Celebrating 75 years of IEEE Signal Processing Society

Celebrating 75 years of IEEE Signal Processing Society

IEEE's first society

In October 1947, Raymond A. Heising recommended that IEEE – then called the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) – imagine a new technical division, called “groups,” to address burgeoning interest and focus in emerging areas of audio engineering. This new body would tailor to members’ specialized technical interests and respective meeting and publication needs, setting the stage for what we know as IEEE societies today.

On 2 June 1948, the first professional group of the IRE was formed. The Professional Group on Audio became a model for other groups within the organization, demonstrating strength and involvement at local and national levels. In time, the Professional Group on Audio would evolve into the IEEE Signal Processing Society (SPS) we know today.

75 years later, SPS - IEEE’s first society – has continued to act as a bastion of innovation and collaboration, connecting a global community through a discipline that has swelled with the same speed and vigor that demanded its establishment in 1948, driven by passionate, dedicated leaders that make it the technical home to nearly 20,000 members today.

2023 marks 75 years of our rich history, and we look forward to celebrating with you with events and activities all year long! Keep checking back here for events and details throughout the year. Having a celebration of your own or any ideas of how you can get involved? Let us know!

Submit your photos to the SPS live mosaic!

We are asking for your support to capture the people, memories, and contributions of SPS and its members. All year long, we’ll be collecting photos to honor, archive, and highlight you, your colleagues, and the many achievements of our technical community in an interactive mosaic:

Once populated, you’ll have the opportunity to browse all the submitted photos and relive the past 75 years with us!

Upcoming 75th Anniversary Events

• Monthly Trivia Contest
• The Inaugural SPS Day (2 June 2023 - worldwide)
• ICASSP (4-9 June 2023 - Rhodes Island, Greece)
• ICIP (8-11 October 2023 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)