New IEEE Scholarship Honors Space-Mapping Pioneer

This year the IEEE Canadian Foundation established the Dr. John William Bandler Graduate Scholarship in Engineering Design in honor of the world-renowned engineer, teacher, and innovator. Bandler, an IEEE Life Fellow, died on 28 September 2023. He was known for pioneering space-mapping technology, which enables optimal, high-fidelity design of devices, circuits, and systems at a cost of only a few high-fidelity simulations.

The scholarship-funded by a donation from Bandler's wife, Beth-provides an annual award of about US $3,550 (CAD $5,000) to a Ph.D. student or postdoctoral fellow at a Canadian university who is conducting research in electromagnetic optimization in micromillimeter- or millimeter-wave engineering, micromillimeter- or millimeter-wave imaging and inverse-scattering, engineering design optimization, or space mapping. The scholarship is to be awarded for the first time next year.

Bandler was an entrepreneur and a professor. In 1983 he founded Optimization Systems Associates in Hamilton, Ontario, to commercialize his methodology and algorithms. His award-winning research during his 50-year career revolutionized the engineering and computer-assisted design of microwave circuitry.

His practical application of space mapping, device modeling, and optimization theories led to significant reductions in the development costs of a wide variety of electronic systems.

His research was published in more than 500 publications.

Bandler served as dean of the faculty of engineering at McMaster University, also in Hamilton, and taught electrical engineering there from 1969 until his death.

He was a trusted teacher, advisor, and friend to McMaster," says Heather Sheardown, the university's current dean of the faculty of engineering. His innovations truly transformed engineering design optimization."

A focus on simulation, optimization, and control

Bandler was born in Jerusalem during World War II, and his family moved to Nicosia, Cyprus, when he was a youngster. As a teenager, the family moved to England, where he completed high school and attended the Imperial College London, which at the time was part of the University of London. He received three engineering degrees from Imperial: a bachelor's in 1963, a Ph.D. in 1967, and doctor of science in 1976.

After earning his Ph.D., he briefly worked at Mullard Research Laboratories, in Redhill, England, before accepting a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Canada. He completed the fellowship in 1969 and joined McMaster University as an engineering professor. During his almost 55-year-long career there, he served as the 1978-1979 chair of the electrical engineering department and as dean of the faculty of engineering from 1979 to 1981.

In 1973 he established a research group to focus on simulation, optimization, and control. The group later was named the Simulation Optimization Systems Research Laboratory.

Bandler was a trusted teacher, advisor, and friend to McMaster. His innovations truly transformed engineering design optimization."-Heather Sheardown

It was in that lab that Bandler developed his space-mapping technology and other optimization algorithms.

To help commercialize his innovations, in 1983 he founded Optimization Systems Associates, which was sold in 1997 to Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The division later was spun off into Keysight Technologies of Santa Rosa, Calif.

Bandler received several awards for his work, including the 2023 IEEE Electromagnetics Award, the 2013 IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (IEEE MTT-S) Microwave Career Award, and the 2012 IEEE Canada McNaughton Gold Medal.

He was appointed as an Order of Canada officer in 2016 for his scientific contributions, which helped position the country at the forefront of microwave engineering.

Elevating the next generation of engineers

In addition to conducting research and teaching, Bandler mentored students and young professionals. He volunteered for the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium's Three Minute Thesis, a program that connects graduate students in engineering with mentors to help them better explain their research. At the end of the event, participants present their work in less than three minutes, using only one slide to a panel of judges who are not engineers. Starting this year, the program has been renamed the John Bandler Memorial Three Minute Thesis Competition.

In his acceptance speech for the IEEE Electromagnetics Award in 2023, Bandler spoke directly to students and young professionals and said: Just about everything I'm known for one expert or another has discouraged me from doing. So students and young professionals, let naysayers say no. Especially if they say No, go for it.'

It took me 30 years to discover common sense hidden in plain sight, and electromagnetic optimization took off," he said. What are you waiting for? Your own breakthrough is staring at you."

Blending creativity with technical expertise

Bandler was a multifaceted individual with a rich artistic background.

One day I found myself in my mother-in-law's studio with a paintbrush in hand and a canvas on an easel, so I started painting," he said in a Toronto Globe and Mail interview. Until then I didn't even know I had an interest in art. I was strictly an engineer, an academic, and a committed entrepreneur."

His love of painting turned into a passion for art history, writing plays, and making films. Several of his plays were performed at the Hamilton Fringe Festival and theaters in the Canadian city. Many of his plays, films, and writings can be viewed on YouTube as well as his website.

Bandler's legacy is greater than his disruptive innovations in microwave design and optimization. His life journey encompassed art, theater, fiction, entrepreneurial activities, and academia, leaving a lasting impact on those who experienced his work and spent time with him. His ability to blend creativity with technical expertise made him a remarkable figure in both artistic and engineering circles.

To donate to-or nominate a candidate for-the Bandler Graduate Scholarship in Engineering Design, visit the IEEE Canadian Foundation website.