Abstract :
It is not uncharacteristic of an International Microwave Symposium (IMS) held in Boston to introduce a number of innovative features to make conference attendance even more convenient and rewarding; IMS 2009 is no exception. A special experience is in store for the attendees: from a redesigned Web site, a monthly news bulletin, a three-tier registration schedule, a reorganized program book, electronic radio frequency identification (RFID) badges, a CD with customdesigned navigation, available print-on-demand (PoD), and virtual participation (VP), to a technical program starting with a plenary session on Monday, the technical sessions divided into four focus areas, interactive forum sessions scheduled around their related podium presentation session topics and rump and panel sessions using instantaneous ("clicker") feedback, to a social program that features the industry reception held on the exhibition floor and a Thursday evening social. Some of the details of the newly introduced features are highlighted later; for up-to-date information, please visit the IMS 2009 Web site at www.ims2009.org.