Applications for the Fellowship grade will be reviewed and evaluated annually by the BoG.

Fellow status is differentiated from other membership grades in that it recognizes an individual’s creative contributions to the field of IRI. It is not limited as a percentage of the general membership. SIRI seeks, insofar as practical, to eliminate all politics from the decision to make such elevations and rather base them solely on excellent science and/or quality engineering and/or superb pedagogy in IRI. Thus, an individual’s previous failures, the number of people who support them or not, and the like are discounted by the BoG in deciding this elevation. While the more learned scholars among us are generally better equipped to write supporting letters, SIRI maintains no such formal requirement for supporting the grade of fellow. Rather, the elevation will, for the most part, be based on the content of the supporting documentation. Candidates for SIRI fellow must submit to the BoG, by the published due date for the final copy of IRI conference papers, the following evidence, where applicable.

1. Co-authored and presented at least two papers at an IRI Conference within the five years preceding the application, or in principle satisfaction of at least one of the requirements for Lifetime Honorary Member
2. A list of publications and/or patents and/or technology transfers and/or pedagogical achievements with a supporting paragraph for each that details in a total of not more than five pages (single-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font)
   • how this item supports the SIRI scope
   • why it is significant and creative from a societal and scientific and/or engineering and/or pedagogical standpoint
3. At least 10 years of supporting professional experience; although, this requirement may be more or less excepted for otherwise uniquely qualified individuals
4. Three letters of support not to exceed one page each. These letters must, at a minimum, literally state that the referee has read and does not have substantial cause to disagree with any of the claims of part
5. By appointment of the SIRI president and vice-president and at least a 2/3d majority of the members at large of the BoG.

Note that all candidates for SIRI fellow need supply a short citation (i.e., 5 – 25 words) such as:

John Doe

For the integration of data and knowledge bases for superior knowledge acquisition for Advanced Warning Systems (AWS).

Mary Doe

For the development of reusable components for ADA Stoneman.

Patricia Doe

For the development of multimedia instructional aids that incorporate slide-box reuse and provide instruction for the same.

This honorary status is admittedly our most “political” recognition and is conveyed upon individuals who have already achieved and been recognized for a lifetime of distinctive work. Thus, their work will not be subject to formal evaluation per se. Rather, their contributions will be evaluated for relevance to the SIRI scope. Lifetime honorary membership will be conveyed by the BoG upon reflection of the candidate against the following general (i.e., not binding) stipulations.

1. Candidate has been invited to be a keynote speaker at an IRI conference and/or has published in an IRI journal and/or special issue
2. Candidate is a fellow of another society and/or possesses a recognized honorary doctorate
3. Candidate is renown for work related to the SIRI scope as ascertained by letter(s) of nomination, or “celebrity” status
4. By appointment of the SIRI president and vice-president and at least a 50 percent majority of the members at large of the BoG.

Please forward completed applications and all references by email to Drs. Shu-Ching Chen and Stuart Rubin, so that they are received not later than 08 July 2011. Referees need email the letters directly to Drs. Chen and Rubin and may share them with the candidate at their volition. Awardees will be contacted prior to 22 July 2011 by email. Award recipients will receive their awards at the annual conference banquet for which there will be no food, beverage, or registration charge. A small fee to cover the cost of plaque manufacture may be assessed by SIRI.