American University of Sharjah (AUS) held the opening ceremony of the Second International Conference on Communications, Signal Processing and their Applications (ICCSPA'15) today, February 17, 2015. The conference brings together researchers, students and engineers from around the world to share their recent original findings in the areas of communications and signal processing, such as mobile radio systems, computer networks, satellite communications, image and video processing, biomedical applications, microwaves and more.

The conference is organized by the Department of Electrical Engineering at the AUS College of Engineering (CEN), and technically sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world's largest professional association. Held for the second time at AUS, the conference covers recent topics and technologies related to communications and signal processing, with this year's focus on areas that drive innovation and technological advancement.

At the opening ceremony of ICCSPA'15, AUS Chancellor Dr. Björn Kjerfve welcomed the guests and said, "The conference ties in perfectly with our aim and mission. The various academic units within the AUS College of Engineering have played a distinct role in organizing international symposia and forums where academics and experts have assembled to exchange views and ideas in their research. This is also reflected in how we educate our students. It is our constant endeavor to instill in them a sense of enquiry and wonder. This is done not only through what they are taught in the classroom but also by involving them in research and bringing them to events such as these, where research on topical issues are discussed."

Dr. Leland Blank, the Dean of the College of Engineering, also welcomed the delegates and shared a brief history of the college and how it had grown from fewer than 400 students when it first started, to over 3000 students today. He then wished the conference attendees the best of success and shared his hopes that some of the talks and research presented over the next two days would spawn new ideas, new products and new research conventions.

Dr. Kjerfve also shared with the audience the upcoming plans of the university. "This year, we will launch several new PhD programs, including in engineering. At the same time, we are in the process of developing a Research, Technology and Innovation Park adjacent to our campus, which we hope will be a future game changer," he said.

The keynote address on the first day was given by Dr. Marwan Krunz from the University of Arizona, USA, on "Security Beyond Encryption: How to Hide Wireless Fingerprints." Dr. Fred Harris from San Diego State University, USA, will give the keynote address tomorrow, entitled "Cascade Perfect Reconstruction Non-Maximally Decimated Filter Banks: A Green Technique to Implement Variable Bandwidth Digital Filters."

The conference also includes two tutorial sessions: "Multi-way Communication and Cooperation" and "Digital Signal Processing for Next Generation Software Defined Radio Receivers and Transmitters."

According to Dr. Khaled Assaleh, Conference Co-chair and AUS Interim Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies, "This conference will enhance networking opportunities for faculty, graduate students and senior undergraduate students with academics and industry leaders from all over the world. This year, we're integrating a number of the local telecom companies in the conference by inviting them to give presentations about their activities related to communications and signal processing."

Dr. Mohamed El-Tarhuni, Conference Co-chair and Associate Dean of the College of Engineering at AUS said, "We are very pleased to host this international conference focusing on the latest research activities in the areas of communications and signal processing. This event provides a venue for promoting collaboration among local and international researchers as well as inspires students in pursuing careers involving advanced research."

The conference, which will include technical sessions, tutorials, industrial talks and a student poster competition, will continue through February 19.