AP-S Turnstile: National microwave days

About five years ago, I wrote a column [1, 2] poking light-hearted fun at how both the government and the people of France were displaying a lot of skittishness about microwave radiation. At the time, a university library in Paris, fearing for the health of its patrons, had done away with its wireless network. Cell-phone operators were being attacked by numerous local and national groups demanding that cell-phone towers be removed from locations close to schools, hospitals, and homes. It therefore came as a bit of a pleasant surprise to recently learn that for a number of years, France has been hosting the French National Microwave Days (Journ¿¿es Nationales Microondes). The prestigious conference brings together French and international (especially, from the francophone parts of the world) researchers, who wish to present their work in French. The 18th edition [3] of this biennial conference was held during summer 2013 in Paris, and attracted more than 550 attendees [4]. A total of 323 technical papers were presented in oral and poster formats over three days, and an exhibition accompanied the technical sessions.