BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:IEEE vTools.Events//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260308T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=2SU;BYMONTH=3 TZNAME:CDT END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20261101T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=1SU;BYMONTH=11 TZNAME:CST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260419T172458Z UID:DF35D441-EEED-4832-BD14-CECE30451DE8 DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260508T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260508T130000 DESCRIPTION:IEEE Lone Star Section EMBS Chapter and the Life Members Affini ty Group will host Drs. Laura A. Ward and Nicholas Ward for a book signing and presentation. Books will be available for purchase on-site.\n\nTalk T itle: "Future Ready: How AI Is Shaping Our World and Transforming the Work force"\n\nAbstract:\n\nThis talk explores how artificial intelligence is r eshaping industries\, redefining workforce roles\, and accelerating the pa ce of technological disruption. Moving beyond hype\, it provides a structu red\, engineering-informed perspective on how AI systems operate\, where t hey deliver real value\, and where risks emerge\, particularly in critical infrastructure and decision-making environments.\nThe session introduces a framework for becoming “future ready\,” focused on three pillars: un derstanding AI fundamentals\, adapting skillsets to human-AI collaboration \, and implementing governance strategies that ensure reliability\, accoun tability\, and security. Drawing from real-world applications in energy sy stems and infrastructure\, the talk highlights how AI can enhance operatio nal efficiency\, predictive capabilities\, and system resilience while als o emphasizing the importance of human oversight and ethical deployment.\n\ nBiography:\n\nDrs. Laura A. Ward and Nicholas Ward are professionals work ing at the intersection of technology\, systems thinking\, and applied inn ovation. Dr. Ward is an Electrical Engineer and Energy Systems Scientist w ith over 15 years of experience in power systems\, grid modernization\, an d advanced technologies at the intersection of engineering and policy. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and currently serves as a Clean E nergy Innovator Fellow with the U.S. Department of Energy\, hosted at the District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment. Her work focuses on integrating emerging technologies\, including artificial intelligence\, into critical infrastructure systems\, with an emphasis on reliability\, governance\, and workforce transformation. Nicholas Ward complements this work through a multidisciplinary perspective on technology adoption\, prac tical implementation\, and workforce adaptation\, contributing to the tran slation of complex technical concepts into accessible\, real-world applica tions. Together\, they bring a combined perspective that bridges technical depth with strategic insight on how AI is reshaping industries and the fu ture of work.\n\nRegistration details:\n\nSeating goes to those who regist er via this vtools event in the order received\; plan ahead to REGISTER.\n \nRegistration Fees:\n\nAt the door\, there is a $20.00 fee for Members\, $30.00 for Guests and $5.00 for Students. We accept Cash or Check\, no cre dit cards. Exact amounts preferable. Remainder of the tab will be picked u p by the EMB.\n\nSpeaker(s): Dr. Laura Ward\, Dr. Nicholas Ward\n\nAgenda: \n11:00 - Arrival\n\n11:30 - Book signing\n\n12:00 - Presentation\n\n13:0 0 - Adjourn\n\nAlamo Cafe\, 14250 San Pedro Ave\, San Antonio \, Texas\, U nited States\, 78232 LOCATION:Alamo Cafe\, 14250 San Pedro Ave\, San Antonio \, Texas\, United S tates\, 78232 ORGANIZER:Akobrinaieee@gmail.com SEQUENCE:17 SUMMARY:Future Ready: How AI Is Shaping Our World and Transforming the Work force URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/556012 X-ALT-DESC:Description: <br /><p>IEEE Lone Star Section EMBS Chapter and th e Life Members Affinity Group will host Drs. Laura A. Ward and Nicholas Wa rd for a book signing and presentation. Books will be available for purcha se on-site.&nbsp\;</p>\n<p><strong>Talk Title</strong>: "Future Ready: How AI Is Shaping Our World and Transforming the Workforce"</p>\n<p><strong>A bstract</strong>:</p>\n<p>This talk explores how artificial intelligence i s reshaping industries\, redefining workforce roles\, and accelerating the pace of technological disruption. Moving beyond hype\, it provides a stru ctured\, engineering-informed perspective on how AI systems operate\, wher e they deliver real value\, and where risks emerge\, particularly in criti cal infrastructure and decision-making environments.</p>\n<div dir="auto"> The session introduces a framework for becoming &ldquo\;future ready\,&rdq uo\; focused on three pillars: understanding AI fundamentals\, adapting sk illsets to human-AI collaboration\, and implementing governance strategies that ensure reliability\, accountability\, and security. Drawing from rea l-world applications in energy systems and infrastructure\, the talk highl ights how AI can enhance operational efficiency\, predictive capabilities\ , and system resilience while also emphasizing the importance of human ove rsight and ethical deployment.</div>\n<p><strong>Biography</strong>:</p>\n <p>Drs. Laura A. Ward and Nicholas Ward are professionals working at the i ntersection of technology\, systems thinking\, and applied innovation. Dr. Ward is an Electrical Engineer and Energy Systems Scientist with over 15 years of experience in power systems\, grid modernization\, and advanced t echnologies at the intersection of engineering and policy. She holds a Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering and currently serves as a Clean Energy Innova tor Fellow with the U.S. Department of Energy\, hosted at the District of Columbia Department of Energy &amp\; Environment. Her work focuses on inte grating emerging technologies\, including artificial intelligence\, into c ritical infrastructure systems\, with an emphasis on reliability\, governa nce\, and workforce transformation. Nicholas Ward complements this work th rough a multidisciplinary perspective on technology adoption\, practical i mplementation\, and workforce adaptation\, contributing to the translation of complex technical concepts into accessible\, real-world applications. Together\, they bring a combined perspective that bridges technical depth with strategic insight on how AI is reshaping industries and the future of work.</p>\n<p><strong>Registration details:&nbsp\;</strong></p>\n<p>Seati ng goes to those who register via this vtools event in the order received\ ; plan ahead to <strong>REGISTER.</strong></p>\n<p><strong>Registration Fe es: </strong></p>\n<p>At the door\, there is a $20.00 fee for Members\, $3 0.00 for Guests and $5.00 for Students. &nbsp\;We accept Cash or Check\, n o credit cards.&nbsp\; Exact amounts preferable. &nbsp\;Remainder of the t ab will be picked up by the EMB.</p><br /><br />Agenda: <br /><p>11:00 - A rrival</p>\n<p>11:30 - Book signing&nbsp\;</p>\n<p>12:00 - Presentation&nb sp\;</p>\n<p>13:00 - Adjourn&nbsp\;</p>\n<p>&nbsp\;</p> END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR