Chair: Pierre Degauque (France)

Vice – Chair: Flavio Canavero (Italy)

The Commission E activities are based on the work conducted by the working groups (WG). During the past triennium, the Chair or Co-Chairs organized a lot of sessions in EMC Symposia and, of course, they were very active in the preparation of the technical sessions of the General Assembly (GA). In the following, after recalling the names of these WG, a brief summary of the sessions they have organized is given, together with discussions within the business meetings on the opportunity or not to continue, modify or stop a WG.

E.1: Spectrum Utilization Management and Wireless Telecommunication

Co-Chairs: G. Hurt (USA) and R. Struzak (Poland)

The session proposed on this subject at the Maastricht URSI GA was entitled: "Mathematical Methods in Frequency Assignment". Nevertheless, only three papers were planned and any speaker was present. Since it seems difficult to be attractive in this field, it has been decided not to maintain this working group in the next triennium.

E.2: Intentional Electromagnetic Interference

Co-Chairs: M. Wik (Sweden) and W. Radasky (USA)

Four papers were presented during the GA, the title of the session being the same as the name of the WG. Two contributions reviewed the different categories of EM threats and the susceptibility aspects of the electronic equipment. The two others were focused on specific technical aspects.

It must be recalled that this WG was created in 1999, following a recommendation introduced by Prof. Ianoz and supported by Com. E, for performing additional research pertaining to a EM Terrorism and to investigate techniques for appropriate protection.

During the business session, M. Wik suggested that M. Bäckström replaced him as a Co-Chair. This has been approved.

E.3: High Power Electromagnetics

Co-chairs: C.E. Baum (USA) and R.L. Gardner (USA)

9 papers were presented during the session organized by Baum and Gardner on this topic.

E.4: Terrestrial and Planetary Lightning Generation of Electromagnetic Noise

Co-Chairs: Z. Kawasaky (Japan) and V. Cooray (Sweden)

The conveners of the related session "Lightning observation from space and global lightning activity" (6 papers) were Z. Kawasaki and A. Bondiou. V. Cooray did not wish to continue as a Co-Chair. Z. Kawasaky agreed to continue this work but proposed that the name of the WG became: "Lightning discharges and related phenomena". This has been approved for the next triennium.

E.5: Interaction with and Protection of, Complex Electronic Systems

Co-chairs: J. Nitsch (Germany), P. Degauque (France), M. Ianoz (Switzerland) and J.P. Parmentier (France)

A full session entitled "EM interaction with complex system" took place at the GA and was organized by Parmentier and Ianoz. Related papers were also presented in two other sessions: "Radiation from and coupling to PCB" and "EM interaction with and susceptibility of analogue and digital electronics".

Michel Ianoz being retired from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, he wished to stop being a Co-Chair. Since this WG had already four Co-Chairs, it was decided not to nominate a new person.

E.6. Effects of transients on equipment

Co-Chairs: J. ter Haseborg (Germany), V. Scuka (Sweden) and B. Demoulin (France).

The Co-Chairs reported that it was difficult to gather information on this research area and it seems that the number of people involved in this field decreases rapidly. Any specific session dealt with this subject at the GA and it was decided during the business meeting to stop this WG.

E.7. Extra-Terrestrial and Terrestrial Meteorologic-Electric environment

Chair: H. Kikuchi (Japan)

Any session was organized on this subject and, during the discussion, it appeared that this WG must be renewed at least by changing its technical content. Nevertheless, it has been kept for the next triennium but keeping in mind that a new proposal must be made at the next URSI GA. Furthermore, the interest of the Com. E community must be clearly pointed out.

E.8. Geo-electromagnetic disturbances and their effects on technological systems

Co-Chair: M. Hayakawa and R. Pirjola (Sweden)

9 papers were presented in the session "Terrestrial Electromagnetic Phenomena". M. Hayakawa suggested changing both the name of the WG and the Co-Chairs. He proposed for the new WG: "Terrestrial and Planetary Electromagnetic Noise Environment" co-chaired by: M. Hayakawa (Japan), A.P. Nickolaenko (Ukraine), Y. Hobara (France) and M. Füllekrug (Germany). This has been approved during the business meeting.

E.9 Interference and Noise at Frequencies above 30 MHz

Chair: J. Gavan (Israel)

Since this topic is clearly at the frontier between Com. E and Com. F, a joint session were organized. Any change has been proposed to this WG, except to add another Co-Chair having a technical background related to Com. F

A number of Working Groups also organize joint technical sessions, three of them with Com. H.

A discussion took place during a business meeting on the role of a Working Group. Indeed, it may sometimes appear that it is not easy to clearly know who is a member of a WG, how is the information disseminated between the members and what are the duties and responsibilities of a WG.

In a first step, each Chair or Co-Chairs will write a brief presentation (typically half a page) on their WG mainly describing promising research areas which must be developed during the next triennium. Furthermore, a list of WG members (Names and email addresses) would be useful.

The new Working Groups that were voted for the new triennium are:

E.1: Terrestrial and Planetary Electromagnetic Noise Environment

Co-Chairs: M. Hayakawa (Japan), A.P. Nickolaenko (Ukraine), Y. Hobara (France) and M. Füllekrug (Germany)

E.2: Intentional Electromagnetic Interference

Co-Chairs: M. Bäckström (Sweden) and W. Radasky (USA)

E.3: High Power Electromagnetics

Co-chairs: C.E. Baum (USA) and R.L. Gardner (USA)

E.4: Lightning Discharges and Related Phenomena

Co-chairs: Z. Kawasaki (Japan)

E.5: Interaction with and Protection of, Complex Electronic Systems

Co-chairs: J. Nitsch (Germany), P. Degauque (France) and J.P. Parmentier (France)

E.6: Extra-Terrestrial and Terrestrial Meteorologic-Electric Environment

Chair: H. Kikuchi (Japan), E.A. Mareev (Russia)

E.7: Geo-electromagnetic Disturbances and Their Effects on Technological Systems

Chair: A. Viljanen (Finland)

E.8: Interference and Noise at Frequencies above 30 MHz

Chair: J. Gavan (Israel)

EGH. Seismo Electromagnetics (Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling)

Co-Chair for Commission E: M. Hayakawa (Japan)

Co-Chair for Commission G: S. Pulinet (Russia)

Co-Chair for Commission H: M. Parrot (France) and O.A. Molchanov (Russia)

After discussion, few ideas on possible sessions, tutorials and General Lectures came out. It was decided to go further in the discussion during the URSI meeting which will take place during the EMC Zurich Symposium, Feb. 2003.

• Election of the Vice Chair. Pr. Flavio Canavero was elected as Vice-Chair. He will also serve as the Commission E Editor of the Radio Science Bulletin
• After discussion, it appears that it was not necessary to change the Terms of Reference for Commission E.
• Support for the various academic meetings. The following meetings will be supported in the coming triennium either in mode A (without financing) or in mode B(with financing)
• EMC Zurich, Feb. 2003
• IEEE EMC, Istanbul, May 2003
• Telecom 2003 et Journées Franco-Marocaines, Oct. 2003
• EMC Europe, Eindhoven, 2004
• EMC'04, Sendai, 2004
• EMC Wroclaw, 2004
• Colloque CEM, Toulouse, 2004

In Europe, there is a debate and discussions between the organizers of the main EMC European events to merge or not the meetings. At the time of the URSI GA in Maastricht, there was any definitive decision. Therefore, the names of EMC meetings which will be sponsored beyond 2004 cannot be now specified.