Top appointment for Massey engineer

Massey University researcher Dr Amal Punchihewa has been made a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Dr Punchihewa is a senior lecturer in the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology. His current research interests include objective assessment of compression artefacts and image processing for surveillance, multimedia communication and care of the elderly.

Senior member is the highest professional grade an institute member can apply for, and only eight per cent of the 410,000 members have reached the position.

School head Professor Don Cleland says the appointment is a great achievement. “It is a reflection of Dr Punchihewa’s experience and professional accomplishment,” he says.

Dr Punchihewa recently helped edit a major publication on communications technology for the London Olympics, Delivering London 2012: ICT Enabling the Games. He was the only editor from outside the United Kingdom.

The institute is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence.