromagnetic (EM) theory. The promise of metamaterials has fueled anticipation of breakthroughs, especially in antenna technology. However, translating these novel physical concepts into practical technologies and real-world applications has proven challenging, primarily due to the stringent and unique requirements of antennas in different applications.

Since 2010, our group has focused on the translational research of metamaterials, combining deep conceptual understanding with expertise in antenna engineering. We have successfully addressed key engineering challenges—including bandwidth, efficiency, and fabrication—that have historically constrained the practical adoption of metamaterial-based antennas. Our efforts have led to the development and commercialization of advanced antenna technologies based on metamaterials, including metasurfaces and metalines, across a range of applications such as RFID, WLAN, radar, cellular base stations, small cells, and satellite communications.

What was once the “hype” of metamaterials has now become a reality—metantennas. In our research and development, we have employed various mathematical tools such as Characteristic Modes Analysis (CMA), Transformation Optics (TO), Time Reverse (TR), and other optimization algorithms. Notably, we have recently achieved promising results in prior-knowledge-guided, deep learning-enabled generative synthesis for metasurfaces and metamaterials, paving the way for next-generation metantenna design.\

In this talk, I will share recent advancements in metantenna technology and offer insights into the future directions of metamaterial research.

Hendrik Rogier

Biography:Hendrik Rogier received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, in 1994 and 1999, respectively. From 2003 to 2004, he was a Visiting Scientist with the Mobile Communications Group, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria. He is currently a Senior Full Professor with the Department of Information Technology, Ghent University and a Guest Professor with the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre, Ghent. He has authored or co-authored over 215 papers in international journals and over 250 contributions in conference proceedings. His current research interests include antenna systems, radio wave propagation, body-centric communication, numerical electromagnetics, electromagnetic compatibility, and power/signal integrity.

Dr. Rogier is a member of the MTT TC-26 RFID, Wireless Sensor and IoT Committee, of AP-S TC-11 Health & Medicine, and he acts as the URSI Commission B representative for Belgium. He was a recipient of the URSI Young Scientist Award (twice) at the 2001 URSI Symposium on Electromagnetic Theory and at the 2002 URSI General Assembly, and a co-recipient of the 2014 Premium Award for Best Paper in the IET Electronics Letters, the Best Paper Award First Place in the 2016 IEEE MTT-S Topical Conference on Wireless Sensors and Sensor Networks, the Best Poster Paper Award at the 2012 IEEE Electrical Design of Advanced Packaging and Systems Symposium, the Best Paper Award at the 2013 IEEE Workshop on Signal and Power Integrity, the Joseph Morrissey Memorial Award for the First Best Scientific Paper at BioEM 2013, the Article of the Year 2022 in Journal of Sensors Award, 2023 IEEE AP -S Tapan K. Sarkar Best IEEE CAMA Student Paper Award, the 2024 IEEE FLEPS 2nd place Student Best Paper Award, and the IEEE Journal of Microwaves 2023 Best Paper Award. From 2017 until 2019, he was an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques. Currently, he is an Associate Editor of IET Electronics Letters and of IET Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation.

mmWave-over-Fiber Distributed Antenna Systems for Next-Generation Wireless Applications

Abstract: To meet the demands of future wireless applications, particularly in terms of capacity and data throughput, a shift to higher frequency ranges is essential, given that such bands offer significantly more bandwidth than the congested sub-6 GHz spectrum. While 6G networks are expected to utilize the FR3 band (7–24 GHz) in urban environments, immersive applications will rely on the FR2 (24–71 GHz) and sub-THz (100–300 GHz) bands. Yet, these higher operating frequencies face propagation challenges such as increased path loss, significant shadowing, and high penetration loss. Beamforming with co-located antenna arrays can mitigate these effects and improve signal quality, while spatial multiplexing via massive MIMO may further enhance throughput. However, co-located systems remain vulnerable to (self-)blocking and reliability issues. Cell densification, through increased deployment of base stations, can improve performance but may lead to interference-limited conditions. Therefore, while multi-antenna systems and cell densification are promising, they are not sufficient by themselves to offer the reliability and performance required by 6G networks.

A promising solution to tackle line-of-sight blockage issues with co-located mmWave massive MIMO arrays, as well as the challenges of cell densification, is the introduction of a split hardware architecture, known as a distributed antenna system (DAS). Recently, we have demonstrated the potential of photonic-enabled distributed antenna systems (DAS) to mitigate the impact of line-of-sight blockages in high-data-rate mmWave communication, thereby significantly improving reliability and coverage in a power-efficient manner. In particular, we have shown that by strategically deploying low-complexity, high-performance remote antenna units (RAUs), the impact of self-blocking and external obstructions can be effectively reduced, enabling multi-Gb/s throughput and reliable coverage in challenging non-line-of-sight conditions—critical for meeting the stringent data rate, latency, and reliability requirements of beyond-5G (B5G) and 6G networks.

After introducing the overall mmWave-over-Fiber as the core technology implementing the distributed antenna systems, the different building blocks will be discussed. The core of the system is formed by the central office, which contains all the hardware for signal processing, multi-antenna processing, signal coding and modulation, as well as generation of the modulated optical carriers. These are transported by the optical fiber backbone to the low-complexity remote antenna units (RAUs). This enables distributing antennas over a very large area and controlling them in a synchronous and phase-coherent manner. Next, a dedicated simulation suite is proposed to support the computer-aided design of the mmWave-over-fiber-based DAS by accurately modelling its performance and enabling time-efficient optimization of all hardware components, including the RAUs, the central office (CO), and the signal processing units. To conclude, a number of applications is discussed and demonstrated through representative setups. These include anechoic, indoor and body-centric communication scenarios that exploit diversity and distributed MIMO schemes.