'Net, future causing institute to take stock

Easy access to information from such sources as the Internet and the rapid pace of technological change are making the Institute of Environmental Sciences reassess how best to serve its global membership, says the incoming president of the all-volunteer organization.

"Our society, like others, is in a transformational period in its history," declares John Goodman, president-elect of the 3000-member society. Speaking two months before the institute's 43rd Annual Technical Meeting and Exposition, scheduled for Los Angeles in early May, Goodman notes that the organization is "in the process of defining what our major goals and objectives are as a society." Under the leadership of Stephen Yellin, the outgoing president, the institute's board has spent the past year examining ways to refine the organization's mission and generate more enthusiasm among its membership. The process will continue under Goodman, who is director of engineering and technology for Chaska, MN-based Fluoroware.

"We are asking ourselves: 'What are the things we do that bring value to our members?'" says the president-elect, who takes office in July. In the contamination control arena, he points to the institute's lead in coordinating the first set of global cleanroom standards. Goodman stresses that he will focus on improving communication "throughout our society," from the elected officers to the office staff to the membership. "We live to serve our members. A professional society has no other purpose."

One of Goodman's main objectives is to entice more members "from a wider variety of fields" to participate in the society's activities. In the face of competition from the Internet in disseminating information, Goodman plans to emphasize the benefits of networking and the society's educational programs. "People underestimate the value of getting to know each other on a personal basis," he points out. "We need to package [that message] and get it out there to more people."

Goodman quickly notes that "a lot of people are still very active" in the institute but, as with many professional societies, there is a core group that does much of the work. In addition to the Internet, says Goodman, "there's a lot of competition out there from other societies."

The technical meeting and exposition, scheduled May 4-8, is the institute's annual shot at showcasing its educational programs and offering the coffee-and-a-handshake contact that Goodman believes is essential for the organization's vitality. This year's technical program offers more than 100 technical papers, in addition to the full array of tutorials, standards meetings, classes in contamination control fundamentals, and working groups. More than 60 equipment and services exhibitors will also be on hand.

Under the contamination control rubric, Goodman says that several sessions on minienvironments hold significance. "As the microelectronics industry is moving to the use of 300-mm wafers, there is renewed interest in the use of minienvironments," he points out. "We have a couple of good sessions on [the topic] and a tutorial." Another tutorial focuses on the ISO/TC draft standard that "is going to redefine cleanroom classifications. I think people will find that interesting, because we're still using the old standard FS 209."

On the meeting's opening day the recently formed environmental code and definitions committee will meet to discuss the semiconductor industry's response to the different building code regulations "that exist from community to community," Goodman says. "The group is focusing on developing recommended practices that can be used by regulatory bodies and municipalities to create some common ground."

In addition to minienvironment-related papers, contamination control topics covered during the technical sessions include electronic specialty-gas delivery, particle-counting methods, process tool defect reduction, wafer cleaning, in situ particle monitoring, and the environmental impact of testing. The aerospace session offers presentations on the microbiological cleanliness of the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft and contamination control for the Cassini imaging science subsystem.

John Perry Barlow, cofounder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation who is often referred to as the "Thomas Jefferson of the Internet," will deliver the keynote address. His topic is "The Future of Technology-Where the Digital Economy Is Impacting." Goodman believes Barlow is an enticing choice for keynoter. An authority on digital intellectual property, virtual reality, and computer security, Barlow is also a former lyricist for the Grateful Dead and the person credited with coining the term cyberspace. "We think his talk is going to go very well," Goodman says. "It's not so much about what the Internet is, how you sign on, and what's in it, but 'how is this going to affect us?'"

The meeting's organizers have made an effort "to make our evenings a bit more lively, so for our banquet we will have magicians and a number of other acts," Goodman emphasizes. No doubt the symbolism is unintended, but in its grand finale the last act will perform a "metamorphosis" illusion--an appropriate metaphor, perhaps, for the task now facing Goodman and the society.

For more information on the Institute of Environmental Sciences 43rd Annual Technical Meeting and Exposition in Los Angeles, call 847/255-1561; fax 847/255-1699.